18 Alaska Admin. Code § 70.020

Current through August 30, 2024

Section 18 AAC 70.020 - Protected water use classes and subclasses; water quality criteria; water quality standards table

(a) Classes and subclasses of use of the state's water protected by criteria set out under (b) of this section are

(1) fresh water

(A) water supply

(i) drinking, culinary, and food processing;

(ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering;

(iii) aquaculture;

(iv) industrial;

(B) water recreation

(i) contact recreation;

(ii) secondary recreation;

(C) growth and propagation of fish, shellfish, other aquatic life, and wildlife; and

(2) marine water

(A) water supply

(i) aquaculture;

(ii) seafood processing;

(iii) industrial;

(B) water recreation

(i) contact recreation;

(ii) secondary recreation;

(C) growth and propagation of fish, shellfish, other aquatic life, and wildlife; and

(D) harvesting for consumption of raw mollusks or other raw aquatic life.

(b) Except as modified by or under 18 AAC 70.220 or 18 AAC 70.235, the water quality criteria set out in the following table, and in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual for Toxic and Other Deleterious Organic and Inorganic Substances, dated December 12, 2008 and adopted by reference, in combination with the classes and subclasses of water use set out in (a) of this section, constitute the water quality standards for a particular waterbody; the water quality standards regulate human activities that result in alterations to waters within the state's jurisdiction:

