Water Quality Standards

Recent Actions:

• Alaska Water Quality Standards Academy: Link to presentations
• Triennial Review: DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS 5:00PM ALASKA TIME April 27, 2012
• Water Quality Antidegradation Policy and Workgroup

Regulations and Guidance:

IMPORTANT: This LINK should be your first stop when determining which standard applies to your situation. Standards adopted by the state must be approved by EPA so there is often a lag time between when a standard is adopted and when it can be used for most applications in Alaska. If there is a discrepancy the federal standard applies.

Comparison of State and Federally Approved Water Quality Standards

Water Quality Criteria Documents:

Water Quality Criteria are generally contained in two documents: (1) Water Quality Standards and (2) Water Quality Criteria Manual for Toxics that is adopted by reference as listed below:

1. Water Quality Standards:
   • 2011 Water Quality Standards (May 26, 2011)
   • Historic 18 AAC 70 WQS - Previous versions of Alaska's Water Quality Standards (some of which are still in effect for CWA purposes)
   • 2009 Version of WQS
   • 2008 Version of WQS
   • 2006 Version of WQS
   • 2003 Version of WQS
   • 1999 Version of WQS
2. Water Quality Criteria Manual for Toxics (December 12, 2008)

Guidance:

• Natural Condition Guidance
• Mixing Zone Guidance

What We Do:

• Evaluate and revise Alaska's Water Quality Standards based on science.
• Explain the Water Quality Standards and how they are used.
• Provide easy access to water quality standards related documents, including the regulations, proposed revisions, fact sheets, technical papers, guidance documents and issues that may be of interest

Note: For questions about Drinking Water, please contact the Division of Environmental Health, Drinking Water Programs.