At J rctij s 
 
 WATER QUALITY STANDARDS CRITERIA DIGEST 
 A COMPILATION OF FEDERAL/STATE CRITERIA ON 
 
 -NITRATES- 
 
 az) ^ 
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 
 
 WASHINGTON, D.C. 
 
August 1972 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 This digest was compiled. in order to provide general information to the 
 public as well as to Federal, State, and local officials. It contains excerpts 
 from the individual Federal-State water quality standards establishing nitrate 
 criteria for interstate waters. The water quality standards program is directed 
 by the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent regulatory agency which has 
 responsibility for approving State-adopted standards for interstate waters, evaluating 
 adherence to the standards, and overseeing enforcement of standards compliance. 
 
 Standards, the first nationwide strategy for water quality management, contain 
 four major elements: the use (recreation, drinking water, fish and wildlife pro¬ 
 pagation, industrial, or agricultural) to be made of the interstate water; criteria 
 to protect those uses; implementation plans (for needed industrial-municipal waste 
 treatment improvements, among others) and enforcement plans; and an antidegradation 
 statement to protect existing high quality waters. 
 
 Minimum water quality criteria, or numerical specifications of physical, 
 chemical, temperature, and biological levels, are stated in the National Technical 
 Advisory Committee report to the Secretary of the Interior, Water Quality Criteria 
 dated April 1, 1968, and published by the Government Printing Office, Washington, 
 
 D.C. Unavailability of the NTAC report before June 30, 1967--the date set by the 
 Water Quality Act of 1965 for formal adoption of State standards--resulted in 
 significant variations between the state-adopted and the NTAC minimum criteria. 
 
 Some standards were adopted and approved before the NTAC report became available. 
 
 Also, the Water Quality Criteria report is subject to updating in light of new 
 scientific and technical information. 
 
 Nitrate standards are set to control the amount of nitrates discharged into 
 the water. Nitrates and phosphates in wastes contribute to excess amounts of 
 nutrients in our water. Artifically nutrient-enriched waters are over fertilized, 
 altering aquatic systems. Quite often algae blooms occur in lakes and slow-moving 
 streams. Certain algae can make public water supplies and fish flesh unpalatable. 
 Aquatic growths stimulated by nutrients can trap silt and organic matter, providing 
 ideal breeding spots for bacteria, and can choke up streams. Such growths can 
 reduce the oxygen concentrations in the water, killing fish and greatly reducing the 
 stream's ability to purify itself. Organic enrichment is a primary factor in over¬ 
 aging or eutrophication, the process causing the "death” of Lake Erie. 
 
 The National Technical Advisory Committee in Water Quality Criteria did not make 
 specific fixed recommendations limiting nutrients. However, nitrates were limited as 
 follows: "The naturally occurring ratios and amounts of nitrogen (particularly NO3 
 and NH 4 ) to total phosphorus should not be radically changed "by artificial means. 
 
 They recommended that phosphate levels in flowing streams should not exceed "100 ug/1 
 or more than 50 ug/1 where streams enter lakes or reservoirs. 
 
 Since water quality standards experience revisions and upgrading from time to 
 time, following procedures set forth in the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 
 individual entries in this digest may be superseded. As these revisions are 
 accomplished, this digest will be updated and reissued. Because this publication 
 is not intended for use other than as a general information resource, for the 
 latest information, and for special purposes and applications, refer to the existing 
 approved water quality standards which can be obtained from the State water pollution 
 control agencies or EPA Washington, D.C. or regional offices. 
 
 Individual State-adopted criteria follow: 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2019 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 
 
 https://archive.org/details/waterqualitystanOOunse 
 
Alabama • 
 
 Alaska 
 
 Arizona 
 
 Arkansas 
 
 California 
 
 There are no specific criteria or narrative statements 
 limiting nitrate or any other nutrient in the aquatic 
 environment. 
 
 There is no specific criteria and no narrative statement 
 directed at the limitation of such nutrients as nitrate. 
 
 Unless the toxic material standards or the taste and 
 odor standards could be applied to nitrate problems there 
 is only one other possibility. That is the following Policy 
 Statement of the State of Alaska: Alaska Statutes Title 
 46, Chapter 05, Section 46, 05, 010: "It is the public 
 policy of the state to maintain reasonable standards 
 of purity of the waters of the state consistent with public 
 health and public enjoyment, the propagation and protection 
 of fish and wildlife, including birds, mamals and other 
 terrestrial and aquatic life, and the industrial develop¬ 
 ment of the state, and to require the use of all known 
 available and reasonable methods to prevent and control the 
 pollution of the waters of the state." The State Standards 
 include an approved nondegradation statement which could be 
 used to protect existing high quality waters from harmful 
 amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Policy statement: "Other methods and degrees of treatment 
 will be required, as appropriate, to remove nutrients, oily 
 constituents and other polluting materials from wastes 
 before discharge." 
 
 "All waters of the State shall be free from materials 
 attributable to domestic or industrial waste or other 
 controllable sources in amounts sufficient to produce 
 taste or odor in the water or detectable off-flavor in the 
 flesh of fish, or in amounts sufficient to change the 
 existing color, turbidity or other conditions in the 
 receiving stream to such degree as to create a public 
 nuisance, or in amounts sufficient to interfere with any 
 beneficial use of the water." The State Standards include 
 an approved nondegradation statement which could be used to 
 protect existing high quality waters from harmful amounts of 
 nitrates. 
 
 No nitrate statement or criteria. The State Standards include 
 an approved nondegradation statement which could be used to 
 protect existing high quality waters from harmful amounts of 
 nitrates. 
 
 They define " Water Quality Control as the control of any 
 factor which adversely and unreasonable impairs the 
 quality of the waters of the State for beneficial use. 
 (California Water Control Act, Section 13005.) Pollution 
 control is an important part of water quality control." 
 
 Goose Lake narrative statement regarding plankton indicates 
 that if nutrients including nitrates accumulated to the 
 degree that they cause plankton blooms they would be subject 
 to control. "The Total Plankton Population Shall be Main¬ 
 tained Below Bloom Level. This objective is designed to 
 
 1 
 
Calif ornia 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 protect fishlife and recreational use of the lake by 
 limiting the concentration of plankton below the bloom 
 level which is defined as that plankton concentration 
 which causes significant nuisance conditions, or signifi¬ 
 cantly affects desirable fish populations." 
 
 Sacramento-.San Juan Delta Nitrogen Criteria: "Total 
 Nitrogen Content of Delta Waters shall not exceed: 
 
 "A. 
 
 1.0 
 
 mg/1 
 
 in 
 
 the 
 
 Central 
 
 Delta. 
 
 "B. 
 
 2.0 
 
 mg/1 
 
 in 
 
 the 
 
 Western 
 
 De 1 ta. 
 
 "C. 
 
 3.0 
 
 mg/1 
 
 in 
 
 the 
 
 Eastern 
 
 Delta. 
 
 Nitrogen content, as used in this objective is considered 
 to be the sum of Nitrogen present in the wgter in all 
 forms including Nitrate (NO ), Nitrite (NO ), Ammonia (NR^ 
 or NH4), organically combined nitrogen. 
 
 "Materials Stimulating Algal Growth." "Materials stimulating 
 algal growth shall not be present in concentrations sufficient 
 to cause objectionable algal densities." "Plankton Blooms 
 are encouraged by the presence, in sufficient concentrations 
 of several nutrient materials. Among these are nitrogen, 
 phosphorus, silica, vitamins, iron and other metals and 
 dissolved salts." 
 
 Tidal Waters Inland From the Golden Gate Within The San 
 Francisco Bay Region: "Total nitrogen concentration shall 
 not exceed 2.0 mg/1 as nitrogen at any point within the 
 Region easterly of Carquinez Strait; in no case shall 
 nutrients be present in concentrations sufficient to cause 
 deleterious or abnormal biotic growths except when factors 
 which are not controllable cause greater concentrations 
 (Note A)." 
 
 West Fork Carson River : " Nitrates : A mean annual concen¬ 
 tration less than 2.0 mg/1, and a maximum concentration not 
 to exceed 3.0 mg /1 at any time." 
 
 Truckee River : " Nitrates : A mean annual concentration less 
 than 1.0 mg/1, and a maximum concentration not to exceed 
 2.5 mg /1 at any time." 
 
 2 
 
Calif ornia 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 East Fork Carson River : " Nitrates ; A mean annual 
 concentration less than 1.5 mg/1, and a maximum concen¬ 
 tration not to exceed 2.0 mg/1 at any time." 
 
 West Walker River and Lake Topaz : " Nitrates : A mean 
 annual concentration less than 1.5 mg/1, and a maximum 
 concentration not to exceed 2.0 mg/1 at any time." 
 
 East Walker River : " Nitrates ; A mean annual concentra¬ 
 tion less than 3.0 mg/1, and a maximum concentration not 
 to exceed 4.5 mg/1 at any time." 
 
 New River : No narrative statement or specific criteria 
 concerning nitrates. 
 
 Colorado River in California : The only statement that 
 might be applicable to nitrate problems is: "The waters 
 shall be free from materials attributable to domestic 
 or industrial waste or other controllable sources, which 
 may produce taste or odor in the water or detectable 
 off-flavor in the flesh of fish, that may alter the water's 
 existing color or turbidity, or that may adversely affect 
 other conditions in the river." "Allowable limits of 
 annual average of analyses under the surveillance schedule 
 for Nitrate is 5.0 mg/1 and for Ammonia (NH^) 1.0 mg/1." 
 
