TABLE 30: Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria for Toxic Pollutants
Effective [EPA Approval XXXXXX]
Aquatic Life Criteria Summary
The concentration for each compound listed in Table 30 is a criterion not to be exceeded in waters of the state in order to protect aquatic life. All values are expressed as micrograms per liter (µg/L). Compounds are listed in alphabetical order with the corresponding information: the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number, whether there is a human health criterion for the pollutant (i.e. “y”= yes, “n” = no), and the associated aquatic life freshwater and saltwater acute and chronic criteria. Italicized pollutants are not identified as priority pollutants by EPA.
Unless otherwise noted in the table below, the acute criteria apply to the Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) average for one hour and the chronic criteria apply to the Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) average for 96 hours (4 days). The CMC and CCC criteria should not be exceeded more than once every three years. Footnote A, associated with eleven pesticide pollutants in Table 30, describes the exception to the frequency and duration stated in this paragraph.
Pollutant | CAS No. | Human Health Criterion | Freshwater (µg/L) | Saltwater (µg/L) | ||||
Acute Criterion (CMC) | Chronic Criterion (CCC) | Acute Criterion (CMC) | Chronic Criterion (CCC) | |||||
1 | Aldrin | 309002 | y | 3 A | -- | 1.3 A | -- | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
2 | Alkalinity | n | -- | 20,000 B | -- | -- | ||
B Criterion shown is the minimum (i.e. CCC in water may not be below this value in order to protect aquatic life). | ||||||||
3 | Ammonia | 7664417 | n | Criteria are pH, temperature, and life stage dependent-- See document USEPA January 1985 (Fresh Water).M
| Ammonia criteria for saltwater may depend on pH and temperature. Values for saltwater criteria (total ammonia) can be calculated from the tables specified in Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia (Saltwater)--1989 (EPA 440/5-88-004; http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/current/index.cfm | |||
M See expanded footnote M equations at bottom of Table 30 to calculate freshwater ammonia criteria | ||||||||
4 | Arsenic | y | 340 C, D
| 150 C, D
| 69 C, D
| 36 C, D
| ||
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. D Criterion is applied as total arsenic (i.e. arsenic (III) + arsenic (V)). | ||||||||
5 | BHC Gamma (Lindane) | 58899 | y | 0.95
| 0.08 A
| 0.16 A
| ||
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
6 | Cadmium | 7440439 | n | 3.9 E | See C, F | 40 C | 8.8 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. E The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. The value given here corresponds to a hardness of 100 mg/L. To calculate the criterion based on other hardness values, use formula under expanded Footnote E at bottom of Table 30. F The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
7 | Chlordane | 57749 | y | 2.4 A | 0.0043 A | 0.09 A | 0.004 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
8 | Chloride | 16887006 | n | 860,000 | 230,000 | -- | -- | |
9 | Chlorine | 7782505 | n | 19 | 11 | 13 | 7.5 | |
10 | Chlorpyrifos | 2921882 | n | 0.083 | 0.041 | 0.011 | 0.0056 | |
11 | Chromium VI | 18540299 | n | 16 C | 11 C | 1100 C | 50 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. | ||||||||
12 | Chromium III | 16065831 | n | See C, F | See C, F | -- | -- | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. F The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
13 | Copper | 7440508 | y | 18 E | 12 E | 4.8 C | 3.1 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. E The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. The value given here corresponds to a hardness of 100 mg/L. To calculate the criterion based on other hardness values, use formula under expanded Footnote E at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
14 | Cyanide | 57125 | y | 22 J | 5.2 J | 1 J | 1 J | |
J This criterion is expressed as µg free cyanide (CN)/L. | ||||||||
