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Water Quality Standards

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Water Quality Standards for Toxic Pollutants

DEQ is responsible for establishing water quality criteria to protect human health. These criteria are established to allow Oregonians to consume fish and shellfish and to use state waters for drinking water supply without adverse health effects.  DEQ’s current standards are based on EPA recommended criteria. However, we are currently in the process of revising our criteria based on the higher levels of fish consumed by many Oregonians. Please see below for additional information.

[Current Standards]      [Toxics Criteria Review]      [Fish Consumption Rate Project]      [Links]      [Contact]

Current Standards


Toxics Standards Rule (OAR 340-041-0033)
  Table Description  
  Table 20 Currently effective Clean Water Act Criteria  
  Table 33A Criteria adopted by the EQC (2004), effective state rule  
  Table 33B Criteria adopted aby EQC, but not effective until approved by EPA  
  Table 33C Guidence values (not water quality criteria)  

Former Table 20: As published prior to rule changes in 2004

Toxics Criteria Review (2008-2010)

  • EQC Direction and Background

    On October 23, 2008, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission gave DEQ unanimous approval to pursue rule revisions that will set new water quality standards for toxic pollutants in Oregon. The new standards will be based on a new fish consumption rate that is much more protective of human health than the existing rate.  In addition, DEQ is reviewing the criteria for three naturally occurring earth metals: arsenic, iron and manganese.

      The EQC directed DEQ to:

      1. Revise Oregon’s toxics criteria for human health based on a fish consumption rate of 175 grams per person per day;
      2. Propose rule language that will allow DEQ to implement the standards in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and other Clean Water Act programs in an environmentally meaningful and cost-effective manner;
      3. Propose rule language or develop other implementation strategies to reduce the adverse impacts of toxic substances in Oregon’s waters that are the result of non-point source (not via a pipe) discharges or other sources not subject to section 402 of the Clean Water Act;
      4. Develop a proposed rule and implementation methods that carefully consider the costs and benefits of the fish consumption rate and the data and scientific analysis already compiled or that is developed as part of the rulemaking proceeding.

    For more information about the commission’s action, see DEQ’s news release.

  • Stakeholder Groups and Public Involvement

Oct. 2009: The Toxics Stakeholder Group has been updated to assist DEQ in the development of a comprehensive toxics reduction strategy. Please refer to the Toxics Stakeholder Group web page for current information.

Fish Consumption Rate Project (2006-2008)

Links

Contact

  • Please contact Debra Sturdevant at Oregon DEQ (503) 229-6691 or by email for additional information.


[Current Standards]      [Toxics Criteria Review]      [Fish Consumption Rate Project]      [Links]      [Contact]
[print version]

For more information on DEQ's Water Quality Division and its programs, see our contact page.

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Headquarters: 811 Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97204-1390
Phone: 503-229-5696 or toll free in Oregon 1-800-452-4011
Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900  FAX: 503-229-6124

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is a regulatory agency authorized to protect Oregon's environment by
the State of Oregon and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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