BC Approved Water Quality Guidelines (Criteria)

Table 23. Summary of Guidelines for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Water Use	PCBs	Recommended Maximum Concentration
Drinking Water Supply	—	None proposed
Wildlife	—	None proposed
Livestock Water Supply	—	None proposed
Irrigation Water	Total	0.5 µg/L
Primary Contact Recreation	—	None proposed
Freshwater and Marine Aquatic Life - water	Total PCB #105 PCB #169 PCB #77 PCB #126	0.1 ng/L 0.09 ng/L 0.06 ng/L 0.04 ng/L 0.00025 ng/L
Freshwater and Marine Aquatic Life - fish and/or shellfish (for wildlife consumption: whole animal)	Total	0.1 µg/g wet weight
Freshwater and Marine Aquatic Life - fish and/or shellfish (for human consumption: edible tissue only)	Total	2.0 µg/g wet weight
Freshwater and Marine Aquatic Life - sediment (*containing 1% organic carbon)	Total	0.02 µg/g dry weight

1. If sediment organic carbon is not 1%, the guideline is = (0.02 µg/g) x
(% organic carbon content).

Reference 15

Table 24. Summary of Guidelines for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Water Use	PAHs	Recommended Concentration
Drinking Water Supply	B[a]P	0.01 µg/L
Wildlife Water Supply	—	None proposed
Livestock Water Supply	—	None proposed
Irrigation Water Supply	—	None proposed
Fish and/or Shellfish (edible tissue for human consumption) - low consumption of 50 g/week	B[a]P	4 µg/kg wet weight
Fish and/or Shellfish (edible tissue for human consumption) - moderate consumption of 100 g/week	B[a]P	2 µg/kg wet weight
Fish and/or Shellfish (edible tissue for human consumption) - heavy consumption of 200 g/week	B[a]P	1 µg/kg wet weight
Primary Contact Recreation	—	None proposed
Food Processing Industries	B[a]P	0.01µg/L

1. B[a]P = Benzo[a]pyrene

Reference 16

Table 25. Summary of Aquatic Life and Sediment Guidelines for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

PAH	Fresh Water (chronic)	Fresh Water (phototoxic)	Marine Water	Sediments (Fresh Water)	Sediments (Marine)
Naphthalene	1 µg/L	NR	1 µg/L	0.01 µg/g	0.01 µg/g
Methylated naphthalene	NR	NR	1 µg/L	NR	NR
Acenaphthene	6 µg/L	NR	6 µg/L	0.15 µg/g	0.15 µg/g
Fluorene	12 µg/L	NR	12 µg/L	0.2 µg/g	0.2 µg/g
Anthracene	4 µg/L	0.1 µg/L	NR	0.6 µg/g	NR
Phenanthrene	0.3 µg/L	NR	NR	0.04 µg/g	NR
Acridene	3 µg/L	0.05 µg/L	NR	1 µg/g	NR
Fluoranthene	4 µg/L	0.2 µg/L	NR	2 µg/g	NR
Pyrene	NR	0.02 µg/L	NR	NR	NR
Chrysene	NR	NR	0.1 µg/L	NR	0.2 µg/g
Benz[a] anthracene	0.1 µg/L	0.1 µg/L	NR	0.2 µg/g	NR
Benzo[a]pyrene	0.01 µg/L	NR	0.01 µg/L	0.06 µg/L	0.06 µg/L