15 | DDT 4,4' | 50293 | y | 1.1 A , G | 0.001 A, G | 0.13 A, G | 0.001 A, G | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
16 | Demeton | 8065483 | n | -- | 0.1 | -- | 0.1 | |
17 | Dieldrin | 60571 | y | 0.24 | 0.056 | 0.71 A | 0.0019 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
18 | Endosulfan | 115297 | n | 0.22 A , H | 0.056 A , H | 0.034 A , H | 0.0087 A, H | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
19 | Endosulfan Alpha | 959988 | y | 0.22 A | 0.056 A | 0.034 A | 0.0087 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
20 | Endosulfan Beta | 33213659 | y | 0.22 A | 0.056 A | 0.034 A | 0.0087 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
21 | Endrin | 72208 | y | 0.086 | 0.036 | 0.037 A | 0.0023 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
22 | Guthion | 86500 | n | -- | 0.01 | -- | 0.01 | |
23 | Heptachlor | 76448 | y | 0.52 A
| 0.0038 A
| 0.053 A
| 0.0036 A
| |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
24 | Heptachlor Epoxide | 1024573 | y | 0.52 A
| 0.0038 A
| 0.053 A
| 0.0036 A | |
A See expanded footnote A at bottom of Table 30 for alternate frequency and duration of this criterion. | ||||||||
25 | Iron (total) | 7439896 | n | -- | 1000 | -- | -- | |
26 | Lead | 7439921 | n | See C , F | See C , F | 210 C | 8.1 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. F The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
27 | Malathion | 121755 | n | -- | 0.1 | -- | 0.1 | |
28 | Mercury (total) | 7439976 | n | 2.4 | 0.012 | 2.1 | 0.025 | |
29 | Methoxychlor | 72435 | y | -- | 0.03 | -- | 0.03 | |
30 | Mirex | 2385855 | n | -- | 0.001 | -- | 0.001 | |
31 | Nickel | 7440020 | y | See C , F | See C , F | 74 C | 8.2 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. F The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
32 | Parathion | 56382 | n | 0.065 | 0.013 | -- | -- | |
33 | Pentachlorophenol | 87865 | y | See H | See H | 13 | 7.9 | |
H Freshwater aquatic life values for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH, and are calculated as follows: CMC=(exp(1.005(pH)-4.869); CCC=exp(1.005(pH)-5.134). | ||||||||
34 | Phosphorus Elemental | 7723140 | n | -- | -- | -- | 0.1 | |
35 | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | NA | y | 2 K | 0.014 K | 10 K | 0.03 K | |
K This criterion applies to total PCBs (e.g. determined as Aroclors or congeners) | ||||||||
36 | Selenium | 7782492 | y | See C , L | 4.6 C | 290 C | 71 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. L The CMC = (1/[(f1/CMC1)+(f2/CMC2)]µg/L)*CF where f1 and f2 are the fractions of total selenium that are treated as selenite and selenate, respectively, and CMC1 and CMC2 are 185.9 μg/L and 12.82 μg/L, respectively. | ||||||||
37 | Silver | 7440224 | n | See C , F | 0.10 C | 1.9 C | -- | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. F The freshwater acute criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
38 | Sulfide Hydrogen Sulfide | 7783064 | n | -- | 2 | -- | 2 | |
39 | Toxaphene | 8001352 | y | 0.73 | 0.0002 | 0.21 | 0.0002 | |
40 | Tributyltin (TBT) | 688733 | n | 0.46 | 0.063 | 0.37 | 0.01 | |
41 | Zinc | 7440666 | y | See C , F | See C , F | 90 C | 81 C | |
C Criterion is expressed in terms of “dissolved” concentrations in the water column. F The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. To calculate the criterion, use formula under expanded Footnote F at bottom of Table 30. | ||||||||
Expanded Footnotes A, E,F, M
Footnote A: Alternate Frequency and Duration for Certain Pesticides
This criterion is based on EPA recommendations issued in 1980 that were derived using guidelines that differed from EPA's 1985 Guidelines for minimum data requirements and derivation procedures. The CMC should not be exceeded at any time and the CCC should not be exceeded based on a 24-hour average. If the assessment is done using an averaging period for a CMC (i.e., a one hour average not to be exceeded more than once every three years), the CMC values given should be divided by two to obtain a value that is more comparable to a CMC derived using the 1985 Guidelines.
