Section 58.01.02.200 - GENERAL SURFACE WATER QUALITY CRITERIAThe following general water quality criteria apply to all surface waters of the state, in addition to the water quality criteria set forth for specifically designated waters.
01.Hazardous Materials. Surface waters of the state shall be free from hazardous materials in concentrations found to be of public health significance or to impair designated beneficial uses. These materials do not include suspended sediment produced as a result of nonpoint source activities.02.Toxic Substances. Surface waters of the state shall be free from toxic substances in concentrations that impair designated beneficial uses. These substances do not include suspended sediment produced as a result of nonpoint source activities.03.Deleterious Materials. Surface waters of the state shall be free from deleterious materials in concentrations that impair designated beneficial uses. These materials do not include suspended sediment produced as a result of nonpoint source activities.04.Radioactive Materials.a. Radioactive materials or radioactivity shall not exceed the values listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 10, Chapter 1, Part 20, Appendix B, Table 2, Effluent Concentrations, Column 2.b. Radioactive materials or radioactivity shall not exceed concentrations required to meet the standards set forth in Title 10, Chapter 1, Part 20, of the Code of Federal Regulations for maximum exposure of critical human organs in the case of foodstuffs harvested from these waters for human consumption.05.Floating, Suspended or Submerged Matter. Surface waters of the state shall be free from floating, suspended, or submerged matter of any kind in concentrations causing nuisance or objectionable conditions or that may impair designated beneficial uses. This matter does not include suspended sediment produced as a result of nonpoint source activities.06.Excess Nutrients. Surface waters of the state shall be free from excess nutrients that can cause visible slime growths or other nuisance aquatic growths impairing designated beneficial uses.07.Oxygen-Demanding Materials. Surface waters of the state shall be free from oxygen-demanding materials in concentrations that would result in an anaerobic water condition.08.Sediment. Sediment shall not exceed quantities specified in Sections 250 and 252, or, in the absence of specific sediment criteria, quantities which impair designated beneficial uses. Determinations of impairment shall be based on water quality monitoring and surveillance and the information utilized as described in Section 350.09.Natural Background Conditions as Criteria. When natural background conditions exceed any applicable water quality criteria set forth in Sections 210, 250, 251, 252, or 253, the applicable water quality criteria shall not apply; instead, there shall be no lowering of water quality from natural background conditions. Provided, however, that temperature may be increased above natural background conditions when allowed under Section 401.Idaho Admin. Code r. 58.01.02.200