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9VAC25-260-140

9VAC25-260-140. Criteria for surface water.

A. Instream water quality conditions shall not be acutely1 or chronically2 toxic except as allowed in 9VAC25-260-20 B (mixing zones). The following are definitions of acute and chronic toxicity conditions:

"Acute toxicity" means an adverse effect that usually occurs shortly after exposure to a pollutant. Lethality to an organism is the usual measure of acute toxicity. Where death is not easily detected, immobilization is considered equivalent to death.

"Chronic toxicity" means an adverse effect that is irreversible or progressive or occurs because the rate of injury is greater than the rate of repair during prolonged exposure to a pollutant. This includes low level, long-term effects such as reduction in growth or reproduction.

B. The following table is a list of numerical water quality criteria for specific parameters.

Table of Parameters6, 7

PARAMETER
CAS Number

USE DESIGNATION

AQUATIC LIFE

HUMAN HEALTH

FRESHWATER

SALTWATER

Public Water Supply3

All Other Surface Waters4

Acute1

Chronic2

Acute1

Chronic2

Acenapthene (μg/l)
83329

 

 

 

 

670 70

990 90

Acrolein (μg/l)
107028

3.0 

3.0 

 

 

6.1 3

9.3 400

Acrylonitrile (μg/l)
107131

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.51 0.61

2.5 70

Aldrin (μg/l)
309002

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

3.0

 

1.3

 

0.00049 0.0000077

0.00050 0.0000077

Ammonia (μg/l)
766‑41‑7

Chronic criterion is a 30-day average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every three years on the average.(see 9VAC25-260-155)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anthracene (μg/l)
120127

 

 

 

 

8,300 300

40,000 400

Antimony (μg/l)
7440360

 

 

 

 

5.6

640

Arsenic (μg/l)5
7440382

340

150

69

36

10

 

Bacteria
(see 9VAC25-260-160 and 9VAC25-260-170)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barium (μg/l)
7440393

 

 

 

 

2,000

 

Benzene (μg/l)
71432

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

22 5.8

510 160

Benzidine (μg/l)
92875

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.00086 0.0014

0.0020 0.11

Benzo (a) anthracene (μg/l)
56553

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.038 0.012

0.18 0.013

Benzo (b) fluoranthene (μg/l)
205992

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.038 0.012

0.18 0.013

Benzo (k) fluoranthene (μg/l)
207089

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.038 0.12

0.18 0.13

Benzo (a) pyrene (μg/l)
50328

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.038 0.0012

0.18 0.0013

Bis2-Chloroethyl Ether (μg/l)
111444

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.30

5.3 22

Bis (chloromethyl) Ether
542881

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5

 

 

 

 

0.0015

0.17

Bis2-Chloroisopropyl Ether (Bis (2-Chloro-1-methylethyl) Ether) (μg/l)
108601

 

 

 

 

1,400 200

65,000 4,000

Bis2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (μg/l)
117817

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. Synonym = Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate.

 

 

 

 

12 3.2

22 3.7

Bromoform (μg/l)
75252

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

43 70

1,400 1,200

Butyl benzyl phthalate (μg/l)
85687

 

 

 

 

1,500 [ 0.10 1.0 ]

1,900 [ 0.10 1.0 ]

Cadmium (μg/l)5
7440439

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
WER e {1.128[In(hardness)] – 3.828}] e (0.9789[ln(hardness)]-3.866) (CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {0.7852[In(hardness)] – 3.490}] CFc e (0.7977[ln(hardness)]-3.909) (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 1.136672-[(ln hardness)(0.041838)]

CFc = 1.101672-[(ln hardness)(0.041838)]

3.9 1.8
CaCO3 = 100

1.1 0.72
CaCO3 = 100

40 33
X WER

8.8 7.9
X WER

5

 

Carbon tetrachloride (μg/l)
56235

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

2.3 4.0

16 50

Carbaryl (μg/l)
63252

2.1

2.1

1.6

 

 

 

Chlordane (μg/l)
57749

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

2.4

0.0043

0.09

0.0040

0.0080 0.0031

0.0081 0.0032

Chloride (μg/l)
16887006

Human health criterion to maintain acceptable taste and aesthetic quality and applies at the drinking water intake.

Chloride criteria do not apply in Class II transition zones (see subsection C of this section).

860,000

230,000

 

 

250,000

 

Chlorine, Total Residual (μg/l)
7782505

In DGIF class i and ii trout waters (9VAC25-260-390 through 9VAC25-260-540) or waters with threatened or endangered species are subject to the halogen ban (9VAC25-260-110).

