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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 307TEXAS SURFACE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
RULE §307.4General Criteria

(a) Application. The general criteria set forth in this section apply to surface water in the state and specifically apply to substances attributed to waste discharges or human activities. General criteria do not apply to those instances when surface water, as a result of natural phenomena, exhibit characteristics beyond the limits established by this section. General criteria are superseded by specific exemptions stated in this section or in §307.8 of this title (relating to the Application of Standards), or by site-specific water quality standards for classified segments. Provisions of the general criteria remain in effect in mixing zones or below critical low-flow conditions unless specifically exempted in §307.8 of this title.

(b) Aesthetic parameters.

  (1) Concentrations of taste and odor producing substances must not interfere with the production of potable water by reasonable water treatment methods, impart unpalatable flavor to food fish including shellfish, result in offensive odors arising from the waters, or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of the water in the state.

  (2) Surface water must be essentially free of floating debris and suspended solids that are conducive to producing adverse responses in aquatic organisms or putrescible sludge deposits or sediment layers that adversely affect benthic biota or any lawful uses.

  (3) Surface waters must be essentially free of settleable solids conducive to changes in flow characteristics of stream channels or the untimely filling of surface water in the state. This provision does not prohibit dredge and fill activities that are permitted in accordance with the Federal Clean Water Act.

  (4) Surface waters must be maintained in an aesthetically attractive condition.

  (5) Waste discharges must not cause substantial and persistent changes from ambient conditions of turbidity or color.

  (6) No foaming or frothing of a persistent nature is permissible.

  (7) Surface waters must be maintained so that oil, grease, or related residue do not produce a visible film or sheen of oil or globules of grease on the surface or coat the banks or bottoms of the watercourse; or cause toxicity to man, aquatic life, or terrestrial life in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

(c) Radiological substances. Radioactive materials must not be discharged in excess of the amount regulated by Chapter 336 of this title (relating to Radioactive Substance Rules).

(d) Toxic substances. Surface waters must not be toxic to man from ingestion of water, consumption of aquatic organisms, or contact with the skin, or to terrestrial or aquatic life. Additional requirements and criteria for toxic substances are specified in §307.6 of this title (relating to Toxic Materials). Criteria to protect aquatic life from acute toxicity apply to all surface waters in the state except as specified in §307.8(a)(3) of this title. Criteria to protect aquatic life from chronic toxicity apply to surface waters with an aquatic life use of limited, intermediate, high, or exceptional as designated in §307.10 of this title (relating to Appendices A - G) or as determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with subsection (l) of this section. Toxic criteria to protect human health for consumption of fish apply to waters with a sustainable or incidental fishery, as described in §307.6(d) of this title. Additional criteria apply to water in the state with a public drinking water supply use, as described in §307.6(d) of this title. The general provisions of this subsection do not change specific provisions in §307.8 of this title for applying toxic criteria.

(e) Nutrients. Nutrients from permitted discharges or other controllable sources must not cause excessive growth of aquatic vegetation that impairs an existing, designated, presumed, or attainable use. Site-specific nutrient criteria, nutrient permit limitations, or separate rules to control nutrients in individual watersheds are established where appropriate after notice and opportunity for public participation and proper hearing. Site-specific numeric criteria related to chlorophyll a are listed in Appendix F of §307.10 of this title.

(f) Temperature. Consistent with §307.1 of this title (relating to General Policy Statement) and in accordance with state water rights permits, temperature in industrial cooling impoundments, industrial cooling water areas, and all other surface water in the state must be maintained so as to not interfere with the reasonable use of such waters. Numerical temperature criteria have not been specifically established for industrial cooling impoundments, which in most areas of the state contribute to water conservation and water quality objectives. In addition, numerical criteria for temperature are not applicable in designated industrial cooling water areas, as defined in §307.3 of this title (relating to Definitions and Abbreviations). The horizontal boundaries of an industrial cooling water area must be defined in the applicable wastewater permit. The following temperature criteria, expressed as a maximum temperature differential (rise over ambient) are established except for industrial cooling impoundments, temperature elevations due to discharges of treated domestic (sanitary) effluent, and temperature elevations within designated mixing zones or industrial cooling water areas. The maximum temperature differentials are:

  (1) freshwater streams: 5 degrees Fahrenheit (degrees F);

  (2) freshwater lakes and impoundments: 3 degrees F; and

  (3) tidal river reaches, bay, and gulf waters: 4 degrees F in fall, winter, and spring, and 1.5 degrees F in summer (June, July, and August).

  (4) Additional temperature criteria (expressed as maximum temperatures) for classified segments are specified in Appendix A of §307.10 of this title. These criteria are not applicable within industrial cooling water areas.

(g) Salinity.

  (1) Concentrations and the relative ratios of dissolved minerals such as chloride, sulfate, and total dissolved solids must be maintained such that existing, designated, presumed, and attainable uses are not impaired.

  (2) Criteria for chloride, sulfate, and total dissolved solids for classified freshwater segments are specified in Appendix A of §307.10 of this title.

  (3) Salinity gradients in estuaries must be maintained to support attainable estuarine dependent aquatic life uses. Numerical salinity criteria for Texas estuaries have not been established because of the high natural variability of salinity in estuarine systems, and because long-term studies by state agencies to assess estuarine salinities are still ongoing. Absence of numerical criteria must not preclude evaluations and regulatory actions based on estuarine salinity, and careful consideration must be given to all activities that may detrimentally affect salinity gradients.

(h) Aquatic life uses and dissolved oxygen.

  (1) Dissolved oxygen concentrations must be sufficient to support existing, designated, presumed, and attainable aquatic life uses. Aquatic-life use categories and corresponding dissolved oxygen criteria are described in §307.7(b)(3) of this title (relating to Site-Specific Uses and Criteria).

  (2) Aquatic life use categories and dissolved oxygen criteria for classified segments are specified in Appendix A of §307.10 of this title. Aquatic life use categories and dissolved oxygen criteria for other specific water bodies are specified in Appendix D of §307.10 of this title. Where justified by sufficient site-specific information, dissolved oxygen criteria that differ from §307.7(b)(3) of this title may be adopted for a particular water body in §307.10 of this title.

  (3) Perennial streams, rivers, lakes, bays, estuaries, and other appropriate perennial waters that are not specifically listed in Appendix A or D of §307.10 of this title are presumed to have a high aquatic life use and corresponding dissolved oxygen criteria. Applicable dissolved oxygen criteria are described in §307.7(b)(3)(A) of this title. Higher uses are protected where they are attainable.

  (4) When water is present in the streambed of intermittent streams, a 24-hour dissolved oxygen mean of at least 2.0 mg/L and 24-hour minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 1.5 mg/L must be maintained. Intermittent streams that are not specifically listed in Appendix A or D of §307.10 of this title are considered to have a minimal aquatic life use except as indicated below in this subsection. For intermittent streams with seasonal aquatic life uses, dissolved oxygen concentrations commensurate with the aquatic life uses must be maintained during the seasons when the aquatic life uses occur. Unclassified intermittent streams with perennial pools are presumed to have a limited aquatic life use and corresponding dissolved oxygen criteria. Higher uses are protected where they are attainable.

Cont'd...

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