C - Degrees Celsius
°C - Degrees Celsius
d - Day
EST - Estuary
F - Degrees Fahrenheit
°F - Degrees Fahrenheit
FW - Freshwater
hr - Hour
L - Litre
LC50 - Lethal Concentration affecting 50 percent of the population
m - Metre
mg/L - Milligrams per litre (mg/kg, micrograms/g or ppm)
SW - Saltwater
t - Maximum permissible temperature increase measured at a dilution zone boundary
T Background temperature as measured at a point(s) unaffected by the discharge and representative of the highest ambient water temperature in the vicinity of the discharge
WQ - Water Quality
Classification Definitions (by Jurisdiction)
Europe
Category A1 - Surface water. Simple physical treatment and disinfection, e.g. rapid filtration and disinfection.
Category A2 - Surface water. Normal physical treatment, chemical treatment and disinfection, e.g. pre-chlorination, coagulation, flocculation, decantation, filtration, disinfection (final chlorination).
Category A3 - Surface water. Intensive physical and chemical treatment, extended treatment and disinfection, e.g. chlorination to break-point, coagulation, flocculation, decantation, filtration, adsorption (activated carbon), disinfection (ozone, final chlorination).
Maine
Class AA Fresh surface waters. Drinking water after disinfection, fishing, recreation in and on the water and navigation and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Class A Fresh surface waters. Drinking water after disinfection, fishing, recreation in and on the water, industrial processes and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited under Title 12, section 403, and navigation, and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Class B Fresh surface waters. Drinking water after disinfection, fishing, recreation in and on the water, industrial processes and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited under Title 12, section 403, and navigation, and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Class C - Fresh surface waters. Drinking water after disinfection, fishing, recreation in and on the water, industrial processes and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation, except as prohibited under Title 12, section 403, and navigation, and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Class GPA - Lakes and ponds. Drinking water after disinfection, fishing, recreation in and on the water, industrial processes and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation and navigation, and as habitat for fish and other aquatic life.
Class SA - Estuarine and marine waters. Recreation in and on the water, fishing, aquaculture, propagation and harvesting of shellfish and navigation, and as habitat for fish and other estuarine and marine life.
Class SB - Estuarine and marine waters. Recreation in and on the water, fishing, aquaculture, propagation and harvesting of shellfish, industrial process and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation and navigation and as habitat for fish and other estuarine and marine life.
Class SC - Estuarine and marine waters. Fishing, aquaculture, propagation and restricted harvesting of shellfish, industrial processes and cooling water supply, hydroelectric power generation and navigation and as habitat for fish and other estuarine and marine life.
Class GW-A - Public water supplies.
Class GW-B - All other uses other than public water supplies.
Maryland
Use I - Water Contact Recreation, and Protection of Aquatic Life. This use designation includes waters which are suitable for water contact sports; play and leisure time activities where individuals may come in direct contact with the surface water; fishing; the growth and propagation of fish (other than trout), other aquatic life, and wildlife; agricultural water supply; and industrial water supply.
Use II - Shellfish Harvesting Waters. This use designation include waters where shellfish are propagated, stored, or gathered for marketing purposes, and there are actual or potential areas for the harvesting of oysters, soft-shell clams, hard-shell clams, and brackish water clams.
Use III - Natural Trout Waters. This use designation includes waters which have the potential for or are suitable for the growth and propagation of trout and capable of supporting self-sustaining trout populations and their associated food organisms.
Use IIIp - Natural Trout Waters and Public Water Supply. This use designation includes all uses identified for Use III waters, and use as a public water supply.
Use IV - Recreational Trout Waters. This use designation includes cold or warm waters which have the potential for or are capable of holding or supporting adult trout for put-and-take fishing, and managed as a special fishery by periodic stocking and seasonal catching.
Massachusetts
Class A - Freshwater. These waters are designated as a source of public water supply. To the extent compatible with this use they shall be an excellent habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife, and suitable for primary and secondary contact recreation. These waters shall have excellent aesthetic value. These waters are designated for protection as Outstanding Resource Waters under 314 CMR 4.04(3).
Class B - Freshwater. These waters are designated as a habitat for fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife, and for primary and secondary contact recreation. Where designated they shall be suitable as a source of public water supply with appropriate treatment. They shall be suitable for irrigation and other agricultural uses and for compatible industrial cooling and process uses. These waters shall have consistently good aesthetic value.
Class C - These waters are designated as a habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife, and for secondary contact recreation. These waters shall be suitable for the irrigation of crops used for consumption after cooking and for compatible industrial cooling and process uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class SA - Freshwater. These waters are designated as an excellent habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife and for primary and secondary contact recreation. In approved areas they shall be suitable for shellfish harvesting without depuration (Restricted Shellfish Areas). These waters shall have excellent aesthetic value.
Class SB - Coastal and Marine. These waters are designated as a habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife and for primary and secondary contact recreation. In approved areas they shall be suitable for shellfish harvesting without depuration (Open Shellfish Areas). These waters shall have consistently good aesthetic value.