19

See 9VAC25-260-110

11

See 9VAC25-260-110

 

 

 

 

Chlorine Produced Oxidant (μg/l)
7782505

 

 

13

7.5

 

 

Chlorobenzene (μg/l)
108907

 

 

 

 

130  100

1,600 800

Chlorodibromomethane (μg/l)
124481

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

4.0 8.0

130 210

Chloroform (μg/l)
67663

 

 

 

 

340 60

11,000 2,000

2-Chloronaphthalene (μg/l)
91587

 

 

 

 

1,000  800

1,600 1,000

2-Chlorophenol (μg/l)
95578

 

 

 

 

81 30

150 800

Chlorpyrifos (μg/l)
2921882

0.083

0.041

0.011

0.0056

 

 

Chromium III (μg/l)5
16065831

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate CaCO3 mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion μg/l

WER [e{0.8190[In(hardness)]+3.7256}] (CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion μg/l
WER [e{0.8190[In(hardness)]+0.6848}] (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140.F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa= 0.316

CFc=0.860

570
(CaCO3 = 100)

74
(CaCO3 = 100)

 

 

100

(total Cr)

 

Chromium VI (μg/l)5
18540299

16

11

1,100

50

 

 

Chrysene (μg/l)
218019

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.038 1.2

0.018 1.3

Copper (μg/l)5
7440508

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate CaCO3 mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)

WER [e {0.9422[In(hardness)]-1.700}] (CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {0.8545[In(hardness)]-1.702}] (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F.

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 0.960

CFc = 0.960

Alternate copper criteria in freshwater: the freshwater criteria for copper can also be calculated using the EPA 2007 Biotic Ligand Model (See 9VAC25-260-140 G).

Acute saltwater criterion is a 24-hour average not to be exceeded more than once every three years on the average.

13
CaCO 3 = 100

9.0
CaCO3 = 100

9.3
X WER

6.0
X WER

1,300

 

Cyanide, Free (μg/l)
57125

22

5.2

1.0

1.0

140  4

16,000  400

DDD (μg/l)
72548

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.0031 0.0012

0.0031 0.0012

DDE (μg/l)
72559

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.0022 0.00018

0.0022 0.00018

DDT (μg/l)
50293

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

Total concentration of DDT and metabolites shall not exceed aquatic life criteria.

1.1

0.0010

0.13

0.0010

0.0022 0.00030

0.0022 0.00030

Demeton (μg/l)
8065483

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

 

Diazinon (μg/l)
333415

0.17

0.17

0.82

0.82

 

 

Dibenz (a, h) anthracene (μg/l)
53703

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.038 0.0012

0.18 0.0013

1,2-Dichlorobenzene (μg/l)

95501

 

 

 

 

420 1,000

1,300 3,000

1,3-Dichlorobenzene (μg/l)

541731

 

 

 

 

320 7

960 10

1,4 Dichlorobenzene (μg/l)
106467

 

 

 

 

63 300

190 900

3,3 Dichlorobenzidine (μg/l)
91941

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.21 0.49

0.28 1.5

Dichlorobromomethane (μg/l)
75274

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

5.5 9.5

170 270

1,2 Dichloroethane (μg/l)
107062

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

3.8  99

370 6,500

1,1 Dichloroethylene (μg/l)
75354

 

 

 

 

330 300

7,100 20,000

1,2-trans-dichloroethylene (μg/l)
156605

 

 

 

 

140 100

10,000 4,000

2,4 Dichlorophenol (μg/l)
120832

 

 

 

 

77 10

290 60

2,4 Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (Chlorophenoxy Herbicide) (2,4-D) (μg/l)
94757

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100 1,300

12,000

1,2-Dichloropropane (μg/l)
78875

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

5.0  9.0

150 310

1,3-Dichloropropene (μg/l)
542756

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

3.4 2.7

210 120

Dieldrin (μg/l)
60571

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

0.24

0.056

0.71

0.0019

0.00052 0.000012

0.00054  0.000012

Diethyl Phthalate (μg/l)
84662

 

 

 

 

17,000 600

44,000  600

2,4 Dimethylphenol (μg/l)
105679

 

 

 

 

380  100

850  3,000

Dimethyl Phthalate (μg/l)
131113

 

 

 

 

270,000 2,000

1,100,000  2,000

Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (μg/l)
84742

 

 

 

 

