National Recommended

Water Quality Criteria -

Aquatic Life Criteria Table
This table contains the most up to date criteria for aquatic life ambient water quality
criteria. Aquatic life criteria for toxic chemicals are the highest concentration of
specific pollutants or parameters in water that are not expected to pose a significant
risk to the majority of species in a given environment or a narrative description of
the desired conditions of a water body being "free from" certain negative conditions.
The table below lists EPA's recommended aquatic life criteria. State and tribal
governments may use these criteria or use them as guidance in developing their
own.

National Recommended Aquatic Life

Criteria table
Fresh Fresh Salt Salt
water water wate wate
r r
Pollutant
CAS N CMC1 CCC2 CMC1 CCC2 Public
(P =
umbe ation Notes
Priority
r (acut (chro (acut (chr Year
Pollutant)
e) nic) e) onic)
(µg/L (µg/L (µg/ (µg/
) ) L) L)

3ug/L 3ug/L — — 2009

Acrolein (P 10702
) 8

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Aesthetic
— — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Qualities
Book") for
narrative
statement.

These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
30900
Aldrin (P) 3.0 — 1.3 — 1980 Requireme
2
nts and
derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
 an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.

The CCC of
20mg/L is
a
minimum
2000 value
Alkalinity — — — — 1986
0 except
where
alkalinity
is
naturally
lower, in
 which case
the
criterion
cannot be
lower than
25% of the
natural
level.

These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
alpha- Requireme
95998 0.03 0.00
Endosulfa 0.22 0.056 1980 nts and
8 4 87
n (P) derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.
This value
was
derived
from data
for
endosulfan
and is
most
appropriat
ely applied
to the sum
of alpha-
endosulfan
and beta-
endosulfan
 .

This value
for
aluminum
is
Aluminum expressed
74299
pH 6.5 – 750 87 — — 1988 in terms of
05
9.0 total
recoverabl
e metal in
the water
column.

Freshwater
criteria are
ph,
temperatu
2013
re and life-
(Fresh
stage
water)
76644 dependent
Ammonia — — — — ,
17 .Saltwater
1989
criteria are
(Saltw
pH and
ater)
temperatu
re
dependent
.

Arsenic 340 150 69 36 1995 This

74403
recommen
82 ded water
quality
criterion
was
derived
from data
for arsenic
(III), but is
applied
here to
total
arsenic.
Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
 Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.

19122
Atrazine
49

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Bacteria — — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.

These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
beta- ch used
33213 0.03 0.00 different
Endosulfa 0.22 0.056 1980
659 4 87 Minimum
n (P)
Data
Requireme
nts and
derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.
This value
was
derived
from data
for
endosulfan
and is
 most
appropriat
ely applied
to the sum
of alpha-
endosulfan
and beta-
endosulfan
.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Boron — — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.

Freshwate
r acute
and
chronic
criteria are
Cadmium ( 74404 hardness-
1.8 0.72 33 7.9 2016 dependent
P) 39
and were
normalize
d to a
hardness
of 100
mg/L as
CaCO3 to
allow the
presentati
on of
representa
tive
criteria
values. .
Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
 Criteria.

Carbaryl 63252 2.1 2.1 1.6 — 2012

These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
Requireme
nts and
derivation
Chlordane 0.004 0.00 procedure
57749 2.4 0.09 1980 s from
(P) 3 4
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
 should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.

16887 8600 2300

Chloride — — 1986
006 00 00

77825
Chlorine 19 11 13 7.5 1986
05

Chlorpyrifo 29218 0.01 0.00

0.083 0.041 1986
s 82 1 56

Freshwate
r and
Chromium 16065 saltwater
570 74 — — 1995 criteria for
(III) (P) 831
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.
The
freshwater
criterion
for this
metal is
expressed
as a
function of
hardness
(mg/L).
The value
given here
correspon
ds to a
 hardness
of 100
mg/L.

Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
the water
Chromium 18540 1,10 column. S
16 11 50 1995
(VI) (P) 299 0 ee Office of
Water Policy
and
Technical
Guidance on
Interpretatio
n and
Implementat
ion of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.

Color — — — — — 1986 See Quality

Criteria
 for Water, 1
986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.

Freshwate
r criteria
calculated
using the
Biotic
Ligand
Model.
Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
74405 metals are
Copper (P) — — 4.8 3.1 2007 expressed
08
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
 Interpretati
on and
Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.

These
recommen
ded water
quality
Cyanide (P
57125 22 5.2 1 1 1985 criteria are
)
expressed
as µg free
cyanide
(CN/L).