 Lake Tahoe : " Total Soluble Nitrogen : A mean annual concen¬ 
 tration of the sum of soluble nitrate-N, nitrite-N, and 
 ammonia-N not greater than 24 micrograms N per liter at 
 any point in the lake." 
 
 A plankton count criteria related to nutrients including 
 nitrates is included: " Plankton Count : A mean seasonal 
 concentration not greater than 100 per milliliter and a 
 maximum concentration not greater than 500 per milliliter 
 at any point in the lake." 
 
 Another plankton standard related to nutrients is: " Plankton 
 Growth Potential: A mean annual growth potential at any 
 point in the lake not greater than twice the mean annual 
 growth potential at the limnetic reference station." 
 
 They have stringent narrative statements on foreign materials 
 and taste and odor which would include nitrates and other 
 nutrients. 
 
 "1. Foreign Material : None which impairs the natural 
 beauty, clarity, or purity of the lake." 
 
 "2. Taste and Odor Causing Substances: None which 
 imparts foreign taste or odor to the lake waters." 
 
 3 
 
California 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Coastal Waters, Point Pedras Blancas to Pecadero Point : 
 
 Nitrates and other nutrients are not covered by these 
 standards. 
 
 Coastal Waters, Rincon Point to Point Argueilo : Nitrates 
 and other nutrients are not covered by these standards. 
 
 Coastal Waters, Point Argueilo to Point Piedras Blancas : 
 
 Nitrates and other nutrients are not covered by these 
 standards. 
 
 Pacific Ocean Pescadero Point to Mouth of Tomales Bay, 
 Bolinas Lagoon, Drakes Estero, Limatour / Estero / Portions 
 
 of Tomales Bay and tidal portions of coastal streams : 
 
 Nutrients which include nitrates and others are covered 
 by the following narrative statement: "None in concentra¬ 
 tions sufficient to cause deleterious or abnormal biotic 
 growths except when factors which are not controllable 
 cause greater concentrations." 
 
 Humboldt-Del Norte Coastal Waters : The following narrative 
 statement on Toxic or other Deleterious substances applies 
 to nitrates, and other nutrients: " Toxic or Other Deleteri ¬ 
 ous Substances : There shall be no organic or inorganic 
 substances in concentrations ...w....which cause deleterious 
 growths of algae or other plant life." 
 
 Pacific Ocean Coastal Waters, Rincon Point to San Gabriel 
 
 River : The only standard that might be applicable is the 
 
 following narrative statement: " Other Materials : Other 
 materials shall not be present in concentrations that 
 would be deleterious to fish, plant or aquatic wildlife." 
 
 Mendocino Coast : The following narrative statement applies 
 to nitrates, and other nutrients: " Toxic or Other Deleteri - 
 ouse Substances : There shall be no organic or inorganic 
 substances in concentrations which are toxic or detrimental 
 to human, animal, plant, or aquatic life, which impart 
 undesirable tastes or odors to species of commercial or 
 sport importances, or which cause deleterious growths of 
 algae or other plant life." 
 
 Pacific Ocean San Gabriel River to Drainage Divide Between 
 
 Muddy Canyon and Moro Canyon : Under objective rationale 
 
 they state: " Nutrients :.The research to date has not 
 
 been able to develop satisfactory criteria for nutrient 
 levels in open sea water that will not over-stimulate 
 
 4 
 
California 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 plankton production. Thus, a standard for nutrients is 
 omitted until a basis for such can be found." 
 
 Humbolt Bay : The following narrative statement covers all 
 the nutrients including nitrates: "There shall be no 
 organic or inorganic substances in concentrations .... which 
 cause deleterious growths of algae or other plant life." 
 
 Sonoma - Marin Coast : The following narrative statement 
 covers all the nutrients including nitrates. "There shall 
 be no organic or inorganic substances in concentrations.... 
 which cause deleterious growths of algae or other plant 
 life." 
 
 San Diego Bay : The following narrative statement applies 
 to all nutrients including nitrates. "Nutrient levels 
 shall be limited to those levels necessary to minimize 
 phytoplankton blooms, thus preventing unsightliness, 
 turbidity, color, and oxygen depression." 
 
 Harbors, Marinas and Tidal Prisms in Los Angeles and Ventura 
 
 Counties: The following narrative statement appliesto 
 
 all nutrients including nitrates: " Nutrients : Nutrients 
 of other than natural origin shall not be present in con¬ 
 centrations capable of causing proliferation of plankton 
 or other undesirable biotic growths." 
 
 Klamath River in California : The following narrative 
 statement applies to all nutrients including nitrates: 
 "Concentrations of dissolved nutrients shall be maintain¬ 
 ed at levels below those which may cause undesirable algae 
 blooms, slime or bacterial growth, or other undesirable 
 biological growths." 
 
 Tijuana River Basin in California : "Concentrations of 
 nitrates and phosphates of waste origin, by themselves or 
 in combination with naturally occurring nutrients, shall 
 be maintained at levels below those which stimulate algae 
 and emergent plant growth." 
 
 Smith River : The following narrative statement covers 
 all nutrients including nitrates: "There shall be no 
 
 organic or inorganic substances in concentrations. 
 
 which cause undesirable algae blooms, slime or bacterial 
 growth, or other undesirable bioloqical growths." 
 
 Mission Bay Including Tidal Prism of San Diego River and 
 
 Agua Hedionda Lagoon : " Nutrients : Concentrations of 
 nitrates and phosphates of waste origin, by themselves 
 
 5 
 
California 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Colorado 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 or in combination with naturally occurring nutrients 
 shall be maintained at levels below those which stimulate 
 algae ana emergent plant growth." 
 
 San Gabriel River Tidal Prism : "Nutrients, of other than 
 natural origin, snail not be present in concentrations 
 capable of causing proliferation of undesirable biotic 
 growths. u 
 
 Coastal bays, Marinas and sloughs Between the San Gabriel 
 
 River and the Brainaue Divide Between Muddy Canyon and/ 
 
 Moro Canyon : " Nutrients! Nutrients (nitrogen, silicate, 
 
 and phosphate shall not be present except from natural 
 conditions, in amounts that will cause deleterious or 
 abnormal growths to occur on the substrate or tne foster 
 biotic growths that are harmful to beneficial uses." 
 
 Tne State Standards include an approved nonuegradatiun 
 statement which could be used to protect existing high 
 quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 There are no specific criteria for any of the nutrients. 
 
 The narrative statement concerning toxic materials might 
 restrict nitrates at levels below where damage to aquatic 
 life occurred. This statement is an follows: " Toxic 
 materia I : Free from biocides, toxic or other deleterious 
 substances attributable to municpal, domestic, or industrial 
 wastes, or other controllable sources in levels, concen¬ 
 trations or combinations sufficient to be harmful to 
 aquatic life." The State Standards include an approved non¬ 
 degradation statement which could be used to protect existing 
 high quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 The narrative statements concerning taste and odor and 
 chemical constituents are the only standards that could 
 apply to nitrates. " Taste and Odor: 11 For water supply: 
 "None in such concentrations that would impair any usages 
 specifically assigned to this Class nor cause taste and 
 odor in edible fish." Class D : "None in such concentra¬ 
 tions that would impair any usages specifically assigned 
 to this class." For coastal and marine waters: Class A : 
 "None allowable." Class SB / SC, SD : "None in such concen¬ 
 trations that would impair any usages specifically assign¬ 
 ed to this Class and none that would cause taste and odor 
 in edible fish or shellfish." 
 
 Chemical Constitutents (freshwater) : Class A, B, C, and D . 
 "Waters shall be free from chemical constituents in 
 concentrations or combinations which would be harmful to 
 human, animal, or aquatic life for the appropriate, most 
 sensitive and governing considerations and approved limits 
 have not been established, bioassay shall be performed as 
 required by the appropriate agencies. For public drinking 
 water supplies the raw water sources must be of such a 
 
 6 
 
Connecticut 
 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 Delaware 
 
 Florida 
 
 Georgia 
 
 quality that United States Public Health Service limits, or 
 State limits it more striqgent, for finished water can oe 
 met after conventional water treatment." 
 
 Chemical Constituents (coastal and marine) : Class SA : "None 
 in concentrations or combinations wnich would De harmful to 
 human, animal, or aquatic life or which would make the waters 
 unsaie or unsuitable for fish or shellfish or their propagation, 
 impair the palatability of same, or impair the waters for any 
 other use." " Class SB, SC, ana SD : None in concentrations 
 or combinations which would be harmful to human, animal, or 
 aquatic life or wnicn would make the waters unsafe or un¬ 
 suitable for fish or shellfish or tneir propagation, or impair 
 the water for any other usage assigned to this Class." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved nondegradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 The following declaration of policy in 63ul, Chapter 6 j, 
 
 Water Pollution, Title 7, Part VII, Delaware Code is 
 "(a) It is declared to be the public policy of the state to 
 maintain witnin its jurisdiction a reasonable quality of 
 water consistent with public nealtn and public enjoyment 
 tnereof, the propagation and protection of fish and wildlife, 
 including birds, mammals, and other terrestrial and aquatic 
 life, and the industrial development of the state, (b) it 
 is the purpose of this cnapter to safeguard the quality of 
 state waters against pollution by (1; preventing new pollution 
 in such waters and (2) controlling any existing pollution. 
 
 The adopted standards approved by the Secretary with certain 
 exceptions ana recommendations that could apply to nitrates 
 are those concerned with toxic substances and taste, odor, 
 and color causing substances: " Toxic Substances : None in 
 concentrations harmful (synergistically or otherwise) to humans, 
 fisn, shellfish, wildlife, and aquatic life. The State Standards 
 include an approved nondegradation statement which could be used 
 to protect existing high quality waters from harmful amounts 
 of nitrates. 
 
