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 | USE DESIGNATION | |||||||||||||||||||
AQUATIC LIFE | HUMAN HEALTH | |||||||||||||||||||
FRESHWATER | SALTWATER | Public Water Supply3 | All Other Surface Waters4 | |||||||||||||||||
Acute1 | Chronic2 | Acute1 | Chronic2 | |||||||||||||||||
Acenapthene (µg/l) | 70 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||
Acrolein (µg/l) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||
Acrylonitrile (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.61 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||
Aldrin (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.0000077 | 0.0000077 | ||||||||||||||||
Aluminum (µg/l) 7429905 Acute and chronic freshwater aluminum criteria values for a site shall be calculated using the 2018 Aluminum Criteria Calculator (Aluminum Criteria Calculator V.2.0.xlsx), or a calculator in R or other software package using the same 1985 Guidelines calculation approach and underlying model equations as in the Aluminum Criteria Calculator V.2.0.xlsx, as defined in EPA's Final Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Aluminum. (EPA-822-R-18-001, 2018) Values displayed in the table are examples of criteria calculated by the model using the indicated input parameters for pH, hardness, and Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). Freshwater criteria expressed as total recoverable. | 1,300 pH= 7.0 Total hardness (CaCO3) = 25 mg/l DOC = 5.0 mg/l | 500 pH= 7.0 Total hardness (CaCO3) = 25 mg/l DOC = 5.0 mg/l | ||||||||||||||||||
Ammonia (µg/l) 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) | 300 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||
Antimony (µg/l) | 5.3 | 580 | ||||||||||||||||||
Arsenic (µg/l)5 | 340 | 150 | 69 | 36 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
Bacteria | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barium (µg/l) | 2,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Benzene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 5.8 | 160 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benzidine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.0014 | 0.11 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benzo (a) anthracene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.012 | 0.013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benzo (b) fluoranthene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.012 | 0.013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benzo (k) fluoranthene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.12 | 0.13 | ||||||||||||||||||
Benzo (a) pyrene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.0012 | 0.0013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bis2-Chloroethyl Ether (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5 | 0.30 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,2'-Oxybis(1-Chloropropane) (µg/l) | 200 | 4,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bis2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. Synonym = Di-2-Ethylhexyl Phthalate. | 3.2 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Bromoform (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 70 | 1,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Butyl benzyl phthalate (µg/l) | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cadmium (µg/l)5 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) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) 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)] | 1.8 | 0.72 | 33 | 7.9 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Carbon tetrachloride (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 4.0 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
Carbaryl (µg/l) | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||
Chlordane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 2.4 | 0.0043 | 0.09 | 0.0040 | 0.0031 | 0.0032 | ||||||||||||||
Chloride (µg/l) 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) In DWR 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) | 13 | 7.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chlorobenzene (µg/l) | 100 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chlorodibromomethane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 8.0 | 210 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chloroform (µg/l) | 60 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
2-Chloronaphthalene (µg/l) | 800 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
2-Chlorophenol (µg/l) | 30 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||
Chlorpyrifos (µg/l) | 0.083 | 0.041 | 0.011 | 0.0056 | ||||||||||||||||
Chromium III (µg/l)5 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[ln(hardness)]+3.7256}] (CFa) Freshwater chronic criterion µg/l 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 | 74 | 100 (total Cr) | |||||||||||||||||
Chromium VI (µg/l)5 | 16 | 11 | 1,100 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||
Chrysene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 1.2 | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Copper (µg/l)5 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[ln(hardness)]-1.700}] (CFa) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) 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 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 6.0 | 1,300 | |||||||||||||||
Cyanide, Free (µg/l) | 22 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4 | 400 | ||||||||||||||
DDD (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.0012 | 0.0012 | ||||||||||||||||||
DDE (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.00018 | 0.00018 | ||||||||||||||||||
DDT (µg/l) 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 | 0.00030 | 0.00030 | ||||||||||||||