2,000 20

4,500 30

2,4 Dinitrophenol (μg/l)
51285

 

 

 

 

69  10

5,300  300

Dinitrophenols (μg/l)
25550587

 

 

 

 

10

1,000

2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol (μg/l)
534521

 

 

 

 

13 2

280 30

2,4 Dinitrotoluene (μg/l)
121142

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

1.1 0.49

34 17

Dioxin 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (μg/l)
1746016

 

 

 

 

5.0 E-8

5.1 E-8

1,2-Diphenylhydrazine (μg/l)
122667

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.36 0.3

2.0

Dissolved Oxygen (μg/l)
(See 9VAC25-260-50)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alpha-Endosulfan (μg/l)
959988

Total concentration alpha and beta-endosulfan shall not exceed aquatic life criteria.

0.22

0.056

0.034

0.0087

62 20

89 30

Beta-Endosulfan (μg/l)
33213659

Total concentration alpha and beta-endosulfan shall not exceed aquatic life criteria.

0.22

0.056

0.034

0.0087

62  20

89 40

Endosulfan Sulfate (μg/l)
1031078

 

 

 

 

62 20

89 40

Endrin (μg/l)
72208

0.086

0.036

0.037

0.0023

0.059 0.03

0.060 0.03

Endrin Aldehyde (μg/l)
7421934

 

 

 

 

0.29  1

0.30 1

Ethylbenzene (μg/l)
100414

 

 

 

 

530  68

2,100 130

Fecal Coliform
(see 9VAC25-260-160)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluoranthene (μg/l)
206440

 

 

 

 

130 20

140 20

Fluorene (μg/l)
86737

 

 

 

 

1,100 50

5,300 70

Foaming Agents (μg/l)

Criterion measured as methylene blue active substances. Criterion to maintain acceptable taste, odor, or aesthetic quality of drinking water and applies at the drinking water intake.

 

 

 

 

500

 

Guthion (μg/l)
86500

 

0.01

 

0.01

 

 

Heptachlor (μg/l)
76448

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

0.52

0.0038

0.053

0.0036

0.00079  0.000059

0.00079  0.000059

Heptachlor Epoxide (μg/l)
1024573

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

0.52

0.0038

0.053

0.0036

0.00039 0.00032

0.00039  0.00032

Hexachlorobenzene (μg/l)
118741

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.0028  0.00079

0.0029  0.00079

Hexachlorobutadiene (μg/l)
87683

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

4.4  0.1

180  0.1

Hexachlorocyclohexane Alpha-BHC (μg/l)
319846

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.026 0.0036

0.049  0.0039

Hexachlorocyclohexane Beta-BHC (μg/l)
319857

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.091  0.080

0.17  0.14

Hexachlorocyclohexane (μg/l) (Lindane)

Gamma-BHC
58899

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

0.95

 

0.16

 

0.98  4.2

1.8  4.4

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-Technical (μg/l)

608731

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.066

0.1

Hexachlorocyclopentadiene (μg/l)
77474

 

 

 

 

40  4

1,100  4

Hexachloroethane (μg/l)
67721

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

14  1

33  1

Hydrogen sulfide (μg/l)
7783064

 

2.0

 

2.0

 

 

Indeno (1,2,3,-cd) pyrene (μg/l)
193395

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.038  0.012

0.18 0.013

Iron (μg/l)
7439896

Criterion to maintain acceptable taste, odor or aesthetic quality of drinking water and applies at the drinking water intake.

 

 

 

 

300

 

Isophorone (μg/l)
78591

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

350 340

9,600 18,000

Kepone (μg/l)
143500

 

zero

 

zero

 

 

Lead (μg/l)5
7439921

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate CaCO3 mg/l and the water effect ratio. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {1.273[In(hardness)]-1.084}](CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {1.273[In(hardness)]-3.259}] (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)]

CFc = 1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)]

94
CaCO3 = 100

11
CaCO3 = 100

230 X WER

8.8 X WER

15

 

Malathion (μg/l)
121755

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

 

Mercury (μg/l) 5
7439976

1.4

0.77

1.8

0.94

 

 

Methyl Bromide (μg/l)
74839

 

 

 

 

47 100

1,500 10,000

3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol
59507

 

 

 

 

500

2,000

Methyl Mercury (Fish Tissue Criterion mg/kg) 8
22967926

 

 

 

 

0.30

0.30

Methylene Chloride (μg/l)
75092

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. Synonym = Dichloromethane

 

 

 

 