 There are no specific criteria for nutrients such as nitrates 
 and no narrative statement directly applicable to nutrients 
 such as nitrates. The only item in the water standards 
 of Florida, as approved, that might be used to protect that 
 States waters from excessive amounts of phosphates and their 
 accompanying problems would be the antidegradation statement. 
 
 There are no specific criteria for nutrients such as nitrates 
 nor is there a narrative statement directly concerned with 
 nitrates or other nutrients. 
 
 7 
 
Hawaii 
 
 Idaho 
 
 “Nutrient Materials : 
 
 Total nitrogen, not greater 
 0.1 u mg/1. 
 
 Total nitrogen, not greater 
 0.15 mg/1. 
 
 Total nitrogen, not greater 
 0.20 mg/I. 
 
 "Control of Nutrients: 
 
 
 Applicable to: 
 
 tnan 
 
 Class AA 
 
 than 
 
 Class A 
 
 than 
 
 Class B 
 
 Nutrient discharges were pointed out in testimony as being 
 a potential problem in several water areas such as Kaneohe 
 Bay and pearl Harbor. The Agency in cognizant of this 
 potential problem and nutrient limits have been included 
 in the water quality criteria. At present the Agency knows 
 of no practicable methods for the control of nutrients. The 
 Agency will devise and implement control measures when the 
 means to do so become available." 
 
 Agency knows of no practicable methods for the control 
 of nutrients. The Agency will devise and implement control 
 measures when the means to do so become available. The 
 btate Standards include an approved non-degradation 
 statement which could be used to protect existing high 
 quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Under the section titled “ GENERAL WATER QUALITY STANDARDS 
 FUR INTERSTATE STREAMS " is the narrative statement: 11 Inter¬ 
 state waters shall not contain . . . Excess nutrients of other 
 than natacal origin that cause visible slime growths or other 
 nuisance aquatic growths." 
 
 There is no specific criteria for nutrients sucn as nitrates 
 and Idaho does have an approved antidegradation statement to 
 protect existing high quality waters from excessive amounts 
 of nutrients such as nitrates. 
 
 y 
 
Illinois 
 
 Under General Standards , except as otherwise provided, 
 all watersof the State shall meet the requirement that 
 the following level shall not be exceeded: 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen (as N) 1.5mg/l 
 
 Lake Michigan 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen not to exceed 0.02 mg/1 
 
 Effluent standards describe the maximum concentration of 
 nitrogen that may be discharged to the waters of the State, 
 as follows: 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen as N. No effluent from any source which 
 discharges to the Illinois River, the Chicago River System, 
 or the Calumet River system, and whose untreated waste 
 load is 50,000 or more population equivalents shall contain 
 more than 2.5 mg/1 of ammonia nitrogen as N during the 
 months of April through October, or 4 mg/1 at other times, 
 after December 31, 1977. 
 
 The State Standards include an approved nondegradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 9 
 
Indiana 
 
 There are no specific criteria or narrative statement limiting 
 nitrates or other nutrient substances in the Indiana water 
 quality standards for any of the interstate basins other than 
 Lake Michigan drainages unless the antidegradation statement 
 could be applied for existing high quality waters. 
 
 Nitrate criteria applicable to Lake Michigan Basins. 
 
 Lake Mich igan Open Waters : 
 
 Total Nitrogen (N) mg/l 0.4 
 
 Lake Michigan Shore Waters : 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen (N) - mg/l 
 Annual average not more than 0.05. 
 
 Single daily value or average not more than 0.12. 
 
 Indian Harbor Canal : 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen (N) - mg/l 
 Annual average not more than 1.0. 
 
 Single daily value or average not more than 1.5. 
 
 Grand Calumet River : 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen (N) - mg/l 
 Single value not more than 5.0. 
 
 Little Calumet River : 
 
 Single daily value or average not more than 1.5. 
 
 Wolf Lake : 
 
 Ammonia Nitrogen (N) - mg/l 
 Annual average not more than 0.05. 
 
 Single daily value or average not more than 0.12. 
 
 10 
 
Iowa 
 
 Kansas 
 
 Kentucky 
 
 The following narrative statement could in my opinion be 
 used to limit the amount of nitrates and other nutrients 
 in the aquatic environment. 
 
 1. Public Water Supply 
 
 All substances detrimental to treatment processes shall be 
 limited to non-detrimental concentrations in the surface waters 
 
 2. Aquatic Life 
 
 All substances detrimental to aquatic life shall be limited 
 to non-detrimental concentrations in the surface waters. 
 
 Specific criteria for interstate waters classified for Aquatic 
 Life : 
 
 1. Ammonia Nitrogen (N) mg/l not more than 2.0. 
 
 They have approved antidegradation statement that could be 
 used to protect existing high quality waters. 
 
 The only standards regarding the limiting of nitrates in the 
 aquatic environment are as follows: 
 
 1. Antidegradation statement--Existing high quality waters 
 could be protected from damages resulting from discharge of 
 
 effluents cbntaining high nitrate concentration to the 
 aquatic environment. 
 
 2. The general criteria assigned to all Kansas Interstate 
 Basins- "Pollution substances will be maintained below maxi¬ 
 mum permissible concentrations which would be detrimental for 
 public water supplies, recreation requirements, and other 
 established beneficial uses." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation state¬ 
 ment which could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Two of four freedoms narrative statements in Kentucky water 
 quality standards could be used to limit nitrates in inter¬ 
 state waters. They are: 
 
 "Free from materials attributable to municipal, industrial 
 or other discharges producing color, odor or other 
 conditions in such degree as to create a nuisance." 
 
 "Free from substances attributable to municipal, industrial 
 or other discharges in concentrations or combinations which 
 are toxic or harmful to human, animal, plant or aquatic 
 life." 
 
 11 
 
Lou Isiana 
 
 AH interstate waters of Louisiana are assigned a general 
 criteria which could be used to protect such waters from 
 excessive concentrations of nitrates or other nutrients. 
 
 This statement with slight variations of use classification 
 is : 
 
 "Wastes after discharge...shall not create conditions which 
 adversely affect public health or use of the water for 
 the following purposes: domestic or industrial water 
 supply, propagation of aquatic life, agricultural water, 
 recreation, and other legitimate uses." 
 
 I he State Standards include an approved nondegradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts or nitrates. 
 
 The following narrative statements could be used to limit 
 nitrate discharges to the interstate waters of Maine: 
 
 Class A Waters : "There shall be no discharge of sewage 
 of other wastes into water of this classification and no 
 deposits of such material on the banks of such waters in 
 such a manner that transfer into the water is likely..." 
 
 Class B-l Waters : "There shall be no disposal of sewage, 
 industrial wastes or other wastes in such waters, except 
 those which have received treatment for the adequate 
 removal of waste constituents including, but not limited to, 
 solids, color, turbidity, taste, odor or toxic material, 
 such, that these treated wastes will not lower the standards 
 or alter the usages of this classification, nor shall such 
 disposal of sewage or waste be injurious to aquatic life 
 or render such dangerous for human consumption. 
 
 Class B-2 Waters : Same as Class B-l. 
 
 Class C Waters : Same as Class B-l. 
 
 Class SA Waters : "There shall be no toxic wastes, deleterious 
 substances, colored or other waste or heated liquids dis¬ 
 charged to waters of this classification either singly or in 
 combinations with other substances or wastes in such amounts 
 or at such temperatures as to be injurious to edible or 
 shellfish or to the culture or propagation thereof, or which 
 in any manner shall adversely affect the flavor, color, odor 
 or sanitary condition thereof; and otherwise none in sufficient 
 amounts to make the waters unsafe or unsuitable for bathinq 
 or impair the waters for any other best usage as determined 
 for the specific waters assigned to this class..." 
 
 Class SB-1 : Same as Class SA. 
 
 Class SB-2; Same as Class SA. 
 
 12 
 
Maine 
 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 Maryland 
 
 Massachuseetts 
 
 Class SC : Essentially the same as Class SA. The State Standards 
 include an approved non-degradation statement which could be 
 used to protect existing high quality waters from harmful 
 amounts of nitrates. 
 
 The following narrative statement could be used to limit 
 excessive nitrates affecting the uses of the interstate 
 waters: 
 
 "Materials attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or 
 other waste which produce taste, odor, or change the 
 existing color or other physical and chemical conditions 
 in the receiving stream to such degree as to create a nuisance, 
 or that interfere directly or indirectly with water uses. . ." 
 
 The following narrative statement could be used to limit 
 excessive nitrates affecting the uses of the interstate waters: 
 "Materials attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other 
 waste which produce taste, odor, or change the existing color 
 or other physical and chemical conditions in the receiving 
 stream directly or indirectly with water uses; . . . ." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 "Water quality parameters not specifically denoted shall 
 not exceed the recommended limts on the most sensitive and 
 governing water class use." 
 
 Class A Waters : Chemical constituents: "None in concentrations 
 or combinations which would be harmful or offensive to 
 humans, or harmful to animal, or aquatic life." 
 
 Class B Waters : "Ammonia as (N) not to exceed an average 
 of 0.5 mg/1 . . . during any monthly sampling period." 
 
 Class C Waters : "Ammonia as (N) not to exceed 1.0 mg/1 . . . 
 during any monthly sampling period." 
 
 Class D Waters : "Chemical constituents "None in concentrations 
 or combinations which would be harmful to human, animal, or aquatic 
 life for the designated water use." 
 
 Class SA Waters (Coastal and Marine) : "Ammonia as (N) not to 
 exceed an average of 0.2 mg/1 . . . during any monthly sampling 
 period." 
 
