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 Puerto Rico’s Nutrient Criteria Plan and state water quality standards are also provided.

• Existing Numeric Criteria
• Links to the Plan and Criteria
• Milestone Information

Existing Numeric Criteria

S = Statewide    W = For selected waterbody    N ⁄ A=Not Applicable

Note: See Statewide Criteria and Site-specific Criteria tabs for more information.

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Links to Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan and Existing Nutrient Criteria

Plans:

• Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 2010
• Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 2008

WQS: Puerto Rico Water Quality Standards
Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board: Laws & Regulations

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Milestone Information

Milestone information updated July 2012.

TN: Total Nitrogen; TP: Total Phosphorus

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Statewide Criteria

The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for Puerto Rico’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 Puerto Rico water quality standards.

The following information reflects Puerto Rico’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2010).

Rule 1303 Water Quality Standards and Use Classifications to be Protected in the Waters of Puerto Rico

Pursuant to the intent of this Regulation, the following water quality standards and use classifications are promulgated for the protection of the uses assigned to the classifications of the coastal, surface, estuarine, wetlands, and ground waters of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

1303.1 Water Quality Standards

All waters shall meet generally accepted aesthetic requirements. These waters shall, except as specifically noted, meet the following water quality standards:

B. Color, Odor, Taste and Turbidity

The waters of Puerto Rico shall be free from color, odor, taste or turbidity attributable to discharges in such a degree as to create a nuisance to the enjoyment of the existing or designated uses of the water body.

I. Substances in Toxic Concentrations and Synergistic Toxic Effects

The waters of Puerto Rico shall not contain any substance at such concentration which, either alone or as result of synergistic effects with other substances is toxic or produces undesirable physiological responses in human, fish or other fauna or flora.

In Rules 1303.1 (I) (1), 1303.1 (I) (2), 1303.1 (I) (3), 1303.1 (I) (4), and 1303.1 (I) (5) are identified specific substances for which numeric water quality standards have been established.

1. Specific Water Quality Standards for Inorganic Substances

The maximum allowable concentration of these specific substances in coastal, surface, estuarine and ground waters shall not exceed the following at any time:

DW = Protection of the water body for use as source of drinking water supply.
a = For the protection of ground waters with the potential to be used or that are used as source of drinking water supply, the applicable water quality standard is the Drinking Water (DW) or Human Health (HH) criteria. For those ground waters that flow into other water bodies, the applicable water quality standard for ground waters is the most stringent criteria resulting from the comparison between the standard applicable to the classification of the water body into which it flows and the DW or HH criteria applicable to ground waters.

1303.2 Use Classifications and Water Quality Standards for Specific Classifications

A. Class SA

1. Usages and Description

Coastal waters and estuarine waters of high quality or exceptional ecological or recreational value whose existing conditions shall not be altered, except by natural causes, in order to preserve its natural characteristics.

2. Standards

The concentration of any parameter, whether or not considered in this Rule, shall not be altered, except by natural causes. Substances reactive with methylene blue shall not be present.

B. Class SB

1. Usages and Description

Coastal waters and estuarine waters intended for use in primary and secondary contact recreation, and for propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species.

2. Standards

e. Color

Shall not be altered except by natural causes.

g. Taste or Odor Producing Substances

Shall not be present in amounts that will interfere with primary contact recreation, or will render any undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life.

C. Class SC

1. Usages and Description

Coastal waters intended for primary contact recreation use from the zone subject to ebb and flow of tides (mean sea level) to 3 miles seaward, and secondary contact recreation from 3 miles seaward to 10.35 miles seaward, and for the propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species.

2. Standards

e. Color

Shall not be altered by other than natural causes.

g. Taste or Odor Producing substances

Shall contain none in amounts that will render any undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life.

D. Class SD

1. Usages and Description

Surface waters intended for use as a raw source of public water supply, propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species, as well as primary and secondary contact recreation. Primary contact recreation is precluded in any stream or segment that does not comply with Rule 1302.2 (D) (2) (l) until such stream or segment meets the goal of the referred section.

2. Standards

d. Color

Shall not exceed 15 units according to the colorimetric platinum cobalt standard, except by natural causes. In cases where the water body normally exceeds this value, the mechanism provided under Rule 1306.10 of this Regulation may be used to develop site-specific criteria.

g. Taste or Odor Producing Substances

Shall not be present in amounts that will interfere with the use for potable water supply, or will render any undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life.

h. Total Phosphorus

Total phosphorus shall not exceed 1 ppm (mg/L), in surface water bodies upstream from reservoirs, in segments of surface water bodies with drinking water intakes or estuarine waters except when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that a higher value of total phosphorus in combination with prevailing nitrogen derived nutrients will not contribute to eutrophic conditions in the water body.

E. Class SE

1. Usages and Description

Surface waters and wetlands of exceptional ecological value, whose existing conditions should not be altered in order to preserve its natural characteristics.

2. Standards

The concentration of any parameter, whether or not considered in this Rule, shall not be altered, except by natural causes. Substances reactive with methylene blue shall not be present.

F. Class SG

1. Usages and Description

Ground waters intended for use as source of drinking water supply and agricultural uses including irrigation. Also, included under this class are those ground waters that flow into coastal, surface, and estuarine waters and wetlands as defined in this Regulation.

2. Standards

d. Color

Shall not be altered except by natural causes.

g. Taste or Odor Producing Substances

Shall not be altered except by natural causes.

Site-specific Criteria

The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for Puerto Rico’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 Puerto Rico water quality standards.

The following information reflects Puerto Rico’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2010).

1303.2 Use Classifications and Water Quality Standards for Specific Classifications

B. Class SB

1. Usages and Description

Coastal waters and estuarine waters intended for use in primary and secondary contact recreation, and for propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species.

2. Standards

f. Turbidity
Shall not exceed 10 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), except by natural causes.

C. Class SC

1. Usages and Description

Coastal waters intended for primary contact recreation use from the zone subject to ebb and flow of tides (mean sea level) to 3 miles seaward, and secondary contact recreation from 3 miles seaward to 10.35 miles seaward, and for the propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species.

2. Standards

f. Turbidity
Shall not exceed 10 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), except by natural causes.

D. Class SD

1. Usages and Description

Surface waters intended for use as a raw source of public water supply, propagation and preservation of desirable species, including threatened or endangered species, as well as primary and secondary contact recreation. Primary contact recreation is precluded in any stream or segment that does not comply with Rule 1302.2 (D) (2) (l) until such stream or segment meets the goal of the referred section.

2. Standards

e. Turbidity
Shall not exceed 50 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU), except by natural causes.