Water Quality Standards for Designated Uses
POLLUTANT & WATER USE	CRITERIA
(1) COLOR, FOR FRESH WATER USES (see note 8)	May not exceed 15 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(A) Water supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	Not applicable.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	May not exceed 50 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not cause detrimental effects on established water supply treatment levels.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (l)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	May not interfere with or make the water unfit or unsafe for the use.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Color or apparent color may not reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10% from the seasonally established norm for aquatic life. For all waters without a seasonally established norm for aquatic life, color or apparent color may not exceed 50 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(2) BACTERIA, FOR FRESH WATER USES (see note 1)
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean may not exceed 20 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 40 fecal coliform/100 ml. For groundwater, the fecal coliform concentration must be less than 1 fecal coliform/100 ml, using the fecal coliform Membrane Filter Technique, or less than 3 fecal coliform/100 ml, using the fecal coliform most probable number (MPN) technique.
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the irrigation and stock samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml. For products not normally cooked and for dairy sanitation of unpasteurized products, the criteria for drinking water supply, (2)(A)(i), apply.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	For products normally cooked, the geometric mean of samples taken in a 30-day period may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml. For products not normally cooked, the criteria for drinking water supply, (2)(A)(i), apply.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	Where worker contact is present, the geometric mean of samples taken in a 30-day period may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 126 Escherichia coli (E.coli) colony forming units (CFU)/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed a statistical threshold value (STV) of 410 E.coli CFU/100 ml.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the total samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Not applicable.
(3) DISSOLVED GAS, FOR FRESH WATER USES	Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) must be greater than or equal to 4 mg/l (this does not apply to lakes or reservoirs in which supplies are taken from below the thermocline, or to groundwater).
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	D.O. must be greater than 3 mg/l in surface waters.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	D.O. must be greater than 7 mg/l in surface waters. The concentration of total dissolved gas may not exceed 110% of saturation at any point of sample collection.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not cause detrimental effects on established water supply treatment levels.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	D.O. must be greater than or equal to 4 mg/l.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (3)(B)(1).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	D.O. must be greater than 7 mg/l in waters used by anadromous or resident fish. In no case may D.O. be less than 5 mg/l to a depth of 20 cm in the interstitial waters of gravel used by anadromous or resident fish for spawning (see note 2). For waters not used by anadromous or resident fish, D.O. must be greater than or equal to 5 mg/l. In no case may D.O. be greater than 17 mg/l. The concentration of total dissolved gas may not exceed 110% of saturation at any point of sample collection.
(4) DISSOLVED INORGANIC SUBSTANCES, FOR FRESH WATER USES	Total dissolved solids (TDS) from all sources may not exceed 500 mg/l. Neither chlorides nor sulfates may exceed 250 mg/l.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	TDS may not exceed 1,000 mg/l. Sodium adsorption ratio must be less than 2.5, sodium percentage less than 60%, and residual carbonate less than 1.25 milliequivalents/liter (see note 6).
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	TDS may not exceed 1,000 mg/l. A concentration of TDS may not be present in water if that concentration causes or reasonably could be expected to cause an adverse effect to aquatic life (see note 12).
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	No amounts above natural conditions that can cause corrosion, scaling, or process problems.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Not applicable.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Not applicable.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (4)(A)(iii).
(5) PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS, OILS AND GREASE, FOR FRESH WATER USES	May not cause a visible sheen upon the surface of the water. May not exceed concentrations that individually or in combination impart odor or taste as determined by organoleptic tests.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	May not cause a visible sheen upon the surface of the water.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	Total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH) in the water column may not exceed 15 µg/l (see note 7). Total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAH) in the water column may not exceed 10 µg/l (see note 7). There may be no concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, animal fats, or vegetable oils in shoreline or bottom sediments that cause deleterious effects to aquatic life. Surface waters and adjoining shorelines must be virtually free from floating oil, film, sheen, or discoloration.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not make the water unfit or unsafe for the use.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	May not cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface or floor of the waterbody or adjoining shorelines. Surface waters must be virtually free from floating oils.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (5)(B)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (5)(A)(iii).
(6) pH, FOR FRESH WATER USES (variation of pH for waters naturally outside the specified range must be toward the range)	May not be less than 6.0 or greater than 8.5.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	May not be less than 5.0 or greater than 9.0.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	May not be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5. May not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural conditions.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not be less than 5.0 or greater than 9.0.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	May not be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5. If the natural condition pH is outside this range, substances may not be added that cause an increase in the buffering capacity of the water.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (6)(A)(iv)
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	May not be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5. May not vary more than 0.5 pH unit from natural conditions.
(7) RADIOACTIVITY, FOR FRESH WATER USES	May not exceed the concentrations specified in Table I of the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5) for radioactive contaminants and may not exceed limits specified in 10 C.F.R. 20 (see note 9) and National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 69 (see note 10).
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	Same as (7)(A)(i).
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	Same as (7)(A)(i) except that concentration factors for organisms involved may not exceed maximum permissible limits for specific radioisotopes and unidentified mixtures as established by 10 C.F.R. 20 (see note 9) and National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 69 (see note 10).
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	Same as (7)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (7)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (7)(A)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (7)(A)(iii).
(8) RESIDUES, FOR FRESH WATER USES: Floating solids, debris, sludge, deposits, foam, scum, or other residues (criteria are not applicable to groundwater)	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use; cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines; cause leaching of toxic or deleterious substances; or cause a sludge, solid or emulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water, within the water column, on the bottom, or upon adjoining shorelines.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	May not be present in quantities to cause soil plugging or reduced crop yield, or to make the water unfit or unsafe for the use;
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use;
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	Same as (8)(A)(iii).
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (8)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (8)(A)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use, or cause acute or chronic problem levels as determined by bioassay or other appropriate methods; may not, alone or in combination with other substances, cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines; cause leaching of toxic or deleterious substances; or cause a sludge, solid, or emulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water, within the water column, on the bottom, or upon adjoining shorelines.
(9) SEDIMENT, FOR FRESH WATER USES (criteria are not applicable to groundwater)	No measurable increase in concentration of settleable solids above natural conditions, as measured by the volumetric Imhoff cone method (see note 11).