46 20

5,900 1,000

Methoxychlor (μg/l)
72435

 

0.03

 

0.03

100 0.02

0.02 

Mirex (μg/l)
2385855

 

zero

 

zero

 

 

Nickel (μg/l)5
744002

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate CaCO3 mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {0.8460[In(hardness)] + 1.312}] (CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {0.8460[In(hardness)] - 0.8840}] (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 0.998

CFc = 0.997

180
CaCO3 = 100

20
CaCO3 = 100

74 X WER

8.2 X WER

610

4,600

Nitrate as N (μg/l)
14797558

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

Nitrobenzene (μg/l)
98953

 

 

 

 

17 10

690 600

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (μg/l)
62759

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.0069

30

N-Nitrosodiphenylamine (μg/l)
86306

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

33

60

N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine (μg/l)
621647

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.050

5.1

Nonylphenol (μg/l)
84852153

28

6.6

7.0

1.7

 

 

Parathion (μg/l)
56382

0.065

0.013

 

 

 

 

PCB Total (μg/l)
1336363

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

0.014

 

0.030

0.00064

0.00064

Pentachlorobenzene (μg/l)
608935

 

 

 

 

0.1

0.1

Pentachlorophenol (μg/l)
87865

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria risk level at 10-5.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
e (1.005(pH)-4.869)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
e (1.005(pH)-5.134)

8.7
pH = 7.0

6.7
pH = 7.0

13

7.9

2.7 0.3

30 0.4

pH

See 9VAC25-260-50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phenol (μg/l)
108952

 

 

 

 

10,000 4,000

860,000 300,000

Phosphorus Elemental (μg/l)
7723140

 

 

 

0.10

 

 

Pyrene (μg/l)
129000

 

 

 

 

830 20

4,000 30

Radionuclides

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Alpha Particle Activity (pCi/L)

 

 

 

 

15

 

Beta Particle & Photon Activity (mrem/yr) (formerly man-made radionuclides)

 

 

 

 

4

 

Combined Radium 226 and 228 (pCi/L)

 

 

 

 

5

 

Uranium (μg/L)

 

 

 

 

30

 

Selenium (μg/l)5
7782492

WER shall not be used for freshwater acute and chronic criteria. Freshwater criteria expressed as total recoverable.

20

5.0

290 X WER

71
X WER

170

4,200

Silver (μg/l)5
7440224

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {1.72[In(hardness)]-6.52}] (CFa)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a

(acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 0.85

3.4; CaCO3 = 100

 

1.9 X WER

 

 

 

Sulfate (μg/l)

Criterion to maintain acceptable taste, odor or aesthetic quality of drinking water and applies at the drinking water intake.

 

 

 

 

250,000

 

Temperature

See 9VAC25-260-50

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene

95943

 

 

 

 

0.03

0.03

1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (μg/l)
79345

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

1.7  2.0

40 30

Tetrachloroethylene (μg/l)
127184

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

6.9 100

33  290

Thallium (μg/l)
7440280

 

 

 

 

0.24

0.47

Toluene (μg/l)
108883

 

 

 

 

510 57

6,000 520

Total Dissolved Solids (μg/l)
Criterion to maintain acceptable taste, odor or aesthetic quality of drinking water and applies at the drinking water intake.

 

 

 

 

500,000

 

Toxaphene (μg/l)
8001352

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

0.73

0.0002

0.21

0.0002

0.0028 0.0070

0.0028  0.0071

Tributyltin (μg/l)
60105

0.46

0.072

0.42

0.0074

 

 

1, 2, 4 Trichlorobenzene (μg/l)
120821

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

35 0.71

70  0.76

1,1,1-Trichloroethane
71556

 

 

 

 

10,000

200,000

1,1,2-Trichloroethane (μg/l)
79005

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

5.9 5.5

160 89

Trichloroethylene (μg/l)
79016

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

25 6.0

300 70

2, 4, 5 –Trichlorophenol
95954

 

 

 

 

300

600

2, 4, 6-Trichlorophenol (μg/l)
88062

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

14 15

24 28

2-(2, 4, 5-Trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (Silvex) (μg/l)
93721

 

 

 

 

[ 50 100 ]

[ 400 ]  

Vinyl Chloride (μg/l)
75014

Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5.

 

 

 

 

0.25  0.22

24  16

Zinc (μg/l)5
7440666

Freshwater values are a function of total hardness as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mg/l and the WER. The minimum hardness allowed for use in the equation below shall be 25 and the maximum, hardness shall be 400 even when the actual ambient hardness is less than 25 or greater than 400.