80654
Demeton — 0.1 — 0.1 1985
83

33341 0.17u 0.17u 0.82 0.82

Diazinon 2005
5 g/L g/L ug/L ug/L

The
freshwater
Dieldrin (P 0.00 CCC criteri
60571 0.24 0.056 0.71 1995
) 19 on and
both
Saltwater
criteria are
based are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
Requireme
nts and
derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
 more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.

The
derivation
of the CCC
for this
pollutant
did not
consider
exposure
through
0.03 0.00
Endrin (P) 72208 0.086 0.036 1995 the diet,
7 23
which is
probably
important
for aquatic
life
occupying
upper
trophic
levels.

gamma- The
BHC 58899 0.95 — 0.16 — 1995 Saltwater
(Lindane) ( CCC
P) criterion is
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
Requireme
nts and
derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
 comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Gases, Total
— — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Dissolved
Book") for
narrative
statement.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Guthion 86500 — 0.01 — 0.01 1986 986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Hardness — — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.
 These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
Requireme
nts and
derivation
procedure
s from
the 1985
Heptachl 0.003 0.05 0.00 Guidelines.
76448 0.52 1980
or (P) 8 3 36 If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
 more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.

These
criteria are
based on
the 1980
criteria whi
ch used
different
Minimum
Data
Requireme
Heptachlor nts and
10245 0.003 0.05 0.00
Epoxide (P 0.52 1981 derivation
73 8 3 36
) procedure
s from
the 1985
Guidelines.
If
evaluation
is to be
done using
an
averaging
period, the
acute
criteria
values
given
should be
divided by
2 to obtain
a value
that is
more
comparabl
e to a CMC
derived
using the
1985
Guidelines.
This value
was
derived
from data
for
heptachlor
and there
was
insufficien
t data to
determine
relative
toxicities
of
heptachlor
and
 heptachlor
epoxide.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
74398
Iron — 1000 — — 1986 986 ("Gold
96
Book") for
narrative
statement.

Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
74399 metal in
Lead (P) 65 2.5 210 8.1 1980
21 the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
 Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.
The
freshwater
criterion
for this
metal is
expressed
as a
function of
hardness
(mg/L).
The value
given here
correspon
ds to a
hardness
of 100
mg/L.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
12175
Malathion — 0.1 — 0.1 1986 986 ("Gold
5
Book") for
narrative
statement.
 Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
in terms of
the
dissolved
metal in
74399 the water
Mercury column. S
76
Methylmer 1.4 0.77 1.8 0.94 1995 ee Office of
cury (P) 22967 Water
926 Policy and
Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.

See Quality
Criteria
Methoxychl for Water, 1
72435 — 0.03 — 0.03 1986
or 986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
 statement.

Methyl
Tertiary-
Butyl Ether
(MTBE)

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
23858 0.00
Mirex — 0.001 — 1986 986 ("Gold
55 1
Book") for
narrative
statement.

Freshwate
r and
saltwater
criteria for
metals are
expressed
74400 in terms of
Nickel (P) 470 52 74 8.2 1995 the
20
dissolved
metal in
the water
column. S
ee Office of
Water
Policy and
 Technical
Guidance
on
Interpretati
on and
Implement
ation of
Aquatic Life
Metals
Criteria.
The
freshwater
criterion
for this
metal is
expressed
as a
function of
hardness
(mg/L).
The value
given here
correspon
ds to a
hardness
of 100
mg/L.

Nonylphen 84852 28 6.6 7 1.7

2005
ol 153 ug/L ug/L ug/L ug/L
 See
EPA's Ecore
gional
criteria for
Total
Phosphoru
s, Total
Nitrogen,
Chlorophyl
l a and
Water
Nutrients — — — — — — Clarity
(Secchi
depth for
lakes;
turbidity
for
streams
and
rivers) (&
Level III
Ecoregion
al criteria)

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Oil and
— — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Grease
Book") for
narrative
statement.
 See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
986 ("Gold
Book") for
Oxygen,
freshwater
Dissolved
. For
Freshwater 77824
— — — — 1986 saltwater,
Oxygen, 47
see Aquatic
Dissolved
Life Criteria
Saltwater
for Dissolved
Oxygen (Salt
water) Cape
Cod to Cape
Hatteras.

Parathion 56382 0.065 0.013 — — 1995

Freshwate
r aquatic
life values
for
pentachlor
Pentachlor ophenol
ophenol (P 87865 19 15 13 7.9 1995 are
) expressed
as a
function of
pH and
values
displayed
 in table
correspon
d to a pH
of 7.8.