1. NR — not recommended due to insufficient data

2. *sediment containing 1% organic carbon

Reference 16

Table 26. Summary of Water Quality Guidelines for Chlorophenols

Water Use	Guidelines (maximum)
Raw Drinking Water - aesthetics (taste and odour)	MCPs: 0.1 µg/L DCPs: 0.3 µg/L TCPs: 2.0 µg/L TTCPs: 1.0 µg/L PCP: 30.0 µg/L
Raw Drinking Water - toxicity	2,4-DCP: 900 µg/L 2,4,6-TCP: 5 µg/L 2,3,4,6-TTCP: 100 µg/L PCP: 60 µg/L
Livestock and Wildlife Drinking Water - aesthetics	MCPs: 0.1 µg/L DCPs: 0.3 µg/L TCPs: 2.0 µg/L TTCPs: 1.0 µg/L PCP: 30.0 µg/L
Livestock and Wildlife Drinking Water - toxicity for lactating animals (high temperatures and high water intake rates)	MCPs: 185 mg/L DCPs: 46 mg/L TCPs: 21 mg/L TTCPs: 41 mg/L PCP: 17.5 mg/L
Livestock and Wildlife Drinking Water - toxicity for non-lactating animals (normal temperatures and low water intake rates)	MCPs: 1854 mg/L DCPs: 460 mg/L TCPs: 210 mg/L TTCPs: 410 mg/L PCP: 175 mg/L
Aquatic Life (fresh, marine and estuarine waters) - flavour impairment guidelines for fish muscle	all CPs: use Table 27b
Aquatic Life (fresh, marine and estuarine waters) - flavour impairment guidelines for water (when harvesting fish, crustaceans and shellfish)	MCPs: 0.1 µg/L DCPs: 0.2 µg/L TCPs: use Table 27a TTCPs: use Table 27a PCP: use Table 27a
Aquatic Life (fresh, marine and estuarine waters) - toxicity guidelines for aquatic life	all CPs: use Table 27a
Recreation - primary contact	MCPs: 0.1 µg/L DCPs: 0.3 µg/L TCPs: 2.0 µg/L TTCPs: 1.0 µg/L PCP: 30.0 µg/L
Recreation - secondary contact	MCPs: 0.3 µg/L DCPs: 0.3 µg/L TCPs: 11 µg/L TTCPs: 600 µg/L PCP: 860 µg/L
Irrigation	No guideline set
Industrial - food processing	MCPs: 0.1 µg/L DCPs: 0.3 µg/L TCPs: 2.0 µg/L TTCPs: 1.0 µg/L PCP: 30.0 µg/L
Industrial - other uses	No guideline set

CP = Chlorophenol

MCP = Monochlorophenol

DCP = Dichlorophenol

TCP = Trichlorophenol

TTCP = Tetrachlorophenol

PCP = Pentachlorophenol

References 17, 17a

Table 27. Summary of Interim Aquatic Life and Tissue Residue Guidelines for Chlorophenols

Table 27a. Aquatic Life Toxicity Guidelines

Chlorophenol Congeners	pH 5.7	pH 6.2	pH 6.7	pH 7.2	pH 7.7	pH 8.2	pH 8.7	pH 9.2
2-MCP	3.9	6.4	11	17	29	48	79	130
3-MCP	3.4	5.6	9.3	15	25	42	70	115
4-MCP	1.7	2.9	4.8	7.8	13	22	36	59
2,3-DCP	1.1	1.8	3.1	5.1	8.3	14	23	38
2,4-DCP	0.6	1.0	1.6	2.6	4.3	7.2	12	20
2,5-DCP	0.5	0.8	1.4	2.3	3.7	6.2	10	17
2,6-DCP	2.0	3.3	5.5	9.1	15	25	41	68
3,4-DCP	0.6	1.0	1.6	2.7	4.4	7.4	12	20
3,5-DCP	0.5	0.7	1.2	2.0	3.4	5.6	9.2	15
2,3,4-TCP	0.5	0.8	1.3	2.2	3.6	6.0	9.9	16
2,3,5-TCP	0.5	0.8	1.3	2.2	3.7	6.1	10	17
2,3,6-TCP	1.6	2.6	4.4	7.2	12	20	33	54
2,4,5-TCP	0.5	0.7	1.2	2.0	3.3	5.6	9.2	15
2,4,6-TCP	1.2	1.9	3.2	5.3	8.8	15	24	40
3,4,5-TCP	0.2	0.3	0.5	0.9	1.4	2.4	3.9	6.4
2,3,4,5-TTCP	0.4	0.6	1.0	1.7	2.8	4.7	7.8	13
2,3,4,6-TTCP	1.1	1.8	2.9	4.9	8.0	13	22	36
2,3,5,6-TTCP	0.5	0.8	1.3	2.2	3.6	6.1	10	17
2,3,4,5,6-PCP	0.2	0.3	0.5	0.7	1.2	2.0	3.4	5.5

1. Multiply the table values by 2 at 0 degrees C and by 0.5 at 20 degrees C.
2. These are maximum values in µg/L.
3. These are final guidelines for PCP and interim guidelines for the other chlorophenol congeners.

