Guidelines for Deriving Numerical Aquatic Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria by Modifying National Criteria

摘要

A major goal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to directly link regulatory decision-making regarding priority water bodies to the capacity of those water bodies to receive wastewater discharges and still maintain acceptable water quality. To assist states in achieving this goal in a consistent, cost-effective manner, the Office of Research and Development (ORD) has developed a new approach to water quality criteria derivation with the report 'Guidelines for Deriving Numerical Aquatic Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria by Modifying National Criteria.' These guidelines provide a series of protocols for modifying national water quality criteria to reflect local environmental conditions.