Footnote E: Equations for Hardness-Dependent Freshwater Metals Criteria for Cadmium Acute and Copper Acute and Chronic Criteria
The freshwater criteria for these metals are expressed as total recoverable and are a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. Criteria values for hardness may be calculated from the following formulas (CMC refers to the acute criterion; CCC refers to the chronic criterion):
CMC = (exp(mA*[ln(hardness)] + bA))
CCC = (exp(mC*[ln(hardness)] + bC))
Chemical | mA | bA | mC | bC |
Cadmium | 1.128 | -3.828 | N/A | N/A |
Copper | 0.9422 | -1.464 | 0.8545 | -1.465 |
Footnote F: Equations for Hardness-Dependent Freshwater Metals Criteria and Conversion Factor Table
The freshwater criterion for this metal is expressed as dissolved and is a function of hardness (mg/L) in the water column. Criteria values for hardness may be calculated from the following formulas (CMC refers to the acute criterion; CCC refers to the chronic criterion):
CMC = (exp(mA*[ln(hardness)] + bA))*CF
CCC = (exp(mC*[ln(hardness)] + bC))*CF
“CF” is the conversion factor used for converting a metal criterion expressed as the total recoverable fraction in the water column to a criterion expressed as the dissolved fraction in the water column.
Chemical | mA | bA | mC | bC |
Cadmium | N/A | N/A | 0.7409 | -4.719 |
Chromium III | 0.8190 | 3.7256 | 0.8190 | 0.6848 |
Lead | 1.273 | -1.460 | 1.273 | -4.705 |
Nickel | 0.8460 | 2.255 | 0.8460 | 0.0584 |
Silver | 1.72 | -6.59 | -- | -- |
Zinc | 0.8473 | 0.884 | 0.8473 | 0.884 |
The conversion factors (CF) below must be used in the equations above for the hardness-dependent metals in order to convert total recoverable metals criteria to dissolved metals criteria. For metals that are not hardness-dependent (i.e. arsenic, chromium VI, selenium, and silver (chronic)), including the saltwater metals criteria, the criterion value associated with the metal in Table 30 already reflects a dissolved criterion based on its conversion factor below.
Conversion Factor (CF) Table for Dissolved Metals
Chemical | Freshwater | Saltwater | ||
Acute | Chronic | Acute | Chronic | |
Arsenic | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
Cadmium | N/A | 1.101672-[(ln hardness)(0.041838)] | 0.994 | 0.994 |
Chromium III | 0.316 | 0.860 | -- | -- |
Chromium VI | 0.982 | 0.962 | 0.993 | 0.993 |
Copper | N/A | N/A | 0.83 | 0.83 |
Lead | 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] | 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] | 0.951 | 0.951 |
Nickel | 0.998 | 0.997 | 0.990 | 0.990 |
Selenium | 0.996 | 0.922 | 0.998 | 0.998 |
Silver | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.85 | -- |
Zinc | 0.978 | 0.986 | 0.946 | 0.946 |
Footnote M: Equations for Freshwater Ammonia Calculations
Acute Criterion
The 1-hour average concentration of un-ionized ammonia (mg/L NH3) does not exceed more often than once every three years on average, the numerical value given by:
CMCNH3 = 0.52/FT/FPH/2 where:
FT = 10 0.03(20-TCAP); TCAP ≤ T ≤ 30 C
FT = 10 0.03(20-T); 0 ≤ T ≤ TCAP
FPH = 1 8≤ pH ≤ 9
FPH = 1 + 10 7.4-pH 6.5 ≤ 8
1.25
TCAP = 20 C; Salmonids and other sensitive coldwater species present
TCAP = 25 C; Salmonids and other sensitive coldwater species absent
Chronic Criterion
The 4-day average concentration of un-ionized ammonia (mg/L NH3) does not exceed more often than once every three years on average, the average numerical value given by:
CCCNH3 = 0.80/FT/FPH/RATIO
where FT and FPH are as above for acute criterion and:
RATIO = 16 7.7 ≤ pH ≤ 9
RATIO = 24 6.5≤ pH ≤ 7.7
TCAP = 15 C; Salmonids and other sensitive coldwater species present
TCAP = 20 C; Salmonids and other sensitive coldwater species absent