Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.05

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-6-10-.05 - General Conditions Applicable To All Water Quality Criteria

(1) The quality of any waters receiving sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes, regardless of their use, shall be such as will not cause the best usage of any other waters to be adversely affected by such sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes.

(2) Tests or analytical procedures to determine compliance or noncompliance with water quality criteria shall be in accordance with the methods specified in 40 CFR 136.3 (2003) . Where other tests or analytical procedures are found to be more applicable and satisfactory, these may be used upon acceptance and approval by the Department.

(3) In making any tests or analytical determinations to determine compliance or noncompliance with water quality criteria, samples shall be collected in such manner and at such locations approved by a duly authorized representative of the Department as being representative of the receiving waters after reasonable opportunity for dilution and mixture with the wastes discharged thereto. Mixing zones, i.e., that portion of the receiving waters where mixture of effluents and natural waters take place, shall not preclude passage of free-swimming and drifting aquatic organisms to the extent that their populations are significantly affected.

(4) Natural waters may, on occasion, have characteristics outside of the limits established by these criteria. The criteria contained herein relate to the condition of waters as affected by the discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes, not to conditions resulting from natural forces.

(5) All waters, where attainable, shall be suitable for recreation in and on the waters during the months of May through October except that recreational use is not recommended in the vicinity of discharges or other conditions which the Department or the Department of Public Health does not control.

(6) Where necessary to attain compliance with a new water quality standard, existing permits for the discharge of wastewaters shall be modified or reissued to limit the discharge of a substance causing or contributing to the failure of a water of the state to meet the new standard. Compliance with the modified limit shall be required as soon as practical, but in all cases within three years of the adoption of the new standard.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-6-10-.05

Originally Adopted: May 5, 1967. Amended: June 19, 1967. Amended: July 17, 1972. Amended: February 26, 1973. Amended: May 30, 1977. Amended: December 19, 1977. Amended: February 4, 1981. Amended: Filed January 26, 1990; effective March 2, 1990. Amended: Filed February 27, 1991; effective April 3, 1991. Amended: Filed December 10, 2004; effective January 14, 2005.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXV, Issue No. 03, December 30, 2016, eff. 2/3/2017.

Authors: James E. Mclndoe, Chris L. Johnson

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-22-9, 22-22A-5, 22-22A-6, 22-22A-8.