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	For sprinkler irrigation, water must be free of particles of 0.074 mm or coarser. For irrigation or water spreading, may not exceed 200 mg/l for an extended period of time.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	No imposed loads that will interfere with established water supply treatment levels.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	Same as (9)(A)(iii).
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (9)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	May not pose hazards to incidental human contact or cause interference with the use.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	The percent accumulation of fine sediment in the range of 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm in the gravel bed of waters used by anadromous or resident fish for spawning may not be increased more than 5% by weight above natural conditions (as shown from grain size accumulation graph). In no case may the 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm fine sediment range in those gravel beds exceed a maximum of 30% by weight (as shown from grain size accumulation graph) (see notes 3 and 4). In all other surface waters no sediment loads (suspended or deposited) that can cause adverse effects on aquatic animal or plant life, their reproduction or habitat may be present.
(10) TEMPERATURE, FOR FRESH WATER USES	May not exceed 15° C.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	May not exceed 30° C.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	May not exceed 20° C at any time. The following maximum temperatures may not be exceeded, where applicable: Migration routes 15° C Spawning areas 13° C Rearing areas 15° C Egg & fry incubation 13° C For all other waters, the weekly average temperature may not exceed site-specific requirements needed to preserve normal species diversity or to prevent appearance of nuisance organisms.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not exceed 25° C.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (10)(A)(ii).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Not applicable.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (10)(A)(iii).
(11) TOXIC AND OTHER DELETERIOUS ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SUBSTANCES, FOR FRESH WATER USES	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for drinking water and human health for consumption of water and aquatic organisms shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5). Substances may not be introduced at concentrations that cause, or can reasonably be expected to cause, either singly or in combination, odor, taste, or other adverse effects on the use.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for drinking water and stockwater and irrigation water shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5). Substances may not be introduced at concentrations that cause, or can reasonably be expected to cause, either singly or in combination, odor, taste, or other adverse effects on the use.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	Same as (11)(C).
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	Concentrations of substances that pose hazards to worker contact may not be present.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for drinking water shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5). Substances may not be introduced at concentrations that cause, or can reasonably be expected to cause, either singly or in combination, odor, taste, or other adverse effects on the use.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Concentrations of substances that pose hazards to incidental human contact may not be present.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for aquatic life for fresh water and human health for consumption of aquatic organisms only shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5), or any chronic and acute criteria established in this chapter, for a toxic pollutant of concern, to protect sensitive and biologically important life stages of resident species of this state. There may be no concentrations of toxic substances in water or in shoreline or bottom sediments, that, singly or in combination, cause, or reasonably can be expected to cause, adverse effects on aquatic life or produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life, except as authorized by this chapter. Substances may not be present in concentrations that individually or in combination impart undesirable odor or taste to fish or other aquatic organisms, as determined by either bioassay or organoleptic tests.
(12) TURBIDITY, FOR FRESH WATER USES (criteria are not applicable to groundwater)	May not exceed 5 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) above natural conditions when the natural turbidity is 50 NTU or less, and may not have more than 10% increase in turbidity when the natural turbidity is more than 50 NTU, not to exceed a maximum increase of 25 NTU.
(A) Water Supply (i) drinking, culinary, and food processing
(A) Water Supply (ii) agriculture, including irrigation and stock watering	May not cause detrimental effects on indicated use.
(A) Water Supply (iii) aquaculture	May not exceed 25 NTU above natural conditions. For all lake waters, may not exceed 5 NTU above natural conditions.
(A) Water Supply (iv) industrial	May not cause detrimental effects on established water supply treatment levels.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	May not exceed 5 NTU above natural conditions when the natural turbidity is 50 NTU or less, and may not have more than 10% increase in turbidity when the natural turbidity is more than 50 NTU, not to exceed a maximum increase of 15 NTU. May not exceed 5 NTU above natural turbidity for all lake waters.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	May not exceed 10 NTU above natural conditions when natural turbidity is 50 NTU or less, and may not have more than 20% increase in turbidity when the natural turbidity is greater than 50 NTU, not to exceed a maximum increase of 15 NTU. For all lake waters, turbidity may not exceed 5 NTU above natural turbidity.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (12)(A)(iii).
(13) COLOR, FOR MARINE WATER USES (see note 8)	May not exceed 50 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not exceed 15 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Not applicable.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (13)(A)(ii).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Surface waters must be free of substances that produce objectionable color.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Color or apparent color may not reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10% from the seasonally established norm for aquatic life. For all waters without a seasonally established norm for aquatic life, color or apparent color may not exceed 50 color units or the natural condition, whichever is greater.
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (13)(C).
(14) BACTERIA, FOR MARINE WATER USES (see note 1)
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture	For products normally cooked, the geometric mean of samples taken in a 30-day period may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml. For products not normally cooked, the geometric mean of samples taken in a 30-day period may not exceed 20 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 40 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 20 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 40 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Where worker contact is present, the geometric mean of samples taken in a 30-day period may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 35 enterococci CFU/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed a statistical threshold value (STV) of 130 enterococci CFU/100 ml.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	In a 30-day period, the geometric mean of samples may not exceed 200 fecal coliform/100 ml, and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed 400 fecal coliform/100 ml.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Not applicable.
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	The geometric mean of samples may not exceed 14 fecal coliform/100ml; and not more than 10% of the samples may exceed - 43 MPN per 100 ml for a five-tube decimal dilution test; - 49 MPN per 100 ml for a three-tube decimal dilution test; -28 MPN per 100 ml for a twelve-tube single dilution test; -31 cfu per 100 ml for a membrane filtration test (see note 14).
(15) DISSOLVED GAS, FOR MARINE WATER USES	Surface dissolved oxygen (D.O.) concentration in coastal water may not be less than 6.0 mg/l for a depth of one meter except when natural conditions cause this value to be depressed. D.O. may not be reduced below 4 mg/l at any point beneath the surface. D.O. concentrations in estuaries and tidal tributaries may not be less than 5.0 mg/l except where natural conditions cause this value to be depressed. In no case may D.O. levels exceed 17 mg/l. The concentration of total dissolved gas may not exceed 110% of saturation at any point of sample collection.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	Not applicable.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Not applicable.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (15)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (15)(A)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (15)(A)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (15)(A)(i).
