Water Quality
Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen
Water Management Branch Environment and Lands Headquarters Division Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Prepared pursuant to Section 2(e) of the Environment Management Act, 1981
February 1997
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction 2.0 Forms and Transformations 3.0 Occurrence in the Environment 4.0 Aquatic Life 5.0 Other Water Uses 6.0 Research and Development Needs 7.0 References Cited 8.0 Appendix
List of Tables
1. Vapour Pressure of Freshwater in mm Hg as a Function of Temperature 2. Correction Factors for Barometric Pressure and Oxygen Saturation at Altitude 3. Solubility of Oxygen in Water (Fresh and Saline) Exposed to Water-Saturated Air at Sea Level 4. Oxygen Sensitivities of Some Freshwater Invertebrates 5. Oxygen Sensitivities of Some Marine Invertebrates 6. Acute Lethal Oxygen Concentration for Some BC Fishes-Juvenile / Adult Life Stages 7. Acute Lethal Oxygen Concentrations for Some BC Fishes-Embryo / Alevin Life Stages 8. Delays in Development Related to Hypoxia 9. Freshwater Salmonid Criteria-Davis 10. US EPA Production Impairment Levels for Dissolved Oxygen 11. US EPA Water Quality Criteria for Ambient Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations 12. CCME Dissolved Oxygen Guidelines 13. Provincial Dissolved Oxygen Criteria for Aquatic Life for Fresh, Marine and Estuarine Waters, and Sediments 14. Dissolved Oxygen Criteria for Recreation/Aesthetics from Various Sources 15. Dissolved Oxygen Criteria for Industry from Various Sources
List of Figures
1. Nomogram of Oxygen Solubility in Air-Saturated Water at Different Salinities 2. Oxygen Sensors 3. Idealized Vertical Distribution of Oxygen Concentrations and Temperature During the Four Main Seasonal Phases of an Oligotrophic and an Eutrophic Dimictic Lake 4. Relationship Between Interstitial Dissolved Oxygen (as Percent of Surface Concentration) and Mean Particle Size in the Top Layer of Streambed 5. Effects of Dissolved Oxygen on Maximum Sustainable Swimming Performance of Some Salmonids 6. Relationship Between Standard and Active Oxygen Uptake Rates at Different Environmental Oxygen 7. Percent Reduction in Growth of Salmonid / Salmonid-Like Fishes at Various Oxygen Levels 8. Influence of Temperature on Growth of Chinook Salmon at Various Oxygen Levels 9. Effects of Lowered Oxygen on Growth of Salmonid Embryos 10. Critical Dissolved Oxygen Levels for Steelhead Embryos and Alevins Incubated at 6, 9 and 12C 11. The Effect of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on the Mortality of Steelhead Trout Alevins Reared at 40 ppb Na-PCP 12. Comparison of Dissolved Oxygen Criteria from Various Authors