 Class SB Waters : "Ammonia as (N) not to exceed an average of 
 0.2 mg/1 . . . during any monthly sampling period." 
 
 Class SC Waters : "None in concentrations or combinations which 
 would be harmful to human, animal, or aquatic life or which would 
 make the waters unsafe or unsuitable for fish or shellfish or 
 their propagation, impair the palatability of same, or impair 
 the water for any other usage." The State Standards f include an 
 
 approved non-degradation statement which could be used to protect 
 existing high quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 13 
 
Michigan 
 
 Minnesota 
 
 Water Supply Domestic: "Nitrate (NO 3 ) should not exceed 
 45 mg/1 at the in take." 
 
 Nutrients (Phosphorus, ammonia, nitrates and sugars) 
 
 "Nutrients orginating from industrial, municipal or domestic 
 animal sources shall be limited to the extent necessary to 
 prevent adverse effects on water treatment processes or the 
 stimualtion of growths of algae, weeds and slimes which are 
 or may become injurious to the designated uses." 
 
 Industrial Water Supply : Nutrients ( Phosphorus » ammonia, 
 nitrates and sugars): "Nutrients orginating from industrial, 
 municipal or domestic animal sources shall be limited to the 
 extent necessary to prevent the stimulation of growths of 
 algae, weeds and slimes which are or may become injurious to 
 the designated use." 
 
 Recreation: Nutrients (Phosphorus, ammonia, nitrates and 
 
 sugars): "Nutrients orginating from industrial, municipal, 
 or domestic animal sources shall be limited to the extent 
 necessary to prevent the stimulation of growths of algae, 
 weeds and slimes which are or may become injurious to the 
 designated use." 
 
 Fish Wildlife and Other Aquatic Life : Same as for Recreation. 
 
 Agriculture : "Nutrients (Phosphorus, ammonia, nitrates and 
 
 sugars): "Nutrients originating from industrial, municipal, 
 
 or domestic animal sources shall be limited to the extent 
 necessary to prevent the stimulation of growths of algae, 
 weeds and slimes which are or may become injurious to the 
 designated use. NCU concentrations shall conform to USPHS 
 Drinking Water Standards." 
 
 Commercial Water Use: Same as Industrial Water Supply 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation state¬ 
 ment which could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Has approved antidegradation statement to protect existing-hig 
 quality wates. 
 
 The following narrative statement would limit damaging amounts 
 of nitrates: "It is the intention of the Agency to require 
 removal of nutrients from all sources to the fullest practicab 
 extent whenever sources of nutrients are considered to be 
 actually or potentially inimical to preservation of enhance¬ 
 ment of the designated water uses." 
 
 Specific criteria limiting nitrates for certain class waters i: 
 as follows: 
 
 14 
 
Minnesota 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Mississippi 
 
 Missouri 
 
 Domestic Consumption : 
 
 Class A (Public Water Supply): Nitrates (NO 3 ) 45 mg/1 
 None for Class B, C,b D. 
 
 Fisheries £> Recreation: 
 
 Class A: Ammonia (N) Not to exceed a trace 
 Class B: Ammonia (N) Not more than 1 mg/1 
 Class C: Ammonia Not more than 2 mg/1 
 
 Industrial, Agriculture £> Wildlife, and Navigation £> Waste 
 
 Disposal Classifications : None 
 
 The only direct reference to nutrients in the State's water 
 quality standards is: "It is the plan of the Commission to 
 work with Soil and Wastes Conservation Districts to effect 
 control of nutrients....pollution contributed by agricultural 
 run off increase where this is a problem. 
 
 Does not have an approved antidegradation statement. 
 
 One of the "Freedom" statements would limit nutrients : "Free 
 from substances atributable to municipal, industrial, agricul¬ 
 tural or other discharge producing color, odor, or other 
 conditions in such degree as to create a nuisance." 
 
 This State's water quality standards include no specific 
 criteria limiting nitrates. 
 
 One of the "Freedom" statements could be used to limit 
 nitrates in problem areas. It is applicable to all Missouri 
 interstate waters and states: "Substances attributable 
 to municipal, industrial, agricultural, mining or other 
 effluents shall not have a harmful effect on human or animal 
 life." 
 
 These are narrative statements included in early interstate 
 river basin standards that could be applicable in limiting 
 nitrates. They are by River: 
 
 White River Basin - Interstate Stream Table Rock Reservoir, Bull 
 Sholes Reservoir, Norfolk Reservoir, Clearwater Reservoir. 
 
 Lake Tanecamo, North Fork River and Spring River, Eleven Point 
 River, Current River, S Black River (From the Headwaters to 
 Clearwater Reservoir), Black River (Clearwater Reservoir to 
 Mo. - Ark. State Line) 
 
 15 
 
Missouri 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 "Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife detrimental 
 to agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitmate uses shall be limited to nontoxic or nondetrimental 
 concentrations in the Stream." 
 
 Grand and Chariton River Basin - Interstate Streams 
 
 Grand and Chariton Rivers 
 
 "d. Substances Potentially Toxic or detrimental Substances 
 toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimental to 
 agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 East Fork Grand, Thompson, Little and Weldon Rivers 
 
 "d. Substances Potentially Toxic or detrimental Substances 
 toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimental to 
 agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Mississippi - Des Moines River Basin Interstate Streams 
 
 "d. Substances Potentially Toxic or Detrimental Substances 
 toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimental to 
 agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Osage River Basin - Interstate Streams 
 
 Osage - Marais des Cygnes River and Marmaton River 
 
 "Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimental 
 to agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the lake." 
 
 Lower Missouri River Basin - Interstate Streams 
 
 Nishnabotna River 
 
 "d. Substances Potentially Toxic or Detrimental Substances 
 toxic to fish or detrimental to industrial or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Tarkio River, West Tarkio River, Nodaway River, Platte River 
 
 and One Hundred and Two River 
 
 "d. Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or 
 
 detrimental to agricultural, mining, industrial, recrea¬ 
 tional or other legitimate uses shall be limited to non- 
 
 16 
 
Missouri 
 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 toxic or non-detrimental fconcentrations in the stream." 
 Lower Mississippi River Basin - Interstate Streams 
 
 St. Francis River (Excluding Wappapello Reservoir), 
 
 Wappapello Reservoir, Little River, Buffalo Ditch 
 (St. Francis River Basin) 
 
 "d. Substances Potentially Toxic or Detrimental Substances 
 toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimental to 
 agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational or other 
 legitimate uses shall be limited to non-toxic or non¬ 
 detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Mississippi River 
 
 Mississippi River (Zone 1 - Des Moines River to Alton Lock 
 and Dam, and Mississippi River (Zone 2 - Alton Lock and Dam 
 to the Missouri-Arkansas State Line) 
 
 "Substances Potentially Toxic or Detrimental 
 
 d. Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimen¬ 
 tal to agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational, 
 navigational, or other legitimate uses shall be limited to non 
 toxic or non-detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Missouri River 
 
 "Substances Toxic or Detrimental 
 
 d. Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimen¬ 
 tal to agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational, 
 navigational, or other legitimate uses shall be limited to non 
 toxic or non-detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 Grand (Neosho) River Basin 
 
 Spring River, Shoal Creek, Turkey Creek, Buffalo Creek, Lost 
 Creek 
 
 "Substances Toxic or Detrimental 
 
 d. Substances toxic to humans, fish and wildlife or detrimen¬ 
 tal to agricultural, mining, industrial, recreational, 
 navigational, or other legitimate uses shall be limited to 
 non-toxic or non-detrimental concentrations in the stream." 
 
 17 
 
Missouri 
 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 Montana 
 
 Nebraska 
 
 Missouri has an approved antidegradation statement which 
 could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from damaging amounts of nitrates. 
 
 The requirements for Class B, C, D, D1, D2, and D3 
 are: 
 
 " ... No excess nutrients which cause nuisance 
 aquatic growths . . . ." 
 
 Class A( clesed-) "None allowed in addition to concentrations 
 naturaIly present." 
 
 Class A(o pen) "Concentrations of chemical constituents shall 
 conform with the 1962 U.S. Public Health Service Drinking 
 Water Standards. Induced variations witnin these standards 
 snail be limited to an increase of not more than lu% of 
 the concentration present in the receiving water." 
 
 Class B "Concentrations of chemical constituents shall con- 
 form witn the 1962 U.S. Public Health service Drinking Water 
 Standards after treatment. No floating suspended dissolved 
 or settleable matter, creating nuisance conditions, not attribu¬ 
 table to natural cause. No excess nutrients which cause 
 nuisance aquatic growths . . . ." 
 
 Class C "Concentrations of cnemical constituents shall be main¬ 
 tained below levels known to be (or demonstrated to be) of 
 Public Healtn SigniTicance." ". . .No excess nutrients which 
 cause nuisance aquatic growth . . . ." 
 
 Class D1 "Maximum allowable concentrations shall be less than 
 acute or chronic problem levels as revealed by bio-assay or 
 other appropriate metnods. No excess nutrients which cause 
 nuisance aquatic growths . . . ." 
 
 Class D2 Same as D1 
 
 Class D3 Same as D1 
 
 Class E "Concentrations shall be less than chose demonstrated 
 to be deleterious to livestock or plants or their subsequent- 
 consumption by humans." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation 
 statement which could be used to protect existing high quality 
 waters from harmful amounts of nitraits. 
 
