Pennsylvania Criteria Development Progress
This page provides information about the progress Pennsylvania has made towards the development of numeric criteria and shows what statewide and site-specific criteria are currently in effect.
Note: The information on the tabs below reflects the information available on EPA’s
Water Quality Standards Repository. The criteria presented here will be updated as new water quality standards documents are posted to the Repository.
Numeric Criteria Development
The information presented below gives a summary of state progress towards the development of numeric criteria. The information comes from EPA’s “State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards (1998-2008)” report, current water quality standards, program activity measures, and nutrient criteria development plans. Links to the Pennsylvania’s Nutrient Criteria Plan and state water quality standards are also provided.
Existing Numeric Criteria
| Waterbody Type | N | P | Chl-a | Clarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes & Reservoirs | ||||
| Rivers & Streams | ||||
| Estuaries | ||||
| Wetlands |
S = Statewide W = For selected waterbody N ⁄ A=Not Applicable
Note: See Statewide Criteria and Site-specific Criteria tabs for more information.
Links to Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan and Existing Nutrient Criteria
Plans:
- Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Pennsylvania 2011
- Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Pennsylvania 2010
- Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Pennsylvania 2004
WQS: Pennsylvania Water Quality Standards
Pennsylvania DEP: Water Quality Assessments and Standards Exit
Milestone Information
Milestone information updated July 2012.
Milestone |
Rivers and Streams | Lakes and Reservoirs | Estuaries and Coastal Waters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN | TP | TN | TP | TN | TP | |
| Planning for criteria development | Complete | Complete | Complete | Complete | No date provided | No date provided |
| Collection of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | Complete | Complete | No date provided | No date provided |
| Analysis of information and data | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Proposal of criteria | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
| Adoption of criteria (EPA-Approved) | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided | No date provided |
TN: Total Nitrogen; TP: Total Phosphorus
Statewide Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for Pennsylvania’s waterbodies. The language presented below comes directly from state water quality standards and applies to all waterbodies within the state (unless a waterbody type or designated use is noted). Criteria applicable to specific waterbodies within the state can be found on the “Site-specific Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Pennsylvania water quality standards.
The following information reflects Pennsylvania’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved February 2006).
Chapter 93. Water Quality Standards
§ 93.6. General water quality criteria
(a) Water may not contain substances attributable to point or nonpoint source discharges in concentration or amounts sufficient to be inimical or harmful to the water uses to be protected or to human, animal, plant or aquatic life.
(b) In addition to other substances listed within or addressed by this chapter, specific substances to be controlled include, but are not limited to, floating materials, oil, grease, scum and substances that produce color, tastes, odors, turbidity or settle to form deposits.
§ 93.7. Specific water quality criteria.
(a) Table 3 displays specific water quality criteria and associated critical uses. The criteria associated with the Statewide water uses listed in § 93.4, Table 2 apply to all surface waters, unless a specific exception is indicated in §§ 93.9a-93.9z. Other specific water quality criteria apply to surface waters as specified in §§93.9a-93.9z. All applicable criteria shall be applied in accordance with this chapter, Chapter 96 (relating to water quality standards implementation) and other applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.
Table 3| Parameter | Symbol | Criteria | Critical Use* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite plus Nitrate | N | Maximum 10 mg/L as nitrogen. | PWS |
*Critical use: The most sensitive designated or existing use the criteria are designed to protect.
Surface water classifications explained:
From § 93.3. Protected water uses.
Water uses which shall be protected, and upon which the development of water quality criteria shall be based, are set forth, accompanied by their identifying symbols, in Table 1:
Table 1
| Symbol | Protected Use |
|---|---|
| Water Supply | |
| PWS | Potable Water Supply—Used by the public as defined by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 300F, or by other water users that require a permit from the Department under the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act (35 P. S. §§ 721.1—721.18), or the act of June 24, 1939 (P. L. 842, No. 365) (32 P. S. §§ 631—641), after conventional treatment, for drinking, culinary and other domestic purposes, such as inclusion into foods, either directly or indirectly. |
Site-specific Criteria
The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for Pennsylvania’s waterbodies. Criteria on this page apply only to the waterbodies listed below. Criteria applicable to all waterbodies within the state are found on the “Statewide Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Pennsylvania water quality standards.
The following information reflects Pennsylvania’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved February 2006).
None.