Freshwater acute criterion (μg/l)
WER [e {0.8473[In(hardness)]+0.884}](CFa)

Freshwater chronic criterion (μg/l)
WER [e{0.8473[In(hardness)]+0.884}] (CFc)

WER = Water Effect Ratio = 1 unless determined otherwise under 9VAC25-260-140 F

e = natural antilogarithm

ln = natural logarithm

CF = conversion factor a (acute) or c (chronic)

CFa = 0.978

CFc = 0.986

120 CaCO3 = 100

120 CaCO3 = 100

90
X WER

81
X WER

7,400

26,000

 

1One hour average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every 3 years on the average, unless otherwise noted.

2Four-day average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every 3 years on the average, unless otherwise noted.

3Criteria have been calculated to protect human health from toxic effects through drinking water and fish consumption, unless otherwise noted and apply in segments designated as PWS in 9VAC25-260-390 through 9VAC25-260-540.

4Criteria have been calculated to protect human health from toxic effects through fish consumption, unless otherwise noted and apply in all other surface waters not designated as PWS in 9VAC25-260-390 through 9VAC25-260-540.

5Acute and chronic saltwater and freshwater aquatic life criteria apply to the biologically available form of the metal and apply as a function of the pollutant's water effect ratio (WER) as defined in 9VAC25-260-140 F (WER X criterion). Metals measured as dissolved shall be considered to be biologically available, or, because local receiving water characteristics may otherwise affect the biological availability of the metal, the biologically available equivalent measurement of the metal can be further defined by determining a water effect ratio (WER) and multiplying the numerical value shown in 9VAC25-260-140 B by the WER. Refer to 9VAC25-260-140 F. Values displayed above in the table are examples and correspond to a WER of 1.0. Metals criteria have been adjusted to convert the total recoverable fraction to dissolved fraction using a conversion factor. Criteria that change with hardness have the conversion factor listed in the table above.

6The flows listed below are default design flows for calculating steady state wasteload allocations unless statistically valid methods are employed which demonstrate compliance with the duration and return frequency of the water quality criteria.

 

Aquatic Life:

Acute criteria

1Q10

Chronic criteria

7Q10

Chronic criteria (ammonia)

30Q10

Human Health:

Noncarcinogens

30Q5

Carcinogens

Harmonic mean

The following are defined for this section:

"1Q10" means the lowest flow averaged over a period of 1 day which on a statistical basis can be expected to occur once every 10 climatic years.

"7Q10" means the lowest flow averaged over a period of 7 consecutive days that can be statistically expected to occur once every 10 climatic years.

"30Q5" means the lowest flow averaged over a period of 30 consecutive days that can be statistically expected to occur once every 5 climatic years.

"30Q10" means the lowest flow averaged over a period of 30 consecutive days that can be statistically expected to occur once every 10 climatic years.

"Averaged" means an arithmetic mean.

"Climatic year" means a year beginning on April 1 and ending on March 31.

7The criteria listed in this table are two significant digits. For other criteria that are referenced to other sections of this regulation in this table, all numbers listed as criteria values are significant.

8The fish tissue criterion for methylmercury applies to a concentration of 0.30 mg/kg as wet weight in edible tissue for species of fish and shellfish resident in a waterbody that are commonly eaten in the area and have commercial, recreational, or subsistence value.

C. Application of freshwater and saltwater numerical criteria. The numerical water quality criteria listed in subsection B of this section (excluding dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature) shall be applied according to the following classes of waters (see 9VAC25-260-50) and boundary designations:

CLASS OF WATERS

NUMERICAL CRITERIA

I and II (Estuarine Waters)

Saltwater criteria apply

II (Transition Zone)

More stringent of either the freshwater or saltwater criteria apply

II (Tidal Freshwater), III, IV, V, VI and VII

Freshwater criteria apply

The following describes the boundary designations for Class II, (estuarine, transition zone and tidal freshwater waters) by river basin:

1. Rappahannock Basin. Tidal freshwater is from the fall line of the Rappahannock River to the upstream boundary of the transition zone including all tidal tributaries that enter the tidal freshwater Rappahannock River.

Transition zone upstream boundary – N38° 4' 56.59"/W76° 58' 47.93" (430 feet east of Hutchinson Swamp) to N38° 5' 23.33"/W76° 58' 24.39" (0.7 miles upstream of Peedee Creek).