(16) DISSOLVED INORGANIC SUBSTANCES, FOR MARINE WATER USES	Human-induced alteration may not cause a change in the water's isohaline patterns of more than ±-10% of the natural variations.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	Not applicable.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	No amounts above natural conditions that can cause corrosion, scaling, or process problems.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Not applicable.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Not applicable.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Maximum allowable variation above natural salinity: Natural Human-Induced Salinity* Salinity* 0.0 to 3.5 1 Greater than 3.5 to 13.5 2 Greater than 13.5 to 35.5 4 * parts per thousand
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (16)(A)(i) or (16)(C), whichever is more stringent.
(17) PETROLEUM HYDROCARBBONS, OILS AND GREASE, FOR MARINE WATER USES	Total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH) in the water column may not exceed 15 µg/l (see note 7). Total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAH) in the water column may not exceed 10 µg/l (see note 7). There may be no concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, animal fats, or vegetable oils in shoreline or bottom sediments that cause deleterious effects to aquatic life. Surface waters and adjoining shorelines must be virtually free from floating oil, film, sheen, or discoloration.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface or floor of the waterbody or adjoining shorelines. Surface waters must be virtually free from floating oils. May not exceed concentrations that individually or in combination impart odor or taste as determined by organoleptic tests.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	May not make the water unfit or unsafe for the use.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	May not cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface or floor of the waterbody or adjoining shorelines. Surface waters must be virtually free from floating oils.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (17)(B)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (17)(A)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	May not exceed concentrations that individually or in combination impart undesirable odor or taste to organisms as determined by bioassay or organoleptic tests.
(18) pH, FOR MARINE WATER USES (variation of pH for waters naturally outside the specified range must be toward the range)	May not be less than 6.5 or greater than 8.5, and may not vary more than 0.2 pH unit outside of the naturally occurring range.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not be less than 6.0 or greater than 8.5.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	May not be less than 5.0 or greater than 9.0.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	May not be less than 6.0 or greater than 8.5. If the natural pH condition is outside this range, substances may not be added that cause any increase in buffering capacity of the water.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (18)(A)(iii).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (18)(A)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (18)(A)(ii).
(19) RADIOACTIVITY, FOR MARINE WATER USES	May not exceed the concentrations specified in Table I of the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5) for radioactive contaminants. Concentration factors for organisms involved may not exceed maximum permissible limits for specific radioisotopes and unidentified mixtures as established in 10 C.F.R. 20 (see note 9) and National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 69 (see note 10).
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not exceed the concentrations specified in Table I of the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5) for radioactive contaminants and may not exceed limits specified in 10 C.F.R. 20 (see note 9) or National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 69 (see note 10).
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Same as (19)(A)(ii).
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (19)(A)(ii).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (19)(A)(ii).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (19)(A)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (19)(A)(i).
(20) RESIDUES, FOR FRESH WATER USES: Floating solids, debris, sludge, deposits, foam, scum, or other residues	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use; may not detrimentally affect established water supply treatment levels.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use; cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines; cause leaching of toxic or deleterious substances; or cause a sludge, solid, or emulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water, within the water column, on the bottom, or upon adjoining shorelines.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (20)(A)(ii).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (20)(A)(ii).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use, or cause acute or chronic problem levels as determined by bioassay or other appropriate methods; may not, alone or in combination with other substances, cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines; cause leaching of toxic or deleterious substances; or cause a sludge, solid, or emulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water, within the water column, on the bottom, or upon adjoining shorelines.
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	May not, alone or in combination with other substances or wastes, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use; cause a film, sheen, or discoloration on the surface of the water or adjoining shorelines; cause leaching of toxic or deleterious substances; or cause a sludge, solid, or emulsion to be deposited beneath or upon the surface of the water, within the water column, on the bottom, or upon adjoining shorelines.
(21) SEDIMENT, FOR MARINE WATER USES	No imposed loads that will interfere with established water supply treatment levels.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	Below normally detectable amounts.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Same as (21)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	No measurable increase in concentration of settleable solids above natural conditions, as measured by the volumetric Imhoff cone method (see note 11).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	May not pose hazards to incidental human contact or cause interference with the use.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (21)(B)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Not applicable.
(22) TEMPERATURE, FOR MARINE WATER USES	May not cause the weekly average temperature to increase more than 1° C. The maximum rate of change may not exceed 0.5° C per hour. Normal daily temperature cycles may not be altered in amplitude or frequency.
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not exceed 15° C.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	May not exceed 25° C.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Not applicable.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Not applicable.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	Same as (22)(A)(i).
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (22)(A)(i).
(23) TOXIC AND OTHER DELETERIOUS ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SUBSTANCES, FOR MARINE WATER USES	Same as (23)(C).
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for aquatic life for marine water shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5). Substances may not be introduced at concentrations that cause, or can reasonably be expected to cause, either singly or in combination, odor, taste, or other adverse effects on the use.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	Concentrations of substances that pose hazards to worker contact may not be present.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	There may be no concentrations of substances in water, that alone or in combination with other substances, make the water unfit or unsafe for the use.
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Concentrations of substances that pose hazards to incidental human contact may not be present.
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	The concentration of substances in water may not exceed the numeric criteria for aquatic life for marine water and human health for consumption of aquatic organisms only shown in the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual (see note 5), or any chronic and acute criteria established in this chapter, for a toxic pollutant of concern, to protect sensitive and biologically important life stages of resident species of this state. There may be no concentrations of toxic substances in water or in shoreline or bottom sediments, that, singly or in combination, cause, or reasonably can be expected to cause, adverse effects on aquatic life or produce undesirable or nuisance aquatic life, except as authorized by this chapter. Substances may not be present in concentrations that individually or in combination impart undesirable odor or taste to fish or other aquatic organisms, as determined by either bioassay or organoleptic tests.
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (23)(C).
(24) TURBIDITY, FOR MARINE WATER USES	May not exceed 25 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
(A) Water Supply (i) aquaculture
(A) Water Supply (ii) seafood processing	May not interfere with disinfection.
(A) Water Supply (iii) industrial	May not cause detrimental effects on established levels of water supply treatment.
(B) Water Recreation (i) contact recreation	Same as (24)(A)(i).
(B) Water Recreation (ii) secondary recreation	Same as (24)(A)(i).
(C) Growth and Propagation of Fish, Shellfish, Other Aquatic Life, and Wildlife	May not reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10%. May not reduce the maximum secchi disk depth by more than 10%.
(D) Harvesting for Consumption of Raw Mollusks or Other Raw Aquatic Life	Same as (24)(C).

