Abstract |
Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (US EPA) implementing regulations direct each State to identify and list waters, known as water quality limited segments (WQLSs), in which current required controls of a specified substance are inadequate to achieve water quality standards (WQSs). For each WQLS, the State is to either establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of the specified substance that the waterbody can receive without violating WQSs, or demonstrate that WQSs are being met (CFR 2007). TMDLs are established to determine the pollutant load reductions needed to achieve and maintain WQSs. A WQS is the combination of a designated use for a particular body of water and the water quality criteria designed to protect that use. Designated uses include activities such as swimming, drinking water supply, fish and shellfish propagation and harvest, etc. Water quality criteria can be either narrative statements or numeric values designed to protect the designated uses. Criteria may differ among waters with different designated uses. |