Transition zone downstream boundary – N37° 58' 45.80"/W76° 55' 28.75" (1,000 feet downstream of Jenkins Landing) to N37° 59' 20.07/W76° 53' 45.09" (0.33 miles upstream of Mulberry Point). All tidal waters that enter the transition zone are themselves transition zone waters.

Estuarine waters are from the downstream boundary of the transition zone to the mouth of the Rappahannock River (Buoy 6), including all tidal tributaries that enter the estuarine waters of the Rappahannock River.

2. York Basin. Tidal freshwater is from the fall line of the Mattaponi River at N37° 47' 20.03"/W77° 6' 15.16" (800 feet upstream of the Route 360 bridge in Aylett) to the upstream boundary of the Mattaponi River transition zone, and from the fall line of the Pamunkey River at N37° 41' 22.64"/W77° 12' 50.83" (2,000 feet upstream of Totopotomy Creek) to the upstream boundary of the Pamunkey River transition zone, including all tidal tributaries that enter the tidal freshwaters of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers.

Mattaponi River transition zone upstream boundary – N37° 39' 29.65"/W76° 52' 53.29" (1,000 feet upstream of Mitchell Hill Creek) to N37° 39' 24.20"/W76° 52' 55.87" (across from Courthouse Landing).

Mattaponi River transition zone downstream boundary – N37° 32' 19.76"/W76° 47' 29.41" (old Lord Delaware Bridge, west side) to N37° 32' 13.25"/W76° 47' 10.30" (old Lord Delaware Bridge, east side).

Pamunkey River transition zone upstream boundary – N37° 32' 36.63"/W76° 58' 29.88" (Cohoke Marsh, 0.9 miles upstream of Turkey Creek) to N37° 32' 36.51"/W76° 58' 36.48" (0.75 miles upstream of creek at Cook Landing).

Pamunkey River transition zone downstream boundary – N37° 31' 57.90"/W76° 48' 38.22" (old Eltham Bridge, west side) to N37° 32' 6.25"/W76° 48' 18.82" (old Eltham Bridge, east side).

All tidal tributaries that enter the transition zones of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers are themselves in the transition zone.

Estuarine waters are from the downstream boundary of the transition zones of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers to the mouth of the York River (Tue Marsh Light) including all tidal tributaries that enter the estuarine waters of the York River.

3. James Basin. Tidal freshwater is from the fall line of the James River in the City of Richmond upstream of Mayo Bridge to the upstream boundary of the transition zone, including all tidal tributaries that enter the tidal freshwater James River.

James River transition zone upstream boundary – N37° 14' 28.25"/W76° 56' 44.47" (at Tettington) to N37° 13' 38.56"/W76° 56' 47.13" (0.3 miles downstream of Sloop Point).

Chickahominy River transition zone upstream boundary – N37° 25' 44.79"/W77° 1' 41.76" (Holly Landing).

Transition zone downstream boundary – N37° 12' 7.23"/W76° 37' 34.70" (near Carters Grove Home, 1.25 miles downstream of Grove Creek) to N37° 9' 17.23"/W76° 40' 13.45" (0.7 miles upstream of Hunnicutt Creek). All tidal waters that enter the transition zone are themselves transition zone waters.

Estuarine waters are from the downstream transition zone boundary to the mouth of the James River (Buoy 25) including all tidal tributaries that enter the estuarine waters of the James River.

4. Potomac Basin. Tidal freshwater includes all tidal tributaries that enter the Potomac River from its fall line at the Chain Bridge (N38° 55' 46.28"/W77° 6' 59.23") to the upstream transition zone boundary near Quantico, Virginia.

Transition zone includes all tidal tributaries that enter the Potomac River from N38° 31' 27.05"/W77° 17' 7.06" (midway between Shipping Point and Quantico Pier) to N38° 23' 22.78"/W77° 1' 45.50" (one mile southeast of Mathias Point).

Estuarine waters includes all tidal tributaries that enter the Potomac River from the downstream transition zone boundary to the mouth of the Potomac River (Buoy 44B).

5. Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and small coastal basins. Estuarine waters include the Atlantic Ocean tidal tributaries, and the Chesapeake Bay and its small coastal basins from the Virginia state line to the mouth of the bay (a line from Cape Henry drawn through Buoys 3 and 8 to Fishermans Island), and its tidal tributaries, excluding the Potomac tributaries and those tributaries listed in subdivisions 1 through 4 of this subsection.