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
986 ("Gold
Book") for
narrative
statement.
For open
ocean
waters
where the
depth is
6.5 – 6.5 – substantial
pH — — — 1986
9 8.5 ly greater
than the
euphotic
zone, the
pH should
not be
changed
more than
0.2 units
from the
naturally
occurring
variation
or any
case
outside
the range
of 6.5 to
8.5. For
shallow,
highly
productive
coastal
and
estuarine
areas
where
naturally
occurring
pH
variations
approach
the lethal
limits of
some
species,
changes in
pH should
be avoided
but in any
case
should not
exceed the
limits
establishe
 d for fresh
water, i.e.,
6.5-9.0.

Phosphorus 77231
— — — — 1986
Elemental 40

This
criterion
applies to
total PCBs,
Polychlor
(e.g., the
inated
sum of all
Biphenyls — — 0.014 — 0.03 —
congener
(PCBs) (P
or all
)
isomer or
homolog
or Aroclor
analyses.)

See Aquatic
Life Ambient

2016 Water

Fresh Quality
Selenium ( 77824 water Criterion for
— --- 290 71
P) 92 1999 Selenium -

Saltwa Freshwater

ter 2016 for

narrative
statement.
 74402
Silver (P) 3.2 — 1.9 — 1980
24

See Quality
Criteria
Solids
for Water, 1
Suspended
— — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
and
Book") for
Turbidity
narrative
statement.

Sulfide-
77830
Hydrogen — 2.0 — 2.0 1986
64
Sulfide

See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
Tainting
— — — — — 1986 986 ("Gold
Substances
Book") for
narrative
statement.

Criteria is
species
Temperatu dependent
— — — — — 1986
re . See Quality
Criteria
for Water, 1
 986 ("Gold
Book").

Toxaphene 80013 0.000 0.00

0.73 0.21 1986
(P) 52 2 02

Tributyltin 0.00
— 0.46 0.072 0.42 2004
(TBT) 74

74406
Zinc (P) 120 120 90 81 1995
66

4,4'- 0.00
50293 1.1 0.001 0.13 1980
DDT (P) 1

Appendix A
Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals

Saltwate Saltwate
Metal Freshwater CMC Freshwater CCC
r CMC r CCC

Arsenic 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000

Cadmium 1.136672-[(ln 1.101672-[(ln 0.994 0.994

hardness)(0.041838 hardness)(0.041838
 Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals

Saltwate Saltwate
Metal Freshwater CMC Freshwater CCC
r CMC r CCC

)] )]

Chromiu
0.316 0.860 — —
m III

Chromiu
0.982 0.962 0.993 0.993
m VI

Copper 0.960 0.960 0.83 0.83

1.46203-[(ln 1.46203-[(ln
Lead hardness)(0.145712 hardness)(0.145712 0.951 0.951
)] )]

Mercury 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85

Nickel 0.998 0.997 0.990 0.990

Selenium — — 0.998 0.998

 Conversion Factors for Dissolved Metals

Saltwate Saltwate
Metal Freshwater CMC Freshwater CCC
r CMC r CCC

Silver 0.85 — 0.85 —

0.946
Zinc 0.978 0.986 0.946

Appendix B
Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria That
Are Hardness-Dependent

Freshwater Conversion Factors (CF)

Chemi
mA bA mC bC
cal
CMC CCC

- - 1.136672- 1.101672-
Cadmi 0.97 0.79
3.86 3.90 [(lnhardness)(0. [(lnhardness)(0.
um 89 77
6 9 041838)] 041838)]

Chrom 0.81 3.72 0.81 0.68

0.316 0.860
ium III 90 56 90 48
Parameters for Calculating Freshwater Dissolved Metals Criteria That
Are Hardness-Dependent

Freshwater Conversion Factors (CF)

Chemi
mA bA mC bC
cal
CMC CCC

- - 1.46203- 1.46203-
1.27 1.27
Lead 1.46 4.70 [(lnhardness)(0. [(lnhardness)(0.
3 3
0 5 145712)] 145712)]

0.84 2.25 0.84 0.05

Nickel 0.998 0.997
60 5 60 84

-
Silver 1.72 — — 0.85 —
6.59

0.84 0.88 0.84 0.88

Zinc 0.978 0.986
73 4 73 4

Hardness-dependant metals' criteria may be calculated from the following:

CMC (dissolved) = exp{mA [ln(hardness)]+ bA} (CF)
CCC (dissolved) = exp{mC [ln(hardness)]+ bC} (CF)

1/ CMC: Criterion Maximum Concentration

2/ CCC: Criterion Continuous Concentration