 The following narrative statement protects waters from 
 excessive nutrients including nitrates: 
 
 ". . . These waters shall be free of substance attributable to' 
 
 18 
 
Nebraska 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Nevada 
 
 (By Interstate 
 Waters) 
 
 discharge or wastes having .substances and conditions 
 
 or combinations thereof in concentrations which produce 
 undesirable aquatic life." 
 
 There is specific criteria for Class C waters. It is: 
 
 "Same as Water Supply -4- Plus ammonia nitrogen concentra¬ 
 tions shall not exceed 1.4 mg/1 in trout streams nor exceed 
 3.5 mg/1 in warm water streams where the pH in these streams 
 does not exceed a pH value of 8.3. If the pH of the 
 streams exceeds 8.3, the undiSSOCiated ammonium hydroxide 
 as nitrogen shall not exceed one-tenth mg/J in trout streams 
 nor exceed 0.25 mg/1 in warm water streams ." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation 
 statement which could be used to protect existing high quality 
 waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 West Fork Carson River 
 
 Total Nitrates (NO.l) - mg/1 
 
 Single value-not more than 3.0. 
 Leviathan Creek 
 
 No criteria or statement. 
 
 East Fork Carson River 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Carson River (At Muller Lane) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03) 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Carson River (Highway 395, So. of Carson) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N 03 )-mg/l (Tentative) 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Carson River (Near New Empire) 
 
 Total Nitrates(NO-^ )-mg/1 (Tentative) 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Carson River (At Weeks) 
 
 19 
 
Nevada (Cont'd) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NQ-Q-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than Oo50. 
 
 Lake Lahontan 
 
 Total Nitrates(N 03 )-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 4.0. 
 
 West Walker River (Above diversion to Topaz Lake) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NO-^-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Topaz Lake 
 
 Total Nitrates (NO-Q-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 West Walker River (Near Wellington) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N 03 )-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 West Walker River (Above confluent with East Walker River) 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1,0. 
 
 Sweetwater Creek 
 
 Has approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed PHS 
 Drinking Water Standards 1962. * 
 
 East Walker River (At State Line) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NOQ-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 4.5. 
 
 East Wal ker River (South of Yerington and above c onfluent 
 
 with W. Walker River.) 
 
 20 
 
Nevada 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 Total NitVatfcS , (NQ-h )-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 3.0: 
 
 Walker River (At J.J. Ranch) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NO^ )»-mq./l 
 
 Not to exceed PHS Drinking Water Standards 1962.* 
 Desert Creek 
 
 Antidegradation statement approved. Not to exceed PHS 
 Drinking Water Standards 1962.* 
 
 Chiatovich Creek 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Indian Creek 
 
 Total Nitrates (NQ-Q-mq/1 
 
 Antidegradation statement. Not to exceed 1962 PHS 
 Drinking Water Standards. 
 
 Leidy Creek (Above Hydoelectric Plant) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N0^)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Virgin River 
 
 Total Nitrates (NQ-Q-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Beaver Dam Wish (Above Schroeder Reservoir) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NQ-Q-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Snake Creek(Above Fish Hatchery) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)~mg/1 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 21 
 
Nevada 
 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Big Goose Creek (At Ranch) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N 03 )-.mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Salmon Falls Creek (Highway 93, South of Jackpot 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0 
 Shosphone Creek 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed PHS 
 Drinking Water Standards 1962. * 
 
 East Fork Jarbidge River 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed 1962 
 PHS Drinking Water Standards. 
 
 Jarbidge River (Upstream from Jarbidge) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 Jarbidge River (Downstream of Jarbidge) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 West Fort Bruneau (Diamond "E 11 Road) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 East Fork Owyhee River (Above Mill Creek) 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed the 
 1962 PHS Drinking Water Standards. * 
 
 22 
 
Nevada East Fork iiyjyhec River (South of Ov/yhee) 
 
 (Con t 1 d) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 East Fork Owyhee River (State Line) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 1.0. 
 
 South Fork Owyhee River 
 
 Total Nitrates (NO^-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 3.0. 
 
 Smoke Creek (Approx. 30 mi. East of Susanville / California) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N03)-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 5.0. 
 
 Bronco Creek (At Hirschdale Road) 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed 1962 
 
 * 
 
 FHS Drinking Water Standards. 
 
 Gray Creek (At Hirschdale Creek) 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. Not to exceed 1962 
 PHS Drinking Water Standards. * 
 
 Truckee River (At Farad, California ) 
 
 Total Nitrates (NOQ-mq/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.5.Annual average not more 
 than 1.0. 
 
 Truckee River (At Idlewild) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N0;Q-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Truckee River (At Boynton Lane) 
 
 23 
 
Nevada 
 (Cent 1 d) 
 
 New Hampshire 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 Total Nitrates (NQ^)-mq/! 
 
 Single value-not more than 2.0. 
 
 Truckee River (Laqomansine Bridge) 
 
 I 
 
 Total Nitrates (NOQ-mq/1 
 
 Single value-not more than 5.0. 
 
 Truckee River (At Cenrsola Ranch) 
 
 Total Nitrates (N 03 )-mg/l 
 
 Single value-not more than 5.0 
 Lake Tahoe (All points) 
 
 Total soluable inorganic Nitrogen ug/1. 
 Annual average-not more than 25.0. 
 Colorado River 
 
 No specific criteria. 
 
 * ".10 mg nitrate nitrogen (or 45 mg nitrate) per 
 
 liter of weter is a limit which should not be exceeded." 
 
 The State Standards include approved non-degradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 No specific criteria. No applicable narrative statement. 
 
 Have approved antidegradation statement. 
 
 The narrative statement limiting toxic or Deleterious 
 Substances states the following: 
 
 " Toxic or Deleterious Substances Including But Not Limited 
 
 To Mineral Acids, Caustic Alkali, Cyanides, Heavy Metals , 
 
 Carbon Dioxide / Ammonia or Ammonium Compounds, Chlorine, 
 
 Phenols, Pesticides, Etc.: None, either alone or in 
 
 combination with other substances, in such concentrations 
 as to affect humans or be detrimental to the natural aquatic 
 biota or which would render the waters unsuitable for the 
 designated uses. None which would cause the Potable Water 
 Standards of the Department for drinking water to be exceeded 
 after appropriate treatment." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 24 
 
New Mexico 
 
 New York 
 
 North Carolina 
 
 The following narrative statement under the heading of 
 "General Standards" seems to offer a vehicle to use in 
 limiting nitrates and other nutrients: 
 
 "Toxic Substances 
 
 Toxic substances such as, but not limited to, pesticides, 
 herbicides, heavy metals, and organics, shall not be present 
 in receiving waters in concentrations which will change the 
 ecology of receiving waters to an extent detrimental to 
 existing forms of life or which are toxic to human, plant, fish 
 and animal life. Toxicities of substances in receiving waters 
 will be determined by appropriate bioassay techniques, or other 
 acceptable means, for the particular form of aquatic life which 
 is to be preserved with the concentrations of the toxic materials 
 not to exceed 10 per cent of the 48-hour median tolerance limit." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non^degradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 New York does not have specific criteria limiting the amount 
 of nitrates in interstate waters. It does have a toxic substance 
 statement for each class of waters which is the same or similar 
 to the following example: Class AA (Public Water Supply): "None 
 alone or in combination with other substances or wastes in 
 sufficient amounts or at such temperatures as to be injurious 
 to fish life, make the waters unsafe or unsuitable as a 
 source of water supply for drinking, culinary or food processing 
 purposes or impair the waters for any other best usage as 
 determined for the specific waters which are assigned to this 
 class." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation statement 
 which could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 North Carolina does not have specific numerical criteria to 
 protect its interstate waters from nitrates. It does have an 
 approved antidegradation statement that tould be used to 
 limit nitrates in existing high quality waters. 
 
 Section II (Rules Applicable to Classes and Standards) 
 contains several narrative statements that could be used 
 to limit nitrates where damage is occuring as a result of 
 their discharge to interstate waters. These are: 
 
 1. "The quality of any waters receiving sewage, industrial 
 waste or other waste discharges shall be such that no impair¬ 
 ment of the best usage of waters in any other class shall 
 occur by reason of such sewage, industrial waste or other 
 waste distbarges." 
 
 2. "The maximum limits for toxic and other deleterious 
 substances in receiving waters shall not exceed the values 
 
 25 
 
North Carolina 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 There are narrative statements for each class of water use 
 that could possibly be used to limit harmful amounts of 
 nitrates. These are: 
 
 Class A-l : In determining the safety or suitability of 
 waters in this class for use as a source of water supply 
 for drinking, culinary or food-processing purposes after 
 approved disinfection, the Board will be guided by the 
 physical, chemical and bacteriological standards specified 
 in the 1962 edition of the "Public Health Service Drinking 
 Water Standards" and the requirements of the State Board of 
 Health as set forth in Section 5, "Protection of Unfiltered 
 Public Water Supplies", of the Rules and Regulations Pro¬ 
 viding for the Protection of Public Water Supplies, as 
 adopted October 6, 1960, and amended May 9, 1962, August 26, 
 1965, and October 12, 1967." The 1962 "Public Health Service 
 Drinking Water Standards" recommend that nitrates shall not 
 exceed 45 mg/1. 
 
 Class A-II: "Only such amounts, whether alone or in combin¬ 
 ation with other substances or wastes as will not render the 
 waters unsafe or unsuitable as a source of water supply for 
 drinking, culinary or food processing purposes, injurious to 
 fish and wildlife or adversely affect the palatability of 
 same, or impair the waters for any other best USagG estab¬ 
 lished for this class." 
 
 Class B: "Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination 
 with other substances or wastes as will not render the waters 
 unsafe or unsuitable for bathing, injurious to fish and 
 wildlife or adversely affect the palatability of same or 
 impair the waters for any other best USagG established for 
 this class." 
 