6. Chowan River Basin. Tidal freshwater includes the Northwest River and its tidal tributaries from the Virginia-North Carolina state line to the free flowing portion, the Blackwater River and its tidal tributaries from the Virginia-North Carolina state line to the end of tidal waters at approximately state route 611 at river mile 20.90, the Nottoway River and its tidal tributaries from the Virginia-North Carolina state line to the end of tidal waters at approximately Route 674, and the North Landing River and its tidal tributaries from the Virginia-North Carolina state line to the Great Bridge Lock.

Transition zone includes Back Bay and its tributaries in the City of Virginia Beach to the Virginia-North Carolina state line.

D. Site-specific modifications to numerical water quality criteria.

1. The board may consider site-specific modifications to numerical water quality criteria in subsection B of this section where the applicant or permittee demonstrates that the alternate numerical water quality criteria are sufficient to protect all designated uses (see 9VAC25-260-10) of that particular surface water segment or body.

2. Any demonstration for site-specific human health criteria shall be restricted to a reevaluation of the bioconcentration or bioaccumulation properties of the pollutant. The exceptions to this restriction are for site-specific criteria for taste, odor, and aesthetic compounds noted by double asterisks in subsection B of this section and nitrates.

3. Procedures for promulgation and review of site-specific modifications to numerical water quality criteria resulting from subdivisions 1 and 2 of this subsection.

a. Proposals describing the details of the site-specific study shall be submitted to the board's staff for approval prior to commencing the study.

b. Any site-specific modification shall be promulgated as a regulation in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). All site-specific modifications shall be listed in 9VAC25-260-310 (Special standards and requirements).

E. Variances to water quality standards.

1. A variance from numeric criteria may be granted to a discharger if it can be demonstrated that one or more of the conditions in 9VAC25-260-10 H limit the attainment of one or more specific designated uses.

a. Variances shall apply only to the discharger to whom they are granted and shall be reevaluated and either continued, modified or revoked at the time of permit issuance. At that time the permittee shall make a showing that the conditions for granting the variance still apply.

b. Variances shall be described in the public notice published for the permit. The decision to approve a variance shall be subject to the public participation requirements of the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit Regulation, 9VAC25-31 [ (Permit Regulation) ].

c. Variances shall not prevent the maintenance and protection of existing uses or exempt the discharger or regulated activity from compliance with other appropriate technology or water quality-based limits or best management practices.

d. Variances granted under this section shall not apply to new discharges.

e. Variances shall be submitted by the department's Division of Scientific Research or its successors to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval or disapproval.

f. A list of variances granted shall be maintained by the department's Division of Scientific Research or its successors.

2. None of the variances in this subsection shall apply to the halogen ban section (9VAC25-260-110) or temperature criteria in 9VAC25-260-50 if superseded by § 316(a) of the Clean Water Act requirements. No variances in this subsection shall apply to the criteria that are designed to protect human health from carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic toxic effects (subsection B of this section) with the exception of the metals, and the taste, odor, and aesthetic compounds noted by double asterisks and nitrates, listed in subsection B of this section.

F. Water effect ratio.

1. A water effects ratio (WER) shall be determined by measuring the effect of receiving water (as it is or will be affected by any discharges) on the bioavailability or toxicity of a metal by using standard test organisms and a metal to conduct toxicity tests simultaneously in receiving water and laboratory water. The ratio of toxicities of the [ metal(s) metals ] in the two waters is the WER (toxicity in receiving water divided by toxicity in laboratory water equals WER). Once an acceptable WER for a metal is established, the numerical value for the metal in subsection B of this section is multiplied by the WER to produce an instream concentration that will protect designated uses. This instream concentration shall be utilized in permitting decisions.

2. The WER shall be assigned a value of 1.0 unless the applicant or permittee demonstrates to the department's satisfaction in a permit proceeding that another value is appropriate, or unless available data allow the department to compute a WER for the receiving waters. The applicant or permittee is responsible for proposing and conducting the study to develop a WER. The study may require multiple testing over several seasons. The applicant or permittee shall obtain the department's Division of Scientific Research or its successor approval of the study protocol and the final WER.

3. [ The Permit Regulation at ] 9VAC25-31-230 C requires that permit limits for metals be expressed as total recoverable measurements. To that end, the study used to establish the WER may be based on total recoverable measurements of the metals.

4. The WER is established in a permit proceeding, shall be described in the public notice associated with the permit proceeding, and applies only to the applicant or permittee in that proceeding. The department's action to approve or disapprove a WER is a case decision, not an amendment to the present regulation.

