The ambient water quality criteria established by this rule are applicable to all surface waters of the State. These criteria are intended to prevent the occurrence of toxic pollutants in toxic amounts as prohibited by both the US Clean Water Act and State law and protect aquatic life and human health. Aquatic life criteria are intended to assure that toxic pollutants are not present in concentrations or amounts that would cause acute and or chronic adverse impacts on organisms in, on or using the surface waters. Human health criteria are intended to assure that toxic pollutants are not present in concentrations or amounts that would cause adverse impact to persons who eat organisms or drink water taken from the surface waters. In the case of marine waters the consumption of water will not be considered for application of human health criteria.
06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 584, § 1