Notes:

1. Wherever bacteria criteria are provided in this section, bacteria enumeration must be determined by the membrane filter technique or most probable number procedure according to any edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, adopted by reference in (c)(1) of this section, or in accordance with other standards approved by the department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bacteria results reported as "too numerous to count" (TNTC) is considered ill! exceedance for comparison to water quality standards. Analysis and reporting of the method recommended dilution of the sample is required.

2. Wherever criteria for dissolved oxygen (DO) are provided in this chapter, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in interstitial waters of gravel beds will be measured using the technique found in Variations in the Dissolved Oxygen Content of Intragravel Water in Four Spawning Streams of Southeastern Alaska, by William J. McNeil, United States Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report - Fisheries No. 402, February 1962, adopted by reference.

3. Wherever criteria for fine sediments are provided in this chapter, fine sediments must be sampled by the method described in An Improved Technique for Freeze Sampling Streambed Sediments, by William J. Walkotten, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service, Forest Service Research Note PNW-281, October 1976, adopted by reference, or by the technique found in Success of Pink Salmon Spawning Relative to Size of Spawning Bed Materials, by William J. McNeil and W.H. Ahnell, United States Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report - Fisheries No. 469, January 1964, pages 1 - 3, adopted by reference.

4. Wherever criteria for fine sediments are provided in this chapter, percent accumulation of fine sediments will be measured by the technique found in the Manual on Test Sieving Methods, Guidelines for Establishing Sieve Analysis Procedures, by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), STP 447A, 1972 edition, adopted by reference.

5. Wherever cited in this subsection, the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual means the Alaska Water Quality Criteria Manual for Toxic and Other Deleterious Organic and Inorganic Substances, dated {adoption date of regulations}, adopted by reference in this subsection.

