Water: Water Quality Criteria
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Surface Water Standards & Guidance
Water Quality Standards
Water Quality Criteria
Historical National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
Historical National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
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This information is provided as historical background for interested parties.
- 2009 National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Table (PDF) (22 pp, 469K)
- 2003 Revised National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health
- Fact Sheet
- Table of updated criteria
- Federal Register Notice (December 31, 2003)
- 2002 National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
- Criteria Table (PDF) (36 pp, 404K) This table provides recommended water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life and human health for approximately 150 pollutants.
- Fact Sheet
- Federal Register Notice (December 27, 2002)
- 1999 National Recommended Water Quality Criteria
- Criteria Table (PDF) (26 pp, 340K) Correction (Revised, April, 1999)
- Quality Criteria for Water 1986 (PDF) (477 pp, 5.1MB) [The Gold Book] - May 1986
- Quality Criteria for Water 1976 (PDF) (534 pp, 12.7MB) [The Red Book] - July 1976
- Chemical Specific Criteria Documents from the 1980's