References 17, 17a

Table 27b. Interim Fish Muscle Tissue Flavour Impairment Guidelines

Chlorophenol	Guidelines (µg/g)
2-MCP	10
3-MCP	20
4-MCP	40
2,3-DCP	80
2,4-DCP	0.2
2,5-DCP	20
2,6-DCP	30
2,4,6-TCP	50
2,3,4,5,6-PCP	20

1. These guidelines are based on the wet weight of muscle tissue.
2. They are maximum values.

References 17, 17a

Table 28. Summary of the pH Guidelines

Water Use	Guidelines - pH Units	Comments
Drinking Water Supply	pH 6.5 to pH 8.5	Designed to minimize solubilization of heavy metals and salts from water distribution pipes and the precipitation of carbonate salts in the distribution system, and maximize the effectiveness of chlorination. However, natural source water outside the guidelines may be safe to drink from a public health perspective.
Fresh Water Aquatic Life	pH less than 6.5	No statistically significant decrease in pH from background. No restriction on the increase in pH except in boggy areas that have a unique fauna and flora. Site-specific ambient water quality objectives to restrict the pH increase in areas with a unique fauna and flora are recommended.
Fresh Water Aquatic Life	pH from 6.5 to 9.0	Unrestricted change permitted within this range. This component of the freshwater guidelines should be used cautiously if the pH change causes the carbon dioxide concentration to decrease below a 10 µmol/L minimum or exceed a 1360 µmol/L maximum.
Fresh Water Aquatic Life	pH over 9.0	No statistically significant increase in pH from background. Short-term increase (2-3 days) to pH 9.5 are permitted for lake restoration projects. Decreases in pH are permitted as long as carbon dioxide concentrations are not elevated above 1360 µmol/L. Carbon dioxide concentrations above 1360 µmol/L may be toxic to fish.
Wildlife Water Supply	None proposed	There is adequate protection from the aquatic life guidelines.
Livestock Water Supply	pH 5.0 to 9.5	pH does not interfere with the palatability of water or the health of livestock.
Marine Aquatic Life	7.0 to 8.7	Unrestricted change within this range (for the protection of mollusc embryo development).
Irrigation Water Supply	pH 5.0 to 9.0	Recognizes that soil acidity, alkalinity and salinity are a concern in agriculture.
Recreational Waters	pH 5.0 to 9.0	No irritation to eyes. Note that lakes with naturally low or high pH are not in contravention of the guideline.
Industrial Water Supply	None proposed	See Canadian Water Quality Guidelines.
Aesthetics (Marl Lakes only)	No change in pH that will reduce the saturation index of calcium carbonate	Guideline applies to marl or limed lakes only. Temporary increases in pH to 9.5 for lake restoration projects is permitted as long as the maximum pH is not toxic to fish.

Sampling Requirements for Guidelines:

1. Streams: Statistical comparison of background (upstream) and downstream results should use a 1-tailed, two sample t-test, at the 0.05 probability level. The average is calculated from at least 5 weekly samples taken in a period of 30 days. The two sample t-test requires the different stations to have similar variances (use the F test). If, at the downstream site, data from spills or discharge events are pooled with steady state data, the variance may increase and become dissimilar to the upstream site invalidating the two sample t-test. To reduce the variance, consider the data from the steady state and the event as independent data sets. Additional pH measurements, or a pH sensor with an automatic recorder are recommended for sites subject to event-driven pH fluctuations.

2. Lakes: Same as streams or, if background stations are not available, pre-discharge data should be collected near the zone of influence, once every three weeks for one or two years to determine the temporal variation. A pH sensor with an automatic recorder would collect more data and provide a better understanding of the temporal variability than normal field sampling.

Reference 18

Table 29. Recommended Guidelines for the Protection of Marine and Freshwater Life for Silver

Environment	Guidelines as total Silver	Conditions
Fresh Water	0.05 µg/L as a 30-day mean	hardness less than or equal to 100 mg/L
Fresh Water	0.1 µg/L maximum	hardness less than or equal to 100 mg/L
Fresh Water	1.5 µg/L as a 30-day mean	hardness greater than 100 mg/L
Fresh Water	3.0 µg/L maximum	hardness greater than 100 mg/L
Marine Water	1.5 µg/L as a 30-day mean	open coast and estuaries
Marine Water	3.0 µg/L maximum	open coast and estuaries

Reference 19

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