Rule 17.30.622 - A-1 CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS(1) Waters classified A-1 are to be maintained suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes after conventional treatment for removal of naturally present impurities.(2) Water quality must be maintained suitable for bathing, swimming, and recreation; growth and propagation of salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.(3) No person may violate the following specific water quality standards for waters classified A-1: (a) The geometric mean number of Escherichia coli bacteria may not exceed 32 colony forming units per 100 milliliters and 10 percent of the samples may not exceed 64 colony forming units per 100 milliliters during any 30-day period if resulting from domestic sewage. Water quality criteria for Escherichia coli are expressed in colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water or as most probable number, which is a statistical representation of the number of organisms in a sample, as incorporated by reference in 40 CFR 136.3(b).(b) Dissolved oxygen concentration must not be reduced below the applicable standards given in department Circular DEQ-7.(c) Induced variation of hydrogen ion concentration (pH) within the range of 6.5 to 8.5 must be less than 0.5 pH unit. Natural pH outside this range must be maintained without change. Natural pH above 7.0 must be maintained above 7.0. (d) No increase above naturally occurring turbidity or suspended sediment is allowed except as permitted in 75-5-318, MCA. (e) A 1ºF maximum increase above naturally occurring water temperature is allowed within the range of 32ºF to 66ºF; within the naturally occurring range of 66ºF to 66.5ºF, no discharge is allowed which will cause the water temperature to exceed 67ºF; and where the naturally occurring water temperature is 66.5ºF or greater, the maximum allowable increase in water temperature is 0.5ºF. A 2ºF-per-hour maximum decrease below naturally occurring water temperature is allowed when the water temperature is above 55ºF. A 2ºF maximum decrease below naturally occurring water temperature is allowed within the range of 55ºF to 32ºF. (f) No increases are allowed above naturally occurring concentrations of sediment or suspended sediment (except as permitted in 75-5-318, MCA), settleable solids, oils, or floating solids, which will or are likely to create a nuisance or render the waters harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, recreation, safety, welfare, livestock, wild animals, birds, fish, or other wildlife. (g) True color must not be increased more than two color units above naturally occurring color.(h) Concentrations of carcinogenic, bioconcentrating, toxic, radioactive, nutrient, or harmful parameters may not exceed the applicable standards set forth in Department Circular DEQ-7 and, unless a nutrient standards variance has been granted, Department Circular DEQ-12A. (i) Dischargers issued permits under ARM Title 17, chapter 30, subchapter 13, shall conform with ARM Title 17, chapter 30, subchapter 7, the nondegradation rules, and may not cause receiving water concentrations to exceed the applicable standards contained in Department Circular DEQ-7 and, unless a nutrient standards variance has been granted, Department Circular DEQ-12A when stream flows equal or exceed the design flows specified in ARM 17.30.635(2). (j) If site-specific criteria for aquatic life are adopted using the procedures given in 75-5-310, MCA, the criteria shall be used as water quality standards for the affected waters and as the basis for permit limits instead of the applicable standards in Department Circular DEQ-7.(k) In accordance with 75-5-306(1), MCA, it is not necessary that wastes be treated to a purer condition than the natural condition of the receiving water as long as the minimum treatment requirements, adopted pursuant to 75-5-305, MCA, are met.Mont. Admin. r. 17.30.622
Eff. 12/31/72; AMD, Eff. 11/4/73; AMD, Eff. 9/5/74; AMD, 1980 MAR p. 2252, Eff. 8/1/80; AMD, 1984 MAR p. 1802, Eff. 12/14/84; AMD, 1988 MAR p. 1191, Eff. 6/10/88; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 2136, Eff. 8/12/94; AMD, 1995 MAR p. 1798, Eff. 9/15/95; AMD, 1996 MAR p. 555, Eff. 2/23/96; TRANS, from DHES, and AMD, 1996 MAR p. 1499, Eff. 6/7/96; AMD, 1999 MAR p. 94, Eff. 1/15/99; AMD, 1999 MAR p. 2257, Eff. 10/8/99; AMD, 1999 MAR p. 2275, Eff. 10/8/99; AMD, 2002 MAR p. 1089, Eff. 2/15/02; AMD, 2006 MAR p. 528, Eff. 2/24/06; AMD, 2014 MAR p. 1815, Eff. 8/8/14; AMD, 2017 MAR p. 602, Eff. 5/13/2017 AUTH: 75-5-201, 75-5-301, MCA; IMP: 75-5-301, MCA