Demeton (µg/l) | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Diazinon (µg/l) | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.82 | 0.82 | ||||||||||||||||
Dibenz (a, h) anthracene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.0012 | 0.0013 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,2-Dichlorobenzene (µg/l) 95501 | 1,000 | 3,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,3-Dichlorobenzene (µg/l) 541731 | 7 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,4 Dichlorobenzene (µg/l) | 300 | 900 | ||||||||||||||||||
3,3 Dichlorobenzidine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.49 | 1.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dichlorobromomethane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 9.5 | 270 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,2 Dichloroethane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 99 | 6,500 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,1 Dichloroethylene (µg/l) | 300 | 20,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,2-trans-dichloroethylene (µg/l) | 100 | 4,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,4 Dichlorophenol (µg/l) | 10 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,4 Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (Chlorophenoxy Herbicide) (2,4-D) (µg/l) | 1,300 | 12,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,2-Dichloropropane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 9.0 | 310 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,3-Dichloropropene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 2.7 | 120 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dieldrin (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.24 | 0.056 | 0.71 | 0.0019 | 0.000012 | 0.000012 | ||||||||||||||
Diethyl Phthalate (µg/l) | 600 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,4 Dimethylphenol (µg/l) | 100 | 3,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dimethyl Phthalate (µg/l) | 2,000 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate (µg/l) | 20 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,4 Dinitrophenol (µg/l) | 10 | 300 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dinitrophenols (µg/l) | 10 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
2-Methyl-4,6-Dinitrophenol (µg/l) | 2 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
2,4 Dinitrotoluene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.49 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dioxin 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (µg/l) | 4.6 E-8 | 4.7 E-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.3 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dissolved Oxygen (µg/l) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alpha-Endosulfan (µg/l) Total concentration alpha and beta-endosulfan shall not exceed aquatic life criteria. | 0.22 | 0.056 | 0.034 | 0.0087 | 20 | 30 | ||||||||||||||
Beta-Endosulfan (µg/l) Total concentration alpha and beta-endosulfan shall not exceed aquatic life criteria. | 0.22 | 0.056 | 0.034 | 0.0087 | 20 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
Endosulfan Sulfate (µg/l) | 20 | 40 | ||||||||||||||||||
Endrin (µg/l) | 0.086 | 0.036 | 0.037 | 0.0023 | 0.03 | 0.03 | ||||||||||||||
Endrin Aldehyde (µg/l) | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ethylbenzene (µg/l) | 68 | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fecal Coliform | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fluoranthene (µg/l) | 20 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||
Fluorene (µg/l) | 50 | 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) | 0.01 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||
Heptachlor (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.52 | 0.0038 | 0.053 | 0.0036 | 0.000059 | 0.000059 | ||||||||||||||
Heptachlor Epoxide (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.52 | 0.0038 | 0.053 | 0.0036 | 0.00032 | 0.00032 | ||||||||||||||
Hexachlorobenzene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.00079 | 0.00079 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hexachlorobutadiene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hexachlorocyclohexane Alpha-BHC (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.0036 | 0.0039 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hexachlorocyclohexane Beta-BHC (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.080 | 0.14 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hexachlorocyclohexane (µg/l) (Lindane) Gamma-BHC | 0.95 | 0.16 | 4.2 | 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) | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hexachloroethane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Hydrogen sulfide (µg/l) | 2.0 | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Indeno (1,2,3,-cd) pyrene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.012 | 0.013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Iron (µg/l) Criterion to maintain acceptable taste, odor, or aesthetic quality of drinking water and applies at the drinking water intake. | 300 | |||||||||||||||||||
Isophorone (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 340 | 18,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kepone (µg/l) | zero | zero | ||||||||||||||||||
Lead (µg/l)5 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) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) 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 | 11 | 230 X WER | 8.8 X WER | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Malathion (µg/l) | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mercury (µg/l) 5 | 1.4 | 0.77 | 1.8 | 0.94 | ||||||||||||||||
Methyl Bromide (µg/l) | 100 | 10,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
