Water Quality Standards

• Regulations & Guidance
• What Standards Apply
• Recent Activities
• Contact Us

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Recent Actions:

• 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:
   • 2012 Water Quality Standards (April 8, 2012)
   • Historic 18 AAC 70 WQS - Previous versions of Alaska's Water Quality Standards (some of which are still in effect for CWA purposes)
     • 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.

• Staff Contact Information

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