 Class C : "Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination 
 with other substances or wastes as will not render the waters 
 injurious to fish and wildlife or adversely affect the 
 palatability or same, or impair the waters for any other 
 best usage established for this class." 
 
 Class D: "Only such amounts attributable to sewage, industrial 
 wastes or other wastes as will not render the waters unsuitable 
 for agriculture, industrial cooling purposes, navigation, or 
 fish survival, or cause offensive conditions." 
 
 Class SA Waters: Only such amounts, whether alone or in 
 
 recommended in the most recent edition of the "Report 
 of the National Technical Advisory Committee on Water 
 Quality Criteria" where stated and in cases where such 
 values are not included in the report, bio-assays will 
 be conducted according to the standard techniques recom¬ 
 mended therein to determine safe levels for such substances 
 on the basis of the discharge and characteristics of the 
 waters under consideration." 
 
 26 
 
North 
 (Cont 
 
 North 
 
 Ohio 
 
 combination with other substances or wastes as will not 
 make the waters unsafe or unsuitable for fish and shell¬ 
 fish or their propagation, impair the palatability of same, 
 or impair the waters for any other best usage established for 
 this class." 
 
 Class SB : "Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination 
 with othei substances or wastes as will not make the waters 
 unsafe or unsuitable for bathing, injurious to fish or shell¬ 
 fish, or adversely affect the palatability of same, or impair 
 the waters for any other best usage established for this 
 class." 
 
 Class SC : "Only such amounts, whether alone or in combination 
 with other substances or wastes as will not render the waters 
 injurious to fish and shellfish, adversely affect the palata¬ 
 bility of same, or impair the waters for any other best usage 
 established for this class." 
 
 No specific criteria. Section II, C promises such criteria 
 as follows: 
 
 "C. The maximum practical reduction of nutrients, including 
 nitrogen, phosphorus and sugars, in sewage, industrial, and 
 other wastes shall be accomplished as soon as a practical 
 method is developed." 
 
 North Dakota has an approved antidegradation statement that 
 should provide protection to existing high quality inter¬ 
 state waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 A narrative statement could be used on nutrient problems 
 including nitrates. It is: "None in concentrations or 
 combinations that interfere with, or prove hazardous to, 
 the intended water usage." This applies to all interstate 
 waters. 
 
 Ohio has two narrative statements in their standards that 
 could be applicable in limiting nitrates to less than harm¬ 
 ful or nuisance amounts. These are: 
 
 "1. Free from substances attributable to municipal, 
 industrial or other discharges in concentrations or combin¬ 
 ations which are toxic or harmful to human, animal or 
 aquatic life." 
 
 "2. Free from materials attributable to municipal, industrial, 
 or other discharges producing color, odor or other conditions 
 
 Carolina • 
 ■d) 
 
 27 
 
Ohio 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Oklahoma 
 
 Oregon 
 
 in such degree as to create a nuisance;" Ohio has approved 
 antidegradation statement that could be used to protect 
 high quality waters. 
 
 No specific criteria limiting nitrogen compounds. Have an 
 approved antidegradation statement which could be used to 
 limit harmful amounts of nitrogen compounds being discharged 
 to interstate waters. The standards for each of the inter¬ 
 state streams in Oklahoma contain four narrative statements ^ 
 that could be used to limit harmful amounts of nitrogen 
 compounds being discharged into interstate waters. These 
 are: 
 
 "All tributary streams and all waste effluents shall be in 
 such condition that when discharged to the stream reaches 
 as defined, and Interstate Tributaries, they shall not create 
 conditions which will adversely affect public health, or use 
 of the water for beneficial purposes." 
 
 "Taste and Odor Producing Substances - Taste and odor pro¬ 
 ducing substances shall be limited to concentrations that 
 will not interfere with the production of potable water by 
 modern treatment methods or impart off color or unpalatable 
 flavor to flesh of fish, or result in offensive odors in the 
 vicinity of the water, or otherwise interfere with beneficial 
 uses." 
 
 "Toxic Substances - Toxic substances shall not be present in 
 such quantities as to cause the waters to be toxic to human, 
 animal, plant, or aquatic life. For aquatic life, using 
 bioassay techniques, the toxic limit shall not exceed one- 
 tenth of the 48-hour median tolerance limit, except that other 
 limiting concentrations may be used in specific cases when 
 justified on the basis of available evidence and approved by t 
 regulatory authority." 
 
 "Other Substances - The control of other substances not hereto 
 fore mentioned will be guided by the U.S. Public Health 
 Service Drinking Water Standards of 1962, or latest revision 
 thereof, and accumulated scientific data on limits above 
 which injury to use occurs. Pollutional substances will 
 be maintained below maximum permissible concentrations for 
 public water supplies, recreation requirements, agricultural 
 needs and other beneficial uses.(c)*" 
 
 Oregon has no specific criteria limiting nitrates. They do 
 have an approved antidegradation statement to protect existing 
 high quality interstate waters from damaging amounts of 
 
 28 
 
Oregon 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Pennsylvania 
 
 Rhode Island 
 
 nitrates. They have included two narrative statements in 
 their general standards for interstate waters that could 
 be used to limit the amount of nitrates in such waters 
 should problems arise. These are: 
 
 "No wastes shall be discharged and no activities shall be 
 conducted which either alone or in combination with other 
 wastes or activities will cause in any waters of the State : 
 
 (4) The development of fungi or other growths having a 
 deleterious effect on stream bottoms, fish or other 
 aquatic life or which are injurious to health, recrea¬ 
 tion or industry. 
 
 (5) The creation of tastes or odors or toxic or other 
 conditions that are deleterious to fish or other 
 aquatic life or affect the potability of drinking 
 water or the palatability of fish or shellfish." 
 
 Pennsylvania water quality standards do not contain specific 
 criteria for nitrates. Approved antidegradation statement 
 could be used to protect existing high quality waters from 
 harmful amounts Of nitrates. The narrative statement 
 
 contained under Section 4, General Criteria could be used 
 to limit nitrates in interstate waters where problems from 
 such nutrients occur. The statement is: 
 
 "The water shall not contain substances attributable to 
 municipal, industrial or other waste discharges in concentra¬ 
 tion or amounts sufficient to be inimical or harmful to the 
 water uses to be protected or to human, animal, plant or 
 aquatic life. Specific substances to be controlled include, 
 but are not limited to, floating debris, oil, scum and other 
 floating materials; toxic substances; substances that pro¬ 
 duce color, tastes, odors or settle to form sludge deposits." 
 
 No specific criteria to limit nitrates. Approved antidegra¬ 
 dation statement that could be used to protect existing high 
 quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. The water 
 quality standards assigned the freshwater classification of 
 Class A, B, C, and D each include the following narrative 
 statement that could be used in limiting the amount of nitrates 
 being discharged into interstate waters having nutrient 
 problems: "Waters shall be free from chemical constituents 
 
 in concentrations or combinations which would be harmful to 
 human, animal, or aquatic life for the appropriate, most 
 sensitive and governing water class use. In areas where fisher¬ 
 ies are the governing considerations and approved limits have nol 
 been established, bio-assays shall be performed as required 
 by the appropriate agencies. For public drinking water 
 
 29 
 
Rhode Island supplies the limits prescribed by the United States Public 
 
 (Cont'd) Health Service may be used where not superseded by more 
 
 stringent signatory State requirements." 
 
 The water quality standards assigned to saltwater classifi¬ 
 cations SA, SB, SC, and SD have the following narrative state¬ 
 ment that could be used to limit where problems arise: "None 
 in concentrations or combinations which would be harmful to 
 human, animal, or aquatic life or which would make the waters 
 unsafe or unsuitable for fish or shellfish or their propaga¬ 
 tion, impair the palatability of same, or impair the waters 
 for any other uses." 
 
 South Carolina No specific criteria limiting the nitrate content of inter¬ 
 state waters. They have an approved antidegradation statement 
 that could be used to protect existing high quality waters 
 from harmful amounts of nitrate. They also have the following 
 narrative statements that could be applicable in limiting 
 nitrates in problem areas : 
 
 " Source of water supply for drinking, culinary or food pro¬ 
 
 cessing purposes shall mean any source, either public or private 
 the waters from which are used for domestic consumption, or 
 used in connection with the processing of milk, beverages, 
 food or for other purposes which require finished water meeting 
 U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards." 
 
 "The waters of the State shall be free from: Materials 
 attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other waste 
 which produce taste, odor, or change the existing color or 
 other physical and chemical conditions in the receiving stream 
 to such degree as to create a nuisance, or that interfere 
 directly or indirectly with water uses; and high-temperature, 
 toxic, corrosive or other deleterious substances attributable 
 to sewage, industrial waste, or other waste in concentrations 
 or combinations which interfere directly or indirectly with 
 water uses, or which are harmful to human, animal, plant or 
 aquatic life." 
 
 Class SA water quality standards contains the following 
 narrative statement that could be used to limit nitrates 
 where problems exist: "Toxic wastes, deleterious substances, 
 colored or other wastes. None alone or in combination with 
 other substances or wastes in sufficient amounts as to be 
 injurious to edible fish or shellfish or the culture or propa¬ 
 gation thereof, or which in any manner shall adversely affect 
 the flavor, color, odor, or sanitary condition thereof 
 
 30 
 
South Carolina 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 South Dakota 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 or impair the waters for any other best usage as determined 
 for the specific waters which are assigned to this class." 
 
