| Water
Quality Standards: A Reference Table |
| Measurement |
Units
of Measurement |
Acceptable
Levels |
Average
in KY* |
| WAH |
DWS |
MCL |
Other |
| Conventional
Parameters |
| pH |
pH
units (1 to 14, low is acid) |
6
to 9 |
|
|
|
7.4 |
| Temperature |
degrees
Celsius (Oct. avg.) |
<22.2 |
|
|
|
14.7 |
| |
degrees
Celsius (maximum) |
<25 |
|
|
|
|
| Dissolved
oxygen |
milligrams
per liter |
>4 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
| Alkalinity
(buffering) |
milligrams
calcium carbonate per liter |
>20 |
|
|
|
90.1 |
| Hardness |
milligrams
calcium carbonate per liter |
|
|
|
|
138.5 |
| Chloride |
milligrams
per liter |
<600 |
<250 |
|
|
13.2 |
| Conductivity |
micro-mho
per centimeter |
|
|
|
<800 |
335 |
| Total
organic carbon (TOC) |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
3.5 |
| Total
suspended solids (TSS) |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
42.4 |
| Fecal
Bacteria |
| Fecal
coliform bacteria |
colonies
per 100 milliliters |
|
|
|
|
<200 |
| for
swimming (KY) |
colonies
per 100 milliliters |
|
|
|
<200 |
|
| for
secondary contact (KY) |
colonies
per 100 milliliters |
|
|
|
<1000 |
|
| drinking
water pre-treatment |
colonies
per 100 milliliters |
|
<2000 |
|
|
|
| Fecal
streptococci |
colonies
per 100 milliliters |
|
|
|
|
|
| Nutrient
Parameters |
| Ammonia
nitrogen |
milligrams
per liter (at pH 7.4, 15C) |
<6.4 |
|
|
|
0.15 |
| Nitrate
nitrogen |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<10 |
<10 |
|
0.85 |
| Phosphorus,
total |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
<0.1 |
0.15 |
| Sulfate |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<250 |
|
|
63.3 |
| Metals
and Mineral Parameters |
| Aluminum |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
0.7 |
| Antimony |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<0.146 |
<0.006 |
|
|
| Barium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<1 |
<2 |
|
0.05 |
| Beryllium |
milligrams
per liter |
<0.053 |
|
<0.004 |
|
|
| Boron |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Calcium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
39.9 |
| Chromium |
milligrams
per liter (at hardness 100 ) |
<0.011 |
<0.05 |
<0.01 |
|
0.0026 |
| Cobalt |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Copper |
milligrams
per liter |
<0.0012 |
<1.3 |
|
|
|
| Iron |
milligrams
per liter |
<1 |
|
|
|
1.34 |
| Lead |
milligrams
per liter (at hardness 100 ) |
<0.003 |
<0.05 |
|
|
0.0127 |
| Lithium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Magnesium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
10.6 |
| Manganese |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<0.05 |
|
|
0.211 |
| Nickel |
milligrams
per liter |
<0.158 |
|
|
|
|
| Potassium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Selenium |
milligrams
per liter |
<0.004 |
|
<0.05 |
|
|
| Silicon |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Silver |
milligrams
per liter |
<0.004 |
|
|
|
|
| Sodium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
14.8 |
| Strontium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Thallium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
<0.013 |
<0.002 |
|
|
| Vanadium |
milligrams
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| Zinc |
milligrams
per liter (at hardness 100 ) |
<0.106 |
|
|
|
0.0291 |
| Pesticide/Herbicide
Parameters |
| Atrazine |
micrograms
per liter |
|
|
<3 |
|
|
| Chlorpyrifos |
micrograms
per liter |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2,4-D |
micrograms
per liter |
|
|
<70 |
|
|
WAH, Warm water aquatic habitat standards.
DWS, domestic water supply limits.
MCL, US EPA maximum contaminant level.
*Other: conductivity, limit for Ohio River; phosphorus, EPA guideline for
concern (KY standard is based on ecological effects).
*Source for Kentucky averages is Division of Water Ambient Monitoring Database,
1985-1994.
Table was derived from US EPA National Primary Drinking Standards (12/99) and http://water.nr.state.ky.us/ww/ramp/rmtests.htm.
Consult these sources for full details of regulations. Blank fields indicate no
legal standard or no data available.
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