Class SC - Coastal and Marine. These waters are designated as a habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife and for secondary contact recreation. They shall also be suitable for certain industrial cooling and process uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Montana
Class A-1 - Suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes after conventional treatment for removal of naturally present impurities. Water quality must be suitable for bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class B-1 - Suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes after conventional treatment; bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class B-2 - Suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes after conventional treatment; bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and marginal propagation of salmonid fishes and associate aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class B-3 - Suitable for drinking, culinary and food processing purposes after conventional treatment; bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of non-salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class C-1 - Suitable for bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class C-2 - Suitable for bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and marginal propagation of salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Class C-3 - Suitable for bathing, swimming and recreation; growth and propagation of non-salmonid fishes and associated aquatic life, waterfowl and furbearers; and agricultural and industrial water supply.
Rhode Island
Class A - Freshwater. These waters are designated as a source of public drinking water supply, for primary and secondary contact recreational activities and for fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for compatible industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquaculture uses, navigation, and irrigation and other agricultural uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class B - Freshwater. These waters are designated for fish and wildlife habitat and primary and secondary contact recreational activities. They shall be suitable for compatible industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquaculture uses, navigation, and irrigation and other agricultural uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class B1 - Freshwater. These waters are designated for primary and secondary contact recreational activities and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for compatible industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquacultural uses, navigation, and irrigation and other agricultural uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value. Primary contact recreational activities may be impacted due to pathogens from approved wastewater discharges, however, all Class B criteria must be met.
Class C - Freshwater. These waters are designated for secondary contact recreational activities and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for compatible industrial processes and cooling, hydropower, aquaculture uses, navigation, and irrigation and other agricultural uses. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class SA - Saltwater. These waters are designated for shellfish harvesting for direct human consumption, primary and secondary contact recreational activities, and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for aquacultural uses, navigation and industrial cooling. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class SB - Saltwater. These waters are designated for primary and secondary contact recreational activities; shellfish harvesting for controlled relay and depuration; and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for aquacultural uses, navigation, and industrial cooling. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class SB1 - Saltwater. These waters are designated for primary and secondary contact recreational activities and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for aquaculture use, navigation, and industrial cooling. These waters shall have good aesthetic value. Primary contact recreational activities may be impacted due to pathogens from approved wastewater discharges. However, all Class SB criteria must be met.
Class SC - Saltwater. These waters are designated for secondary contact recreational activities, and fish and wildlife habitat. They shall be suitable for aquacultural uses, navigation, and industrial cooling. These waters shall have good aesthetic value.
Class GAA - Ground Water. Those ground water resources which the Director has designated to be suitable for public drinking water use without treatment and which are located within the following areas: Ground water reservoirs and portions of their recharge areas, Wellhead protection areas, and Ground water dependent areas.
Class GA - Ground Water. Those ground water resource which the Director has desisted to be suitable for public or private drinking water without treatment and which are not described in class GAA
Washington
Class AA - Extraordinary. Water quality of this class shall markedly and uniformly exceed the requirements for all or substantially all uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
i) Water supply (domestic, industrial, agricultural);
ii) Stock watering;
iii) Fish and shellfish;
- Salmonid migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Other fish migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Clam, oyster, and mussel rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Crustaceans and other shellfish (crabs, shrimp, crayfish, scallops, etc.) Rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
iv) Wildlife habitat;
v) Recreation (primary contact recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment); and,
vi) Commerce and navigation.
Class A - Excellent. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed the requirements for all or substantially all uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
i) Water supply (domestic, industrial, agricultural);
ii) Stock watering;
iii) Fish and shellfish;
- Salmonid migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Other fish migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Clam, oyster, and mussel rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Crustaceans and other shellfish (crabs, shrimp, crayfish, scallops, etc.) rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
iv) Wildlife habitat;
v) Recreation (primary contact recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment); and,
vi) Commerce and navigation.
Class B - Good. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed the requirements for most uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
i) Water supply (industrial and agricultural);
ii) Stock watering;
iii) Fish and shellfish;
- Salmonid migration, rearing, and harvesting,
- Other fish migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Clam, oyster, and mussel rearing and spawning,
- Crustaceans and other shellfish (crabs, shrimp, crayfish, scallops, etc.) rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
iv) Wildlife habitat;
v) Recreation (secondary contact recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment); and,
vi) Commerce and navigation.
Class C - Fair. Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed the requirements of selected and essential uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
i) Water supply (industrial);
ii) Fish (salmonid and other fish migration);
iii) Recreation (secondary contact recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment); and,
iv) Commerce and navigation.
Lake Class - Water quality of this class shall meet or exceed the requirements for all or substantially all uses. Characteristic uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
i) Water supply (domestic, industrial, agricultural);
ii) Stock watering;
iii) Fish and shellfish;
- Salmonid migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Other fish migration, rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Clam and mussel rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
- Crayfish rearing, spawning, and harvesting,
iv) Wildlife habitat; and,
v) Recreation (primary contact recreation, sport fishing, boating, and aesthetic enjoyment).