170 likes | 371 Views
FLORIDA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. Current Designated Uses. Class I Drinking Water Class II Shellfish Class III Recreation, Fish &Wildlife Class IV Agricultural Water Supplies Class V Industrial. Natural Waters. Artificial Waters. Designated Uses Classification Structure.
E N D
Current Designated Uses Class I Drinking Water Class II Shellfish Class III Recreation, Fish &Wildlife Class IV Agricultural Water Supplies Class V Industrial
Designated Uses Classification Structure
Current Designated Uses Class III Class III Nutrients Conductivity Dissolved Oxygen pH Color Bacteriological Prohibition of Toxics and Nuisance No Change
Start Start Planned Treatment Works Clam Bayou End
Start End Lake Seminole
Proposed Aquatic Life Use Classifications • AL1 Fish & wildlife (approximates natural background) • AL2 Fish & wildlife (minimal difference from natural background) • AL3 Fish & wildlife (moderate difference from natural background) • AL4 Fish & wildlife (substantial difference from natural background – usually related to hydrology and habitat)
Proposed Human Use Classifications • HU1 Drinking Water • HU2 Shellfish • HU3 Fish Consumption & Recreation (full body contact) • HU4 Fish Consumption & Recreation (incidental body contact) • HU5 Fish Consumption & Limited or No Recreation (unsafe physical conditions) • HU6 Agricultural • HU7 Industrial
Modifying Designated Uses How can a waterbody’s use be modified? The Federal Clean Water Act requires an analysis of water quality, biology, hydrology, and habitat, and possibly social and economic studies, to determine the highest attainable condition.
Use Attainability Analysis Factors Clean Water Act 40 CFR 131.10(g) allows States to remove a designated use which is not an existing use, as defined in § 131.3, or establish sub-categories of a use if the State can demonstrate that attaining the designated use is not feasible due to: • Natural Water Quality • Natural Hydrology (i.e., routinely goes dry) • Human Alteration that cannot be remedied (channelization) • Dams, Diversions: Hydrologic Modifications • Natural Physical Limitations • Achievement of “Best Possible” Causes “Widespread Economic and Social Impact
Requestor submits petition to DEP UAA Process DEP reviews and evaluates petition DEP holds a workshop for public review and comment Point of public input If approved, DEP presents to ERC for adoption Point of public input If adopted DEP sends to EPA for approval Point of public input
Frequently Asked Questions Can a use be downgraded or removed just because a criterion is not being met? Are Use Attainability Analyses used only to lower protection under the water quality standards? Can an existing use be downgraded? Can cost of additional treatment to meet water quality criteria be factored into the decision to modify a use? Does lowering the designated use of a water compromise protection of downstream waters? Does lowering the use eliminate the need for local source controls? Does lowering the use allow new or expanded discharges?