 The following narrative statement could be used to limit 
 nitrates for all classes of water other than Domestic Water 
 Supply and Recreation which have specific criteria: 
 
 "Toxic Materials. No materials shall be discharged to any 
 surface water or watercourse in the State which produce con¬ 
 centrations of chemicals toxic to humans, animals or the most 
 sensitive stage or form of aquatic life greater than 0.1 times 
 the 96-hour median tolerance limit for short residual compounds 
 or 0.01 times the median tolerance limit for accumulative 
 substances or substances exhibiting a residual life exceeding 
 30 days in the receiving waters." 
 
 "Median tolerance concentrations shall be based on the results 
 of the most recent research results for the material being 
 studied or, in case of disagreement, by bioassay tests simu¬ 
 lating actual stream conditions run in accordance with 
 procedures outlined in latest edition of'Standard Methods for 
 the Examination of Water and Wastewater' published by the 
 American Public Health Association and using test animals or 
 organisms specified by the Committee." 
 
 "Concentrations specified for toxic materials shall be based on 
 daily averages, but the concentrations shall not exceed 125% 
 of the value specified at any time or in any section of the 
 receiving water." 
 
 Waters classed for Domestic Water Supply and Recreation have 
 the following specific criteria limiting nitrates: 
 
 Domestic Water Supply 
 
 Nitrates not more than 10 mg/l(as N) or 45 mg/1 as (NO 3 ) 
 Recreation 
 
 Nitrates as (NO 3 ) not more than 50 mg/1 
 
 Have approved antidegradation statement that could be used 
 to limit nitrates causing problems in existing high quality 
 waters. 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation state¬ 
 ment whach could be used to protect existing high quality 
 waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Does have an antidegradation statement to protect existina 
 
 high quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. There 
 are no specific criteria limiting the amount of nitrates in 
 interstate waters. 
 
 The following narrative statements under use classifications 
 could be used to restrict nitrates in problem areas: 
 
 "Domestic Raw Water Supply 
 
 K. Other Pollutants - other pollutants shall not be added 
 
 31 
 
Tennei 
 (Cont 1 
 
 Texas 
 
 Utah 
 
 see to the water Ln quantities that may be detrimental to public 
 
 d) health or impairs the usefulness of the water as a source 
 
 of domestic water supply." 
 
 "industrial Water Supply 
 
 J. Other Pol 1 lltants- Other pollutants shall not be added to the 
 waters in quantities that may adversely affect the water for 
 industrial processing." 
 
 "Fish and Aquatic Life 
 
 H. Other Pollutants - other pollutants shall not be added to 4 
 the waters that will be detrimental to fish or aquatic life." 
 
 1 ' Recreation 
 
 I. Other Pollutants - other pollutants shall not be added to 
 the vater in quantities which may have a detrimental effect on 
 recreation." 
 
 No specific criteria. A narrative statement that could be 
 used to protect waters from excessive nitrate concentrations is 
 "Taste and odor producing substances shall be limited to con¬ 
 centrations in the waters of the state that will not interfere 
 with the production of potable water by reasonable water 
 treatment methods, or impart unpalatable flavor to food fish 
 including shellfish, or result in offensive odors rising from 
 the waters or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of 
 the waters." 
 
 Approved antidegradation statement. 
 
 No specific criteria. Narrative statements: 
 
 Class A 
 
 "It shall be unlawful to discharge or place any wastes or 
 other substances in such a way as to interfere with the stated 
 Class "A" Water uses,. . ." 
 
 Class B 
 
 "It shall be unlawful to discharge or place any wastes or 
 other substances in such a way as to interfere with the 
 stated Class "B" water uses, ..." 
 
 Class C 
 
 "It shall be unlawful to discharge or place any wastes or 
 other substances in such a way as to interfere with the 
 stated Class "C" water uses, ..." 
 
 Have approved antidegradation statement. 
 
 32 
 
Vermont 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement to protect 
 existing high quality water from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Rules 8 and 9 of the Vermont water quality standards concern¬ 
 ing discharge requirements for Class A and B waters limit the 
 discharge of nutrients including nitrates as follows: 
 
 " RULE 8: Discharges Prohibited - Class A Waters 
 
 In accordance with the antidegradation provisions of Rule 2 
 there shall be no discharge of wastes into Class A waters that 
 does not meet or exceed the technical and other requirements 
 for such waters nor shall there be any new discharges of 
 wastes containing any form of nutrients which would encourage 
 eutrophication or growth of weeds or algae from the date of the 
 adoption of this rule. 
 
 RULE 9: Discharges Restricted - Class B Lakes and Ponds 
 
 In accordance with the anti-degradation provisions of Rule 
 2 there shall be no new discharge of wastes into any lake, 
 pond or reservoir, natural or artificial, lying wholly 
 within the state's boundaries, or into the tributaries thereto 
 which does not meet the technical and other requirements for 
 Class B waters nor shall there be any new discharge of wastes 
 containing any form of nutrients which would encourage 
 eutrophication or growth of weeds and algae from the date of 
 adoption of this rule. Any existing waste discharge contain¬ 
 ing soluble or other nutrients, which would encourage eutro¬ 
 phication or growth of weed and algae, shall be treated so as 
 to remove such nutrients to the extent that such removal is or 
 may become technically and reasonably feasible." 
 
 The narrative statement. Rule 12 of the Vermont water quality 
 standards, should be applicable to limit nitrates doing 
 damage to interstate waters, according to the interpretation 
 made in Martin L. Johnson's letter of July 27, 1971, 
 to Mr. Klashman, Acting Regional Director of Region 1. 
 
 Mr. Johnson is Commissioner of Water Resources for the 
 State of Vermont. The statement and interpretation are as 
 follows: 
 
 " RULE 12; Chemical, Radiological Constituents 
 
 Wastes shall be free of chemical and radiological constituents 
 which would be harmful to the governing water class use. In 
 areas where fisheries are the governing consideration and 
 
 33 
 
Vermont 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 approved limits have not been established, bio-assays shall 
 be performed as required by the appropriate state agencies. 
 
 "The new regulations are very strict with regard to the dis¬ 
 charge of chemical or radiological constituents. In inter¬ 
 preting the narrative criteria, we will not permit the 
 concentrations of these constituents due to effluent dis¬ 
 charges to exceed those numerical limits set forth in the 
 Public Health Service Drinking Water Standard." 
 
 Public Health Drinking Water Standards limit nitrates to 
 less than 4-5 mg/1. 
 
 Virginia "1.05 In addition to other standards established for the 
 
 protection of public or municipal water supplies, the following 
 standards v/ill apply at the raw water intake point : 
 
 Nitrates plus Nitrites 10 mg/1" 
 
 Has an approved antidegradation statement to protect existing 
 high qualily waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Have special standards applicable to specific interstate waters 
 and or as assigned that limit the amount of nutrients in 
 effluents, including nitrates. 
 
 Have special standards limiting nutrients, including nitrates 
 in specific interstate waters as assigned. They are: 
 
 "h. Objective for Nutrients - The cumulative total of nitrogen 
 as N from all sources in the effluent shall not be greater 
 than 0.5 mg/1 at any time; phosphorus as P from all sources 
 in the effluent shall not be greater than 1.0 mg/l+ at any 
 time. 
 
 i. The State Water Control Board has directed and/or ordered 
 the following: 
 
 1. That a LI existing discharges in accordance with h above 
 shall substantially remove the nutrients in their effluents on 
 or before such time as central facilities (The Hampton Roads 
 Sanitation District Commission Chesapeake-Elizabeth System) 
 become available or connect to central facilities, (i.e. The 
 Chesapeake-Elizabeth System). 
 
 2. That it will consider approving small discharges to this 
 watershed to facilitate the elimination of potential public 
 health hazards provided central facilities (Chesapeake- 
 
 34 
 
Virginia 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Elizabeth System) are not available, and 
 
 3. That it will not allow additional significant new 
 discharges to this watershed, which do not provide for 
 nutrient removal facilities in accordance with h above. 
 
 j. The following, from Minute 73 of the proceedings of the 
 Board at its meeting on July 11-12, 1966, will also apply: 
 
 For discharge to the Chickahominy River and its tributaries 
 below Bottoms Bridge, effluent quality obtainable with 
 conventional secondary sewage treatment plants with approved 
 plans is acceptable, except that the following specifications 
 shall be met: 
 
 Constituent 
 
 Analysis Schedule 
 
 Concentration 
 
 2 Inorganic 
 Nutrients 
 
 Once/week on a com¬ 
 posite sample 
 
 Nitrate (as N) not 
 to exceed .5 ppm. 
 Total phosphate 
 (as PO 4 ) not to 
 exceed 1.5 ppm 
 
 In lieu of the above requirements, conventional secondary 
 sewage treatment plants may ordinarily be used anywhere in 
 the Chickahominy River Basin, provided holding ponds, capable 
 of retaining the entire plant effluent during low flow criti¬ 
 cal conditions, are constructed. "Low flow" is construed to 
 mean less than 15 cubic feet per second in the main stem of 
 the Chickahominy River itself at the (1) point of waste 
 discharge to the main stem, or ( 2 ) confluence of a tributary 
 below the point of waste discharge to the tributary. Below 
 Bottoms Bridge, holding ponds with at least 60-day retention 
 capacity (August 14 to October 13) may be required, if in the 
 opinion of the Board's staff it is deemed necessary. 
 
 k. The following from Minute 73 of the proceedings of the 
 Board at its meeting on July 11-12, 1966, will also apply: 
 
