49-222. Water quality standards for navigable
waters
A. Standards for the quality of navigable waters shall assure water quality, if
attainable, which provides for protecting the public health and welfare, and shall
enhance the quality of water taking into consideration its use and value for public water
supplies, the propagation of fish and wildlife and recreational, agricultural, industrial
and other purposes including navigation.
B. Not later than January 1, 1990, the director shall adopt standards for the
quality of all navigable waters which establish numeric limitations on the concentrations
of each of the toxic pollutants listed by the administrator pursuant to section 307 of
the clean water act (33 United States Code section 1317).
C. In setting numeric standards for the quality of navigable waters, the director
may consider the effect of local water quality characteristics on the toxicity of
specific pollutants and the varying sensitivities of local affected aquatic populations
to such pollutants, and the extent to which the natural flow of the stream is
intermittent or ephemeral, as a result of which the instream flow consists mostly of
treated wastewater effluent, except that such standards shall not, in any event, be
inconsistent with the clean water act. In applying such standards the director may
establish appropriate mixing zones.
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