3-Methyl-4-Chlorophenol | 500 | 2,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Methyl Mercury (Fish Tissue Criterion mg/kg) 8 | 0.30 | 0.30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Methylene Chloride (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. Synonym = Dichloromethane | 20 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Methoxychlor (µg/l) | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.02 | ||||||||||||||||
Mirex (µg/l) | zero | zero | ||||||||||||||||||
Nickel (µg/l)5 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) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) 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 | 20 | 74 X WER | 8.2 X WER | 470 | 1,500 | ||||||||||||||
Nitrate as N (µg/l) | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Nitrobenzene (µg/l) | 10 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.0065 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||
N-Nitrosodiphenylamine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 30 | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||
N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.047 | 4.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Nonylphenol (µg/l) | 28 | 6.6 | 7.0 | 1.7 | ||||||||||||||||
Parathion (µg/l) | 0.065 | 0.013 | ||||||||||||||||||
PCB Total (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.014 | 0.030 | 0.00058 | 0.00058 | ||||||||||||||||
Pentachlorobenzene (µg/l) | 0.1 | 0.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pentachlorophenol (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria risk level at 10-5. Freshwater acute criterion (µg/l) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) | 8.7 | 6.7 | 13 | 7.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||||
pH See 9VAC25-260-50 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Phenol (µg/l) | 4,000 | 300,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Phosphorus Elemental (µg/l) | 0.10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Pyrene (µg/l) | 20 | 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) 7440611 | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selenium (µg/l)5 WER shall not be used for freshwater acute and chronic criteria. Freshwater criteria expressed as total recoverable. | 20 | 5.0 | 290 X WER | 71 | 160 | 3,800 | ||||||||||||||
Silver (µg/l)5 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 = 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) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 2.0 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tetrachloroethylene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 100 | 290 | ||||||||||||||||||
Thallium (µg/l) | 0.22 | 0.43 | ||||||||||||||||||
Toluene (µg/l) | 57 | 520 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Dissolved Solids (µg/l) | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Toxaphene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.73 | 0.0002 | 0.21 | 0.0002 | 0.0070 | 0.0071 | ||||||||||||||
Tributyltin (µg/l) | 0.46 | 0.072 | 0.42 | 0.0074 | ||||||||||||||||
1, 2, 4 Trichlorobenzene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.71 | 0.76 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 10,000 | 200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
1,1,2-Trichloroethane (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 5.5 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||
Trichloroethylene (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 6.0 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||
2, 4, 5 –Trichlorophenol | 300 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||
2, 4, 6-Trichlorophenol (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 15 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||
2-(2, 4, 5-Trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (Silvex) (µg/l) | 100 | 400 | ||||||||||||||||||
Vinyl Chloride (µg/l) Known or suspected carcinogen; human health criteria at risk level 10-5. | 0.22 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||
Zinc (µg/l)5 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) Freshwater chronic criterion (µg/l) 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 | 81 | 7,000 | 23,000 | ||||||||||||||
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. Human health criteria are based on the assumption of average amount of exposure on a long-term basis. 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. Human health criteria are based on the assumption of average amount of exposure on a long-term basis. 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.
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.
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 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. 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 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.
Statutory Authority
§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; Clean Water Act (33 USC § 1251 et seq.); 40 CFR Part 131.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR680-21-01.14B, eff. May 20, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 4, eff. December 10, 1997; Errata, 14:12 VA.R. 1937 March 2, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 23, eff. August 27, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 9, eff. February 12, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 12, eff. February 1, 2010; Errata, 26:12 VA.R. 2065 February 15, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 26, eff. July 27, 2017; amended Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 6, eff. October 21, 2019; Errata,36:14 VA.R. 2053 March 2, 2020; amended Virginia Register Volume 39, Issue 9, eff. April 18, 2023; Volume 40, Issue 24, eff. June 26, 2024.