 Constituent 
 
 Analysis Schedule 
 
 Concentration 
 
 5 Ammonia 
 
 Same as bio-chemical 
 oxygen demand on 
 specially preserved 
 samples 
 
 Not to exceed 2.0 
 ppm as N 
 
 Inorganic 
 
 Nutrients 
 
 Once/week on a 
 composite sample 
 
 Nitrate (as N) not 
 to exceed .3 ppm, 
 total phosphate 
 (as PO 4 ) not to 
 exceed .6 ppm (mean 
 values in the 
 Chickahominy) 
 
 35 
 
Virginia 
 (Cent 1 d) 
 
 In lieu of the above requirements, conventional secondary 
 sewage treatment plants may ordinarily be used anywhere in 
 the Chickahominy River Basin, provided holding ponds, 
 capable of retaining the entire plant effluent during low 
 flow critical conditions, are constructed. "Low flow" 
 is construed to mean less than 15 cubic feet per second in 
 the main stem of the Chickahominy River itself at the (1) 
 point of waste discharge to the main stem, or (2) confluence 
 of a tributary below the point of waste discharge to the 
 tributary. Above Bottoms Bridge the holding ponds are to 
 retain the entire plant effluent for at least 90 days 
 (July 15 to October 13). 
 
 r. The following will also apply to the Occoquan Creek Water¬ 
 shed : 
 
 (1) It was willing to permit the discharge of treated sewage 
 effluent from an additional 25,000 persons with the stipulation 
 that: 
 
 (a) nutrient removal facilities be constructed in each case. 
 
 s. The following, from Minute 20 of the proceedings of the 
 Board at its meeting on January 16, 1969, will also apply to 
 the Powhatan Creek Watershed: 
 
 1. All proposals for treated waste discharges to the Powhatan 
 Creek Watershed will in the future be approved only after: 
 
 (a) Engineering data has been submitted indicating the 
 capability of the proposed treatment facilities to remove 
 
 all phosphorus and nitrogen compounds. 
 
 (b) Owners with facilities existing at the time of this 
 action will, in a period not to exceed 60 days, submit to the 
 Board, engineering reports and pollution abatement schedules 
 indicating the maximum concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen 
 compounds which they can remove from waste waters prior to 
 discharge. No schedule providing a time period exceeding three 
 years will be approved. Modification or replacement of exist¬ 
 ing treatment facilities may be necessary. 
 
 2. It will entertain from owners in the area a proposal for 
 development of: 
 
 36 
 
Virginia 
 (Cont 1 d) 
 
 Washington 
 
 (a) A central facility to treat all wastes at a point 
 outside the Watershed, where phosphorus and nitrogen 
 removal will probably not be necessary, or 
 
 (b) Treatment facilities inside the Watershed which 
 include complete removal of ail phosphorus and nitrogen 
 compounds. 11 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement that could be used 
 to limit nitrates in existing high quality waters. 
 
 The Toxic, Radioactive or Deleterious Material Concentra¬ 
 tions and the Aesthetic Values statements for each water use 
 classification could possibly be used to limit the amount of 
 nitrates in interstate waters. They are: 
 
 " Class AA 
 
 Toxic, Radioactive or Deleterious Material Concentrations 
 
 shall be less than those which may affect public health, the 
 natural aquatic environment, or the desirability of the 
 water for any usage. 
 
 Aesthetic Values shall not be impaired by the presence of 
 materials or their effects, excluding those of natural origin, 
 which offend the senses of sight, smell, touch or taste." 
 
 '' Class A 
 
 "Toxic Radioactive or Deleterious Material Concentrations 
 shall be below those of public health significance, or which may 
 cause acute or chronic toxic conditions to the aquatic biota, or 
 which may adversely affect any water use. 
 
 Aesthetic Values shall not be impaired by the presence of 
 materials or their effects, excluding those of natural origin, 
 which offend the senses of sight, smell, touch or taste." 
 
 "Class B 
 
 " Toxic, Radioactive or Deleterious Material Concentrations 
 
 shall be below those which adversely affect public health 
 
 during the exercise of characteristic usages, or which may 
 cause acute or chronic toxic conditions to the aquatic biota, 
 or which may adversely affect characteristic water uses. 
 
 Aesthetic Values shall not be reduced by dissolved, suspended, 
 floating or submerged matter, not attributable to natural 
 causes, so as to affect water usage or taint the flesh of 
 edible species." 
 
 "Class C 
 
 37 
 
Washington 
 
 (Cont'd) 
 
 West Virginia 
 
 Wisconsin 
 
 "Toxic, K> tioaci i ve ot Do lotci ious Met* rial Concen t ra t Lons 
 shall be 1 elow ihose v.hich adversely affect public health 
 during the exercise ol characteristic usages, or which 
 may cause acute or chronic ti xic conditions to the aquatic- 
 biota, or //hich may aaversely affect characteristic 
 water uses. 
 
 Aesthetic Values shall not be interfered with by the 
 presence of obnoxious wastes, slimes, or aquatic growths 
 or by materials that will taint the flesh of edible species." 
 
 All of the interstate waters of West Virginia are assigned 
 criteria w rich limits nitrates 3S (NO 3 ) to less than 45 mg/1. 
 Have approved antidegradation statement that could be used 
 to limit nitrates causing trouble in existing high quality 
 waters. 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement that could be used 
 to limit nitrates causing problems in existing high quality 
 waters. 
 
 These are several narrative statements that could be used to 
 limit problems causing nitrates. These are: 
 
 1. "Minimum Standards. Regardless of the water quality stand¬ 
 ards and water use, untreated or inadequately treated wastes 
 may not impair a designated use nor may standards be inter¬ 
 preted to permit a lower quality within a water sector than 
 that existing or required by outstanding orders..." 
 
 2. "Substances in concentrations or combinations which are 
 toxic or harmful to humans shall not be present in amounts 
 found to be of public health significance, nor shall sub¬ 
 stances be present in amounts, which by bio-assay and other 
 appropriate tests, indicate acute or chronic levels harmful to 
 animal, picnt or aquatic life." 
 
 The only specific criteria is provided by a statement applying tc 
 interstate waters used for public water supplies„ That is: 
 
 "(d) The intake water supply v.ill be such that by appropriate 
 treatment end adequate safeguards it will meet the Public 
 Health Service Drinking Water Standards, 1962..." 
 
 Public HeaJ th Service Drinking Water Standards state that 
 nitrate as (NO 3 ) should not exceed 45 mg/1. 
 
 38 
 
Wyoming 
 
 District 
 
 Columbia 
 
 Guam 
 
 Have no specific criteria limiting nitrates in interstate 
 waters. 
 
 No narrative statement that could be used to limit nitrates 
 in interstate waters where such substances are causing 
 problems. 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation state¬ 
 ment which could be used to protect existing high quality 
 waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 I hey have no specific criteria limiting nitrates in interstate 
 waters. 
 
 The following narrative statement from the District of Columbia 
 water quality standards could be used to limit nitrates where 
 problems attributable to them exist in the interstate waters: 
 
 "Materials attributable to sewage, industrial waste, or other 
 waste which produce taste, odor, or appreciably change tne 
 existing color or other physical and chemical conditions in tne 
 receiving streams to such degree as to create a nuisance, or 
 that interfere directly or indirectly with water uses . . . ." 
 
 The State Standards include an approved non-degradation 
 statement which could be used to protect existing high 
 quality waters from harmful amounts of nitrates. 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement that could be 
 used to limit nitrates causing problems in existing high 
 quality waters. 
 
 The two following freedom statements could be used to limit 
 nitrates causing problems in interstate waters: 
 
 "Free from substances and conditions thereof attributable to 
 sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes, or other wastes 
 that will induce undesirable aquatic life. 
 
 Free from suDstances and conditions thereof attributable to 
 sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes toxic or irritant 
 to humans, animals, plants, and aquatic life." 
 
 Waters classed as Domestic Water supply have both specific 
 criteria and a narrative statement. Tney are: 
 
 "Treated surTace waters used for public or domestic water 
 supply snail meet tne recommendations ot the Public Health 
 Service Drinking Water Standards." 
 
 They recommend not more than 4s mg/1 as (NO^). 
 
 39 
 
Guam 
 
 (Cont 1 d ) 
 
 Puerto 
 
 Rico 
 
 Virgin Islands 
 
 "Ammonia nitrogen shall be less than .01 mg/1 as N. 
 
 Waters classed for the Propagation of Fish and Other Aquatic 
 Life limit nutrients such as nitrates as follows: 
 
 "The naturally occurring ratio and concentrations of nitro¬ 
 gen and phosphorus will be maintained in near shore waters and 
 
 fresh waters." 
 
 The water quality standards of Puerto Rico have no specific 
 criteria limiting nitrates in interstate waters. 
 
 f 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement that could be 
 used to restrict the amount of nitrates causing problems in 
 existing high quality waters. 
 
 Contains a narrative statement that could be used to limit ni¬ 
 trates in interstate waters where problems arising from them 
 exist. It is: 
 
 "1. Class SA 
 
 Existing natural conditions shall not be altered. 
 
 "2. Class SB 
 
 e. Toxic wates or deleterious substances alone or in 
 combination with other substances or wastes in 
 
 sufficient amounts .. which in any way obviously 
 
 affect the flavor, color, odor, or sanitary 
 conditions of the waters...." 
 
 Have no specific criteria to limit nitrates in interstate 
 water. 
 
 Have no narrative statement that could be used to limit nitrate 
 in problem areas. 
 
 Have an approved antidegradation statement that could be used 
 to limit nitrates causing problems for existing high quality 
 waters. 
 
 40 
 
4 
 

 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 II 
 
 3 
 
 0- 
 
 12V 
 
 3C 
 
 42 
 
 339 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I