6.The Report of the Committee on Water Quality Criteria, United States Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, Washington, D.C., April 1, 1968, is adopted by reference.

7. Samples to determine concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons (TAH) and total aqueous hydrocarbons (TAqH) must be collected in marine and fresh waters below the surface and away from any observable sheen; concentrations of TAqH must be determined and summed using a combination of:

(A) EPA Method 602 (plus xylenes) or EPA Method 624 to quantify monoaromatic hydrocarbons and to measure TAH; and

(B) EPA Method 610 or EPA Method 625 to quantify polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons listed in EPA Method 610; use of an alternative method requires department approval; the EPA methods referred to in this note may be found in Appendix A of 40 C.F.R. 136, as revised as of July 1, 2003 and adopted by reference.

8. Color is as measured in color units on the platinum-cobalt scale according to any edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, adopted by reference.

9. Wherever cited in this chapter, 10 C.F.R. Part 20 means the Standards for Protection Against Radiation, revised as of January 1, 2014, and adopted by reference.

10. Wherever cited in this chapter, National Bureau of Standards Handbook 69 means Maximum Permissible Body Burdens and Maximum Permissible Concentrations of Radionuclides in Air and Water for Occupational Exposure, United States Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards Handbook 69, August 1963, adopted by reference.

11. Volumetric measurements of settleable solids must be determined according to the following procedure:

(A) first, an Imhoff cone must be filled to the one-liter mark with thoroughly mixed sample;

(B) second, the sample must settle for 45 minutes;

(C) third, the sides of the cone must be gently stirred with a rod or by spinning;

(D) fourth, the sample must settle 15 minutes longer, and the volume of settleable matter in the cone must be recorded as milliliters per liter;

(E) fifth, if the settled matter contains pockets of liquid between large settled particles, the volume of these pockets must be estimated and subtracted from the volume of settled matter.

12. If a permit applicant proposes to raise the total dissolved solids (TDS) levels in the receiving water to result in a concentration in the waterbody between 500 mg/l and 1,000 mg/l for all sources or above 110 mg/l for the potassium ion, the department will require a permit applicant to provide information that the department identifies as necessary to determine if the proposed TDS level will cause or can reasonably be expected to cause an adverse effect to aquatic life; based on its analysis, the department will limit the TDS level in the waterbody as necessary to prevent an adverse effect, and will set permit effluent limits accordingly; the burden of proof to demonstrate no adverse effect is on the permit applicant; implementation of the "no adverse effect" criterion is not subject to 18 AAC 70.235.

13. repealed 11/13/2022.

14. When fecal coliform are monitored in waters designated as state approved shellfish harvesting and growing waters, these waters are also subject to 18 AAC 34.010(19).

(c) Water quality must be analyzed according to

(1)Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 22nd edition, 2012 or 23rd edition, 2017, published jointly by the American Public Health and American Water Works Associations and the Water Environment Federation; the editions of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater listed in this paragraph are adopted by reference, except for analytical methods where the most recently EPA approved version is required under (3) of this subsection and later versions of those methods are not adopted by reference and are not approved;

(2)Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes, March 1983, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Technical Report No. EPA-600/4-79-020, adopted by reference;

(3) 40 C.F.R. Part 136 (guidelines establishing test procedures for the analysis of pollutants), revised as of July 1, 2021, adopted by reference;

(4) repealed 6/13/2006;

(5)Methods for Organic Chemical Analysis of Municipal and Industrial Wastewater, July 1982, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Technical Report No. EPA-600/4-82-057, adopted by reference;

(6) methods cited in (b) of this section; or

(7) other methods of analysis approved by the department and EPA.

(d) In applying acute aquatic life criteria, a one-hour averaging period typically is used for ammonia and other fast-acting toxic substances, a 24-hour averaging period is used for all other toxic substances, unless otherwise specified by the department.

18 AAC 70.020

Eff. 11/1/97, Register 143; am 4/29/99, Register 150; am 5/27/99, Register 150; am 6/22/2003, Register 166; am 6/13/2006, Register 178; am 9/1/2006, Register 179; am 9/19/2009, Register 191; am 5/26/2011, Register 198; am 2/19/2016, Register 217, April 2016; am 2/5/2017, Register 221, April 2017; am 11/13/2022, Register 244, January 2023; am 4/26/2024, Register 250, July 2024

Authority:AS 46.03.010

AS 46.03.020

AS 46.03.050

AS 46.03.070

AS 46.03.080

AS 46.03.710