The decision to approve or disapprove a WER shall be subject to the public participation requirements of [ the Permit Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) ] Regulation, Part IV (9VAC25-31-260 et seq.). A list of final WERs will be maintained by the department's Division of Scientific Research or its successor.

5. A WER shall not be used for the freshwater and saltwater chronic mercury criteria or the freshwater acute and chronic selenium criteria.

G. Biotic Ligand Model for copper. On a case-by-case basis, EPA's 2007 copper criteria (EPA-822-F-07-001) biotic ligand model (BLM) for copper may be used to determine alternate copper criteria for freshwater sites. The BLM is a bioavailability model that uses receiving water characteristics to develop site-specific criteria. Site-specific data for 10 parameters are needed to use the BLM. These parameters are temperature, pH, dissolved organic carbon, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride, and alkalinity. If sufficient data for these parameters are available, the BLM can be used to calculate alternate criteria values for the copper criteria. The BLM would be used instead of the hardness-based criteria and takes the place of the hardness adjustment and the WER. A WER will not be applicable with the BLM.

9VAC25-260-170

9VAC25-260-170. Bacteria; other recreational waters.

A. The following bacteria criteria [ (colony forming units (CFU)/100 ml) (counts/100ml) ] shall apply to protect primary contact recreational uses in surface waters, except waters identified in subsection B of this section:

[ In freshwater, ] E. coli bacteria shall not exceed a [ monthly ] geometric mean of 126 [ CFU/100 ml in freshwater counts/100ml ] and [ no more shall not have greater ] than [ a ] 10% [ excursion frequency ] of [ the samples in the assessment period shall exceed ] a statistical threshold value (STV) of 410 [ CFU/100 ml counts/100 ml, both in an assessment period of up to 90 days ].

[ In transition and saltwater, ] Enterococci bacteria shall not exceed a [ monthly ] geometric mean of 35 [ CFU/100 ml in transition and saltwater counts/100ml ] and [ no more shall not have greater ] than [ a ] 10% [ excursion frequency ] of [ the samples in the assessment period shall exceed ] a statistical threshold value (STV) of 130 [ CFU/100 ml counts/100ml, both in an assessment period of up to 90 days ].

1. See 9VAC25-260-140 C for boundary delineations for freshwater, transition and saltwater.

[ 2. ] Geometric means shall be calculated using all data collected during any calendar month with a minimum of four weekly samples. [ The Virginia Department of Health shall make determinations regarding beach advisories or closures. ]

3. If there are insufficient data to calculate monthly geometric means in freshwater, no more than 10% of the total samples in the assessment period shall exceed 235 E. coli CFU/100 ml.

4. If there are insufficient data to calculate monthly geometric means in transition and saltwater, no more than 10% of the total samples in the assessment period shall exceed enterococci 104 CFU/100 ml.

5. For beach advisories or closures, a single sample maximum of 235 E. coli CFU/100 ml in freshwater and a single sample maximum of 104 enterococci CFU/100 ml in saltwater and transition zones shall apply.

[ 2. In VPDES discharges to freshwater, bacteria in effluent requiring disinfection shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of E. coli bacteria of 126 counts/100ml. Alternative performance standards may be established where an approved long term control plan establishes an alternative level of disinfection for a combined sewer system.

In VPDES discharges to transition and saltwater, bacteria in effluent requiring disinfection shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of enterococci bacteria of 35 counts/100ml.

B. The following bacteria criteria per 100 ml (CFU/100 ml) of water shall apply:

E. coli bacteria shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of 630 CFU/100 ml in freshwater.

Enterococci bacteria shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of 175 CFU/100 ml in transition and saltwater.

1. See 9VAC25-260-140 C for boundary delineations for freshwater, transition and saltwater.

2. Geometric means shall be calculated using all data collected during any calendar month with a minimum of four weekly samples.

3. If there is insufficient data to calculate monthly geometric means in freshwater, no more than 10% of the total samples in the assessment period shall exceed 1173 E. coli CFU/100 ml.

4. If there is insufficient data to calculate monthly geometric means in transition and saltwater, no more than 10% of the total samples in the assessment period shall exceed 519 enterococci CFU/100 ml.

5. Where the existing water quality for bacteria is below the geometric mean criteria in a water body designated for secondary contact in subdivision 6 of this subsection that higher water quality will be maintained in accordance with 9VAC25-260-30 A 2.

6. Surface waters designated under this subsection are as follows:

a. (Reserved)

b. (Reserved)

c. (Reserved) ]