Site-specific water quality criteria -- Case studies of available methodologies
- Harding Lawson Associates, Novato, CA (United States)
The Clean Water Act and EPA`s National Toxic Rule require states to either adopt EPA`s National Ambient Water Quality Criteria (AWQCs) or to develop Site Specific Water Quality Criteria (SSWQC). EPA has published several guidance documents on how to develop SSWQC. These methods as well as methods currently in development for calculating SSWQC were examined. EPA currently identifies three methods for developing SSWQC: the Recalculation Method, the Indicator Species or Water Effects Ratio (WER) Method, and the Resident Species Method. SSWQC have been developed in some states/regions using one of or a combination of these methods. Examples of studies conducted to develop SSWQCs including those conducted for San Francisco Bay and the Santa Ana River in California, and New York Harbor. Methods used to develop SSWQC in these regions and ongoing efforts in other regions were reviewed and compared. An evaluation of the effectiveness of these studies in terms of successfulness, timeliness, cost, and benefit to both the discharger and the environment was conducted. In addition, issues related to SSWQC development such as the use of total vs. dissolved metal concentrations, species selection, and laboratory and field techniques were examined. A summary of these evaluations will be presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 212036
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9617%%352
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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