250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-150-05-1.26

Current through November 7, 2024

Section 250-RICR-150-05-1.26 - RIDEM Ambient Water Quality Criteria and Guidelines for Toxic Pollutants

A. General - Section 304(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1314, requires the USEPA to develop and publish water quality criteria. The USEPA has published criteria for a number of the pollutants listed pursuant to Section 307(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1317, as well as for other toxic substances, based on available toxicological information on the pollutants. Section 303(c)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1313, requires States to adopt numeric criteria to protect the uses of their waters from all toxic pollutants listed pursuant to Section 307(a)(1) (33 U.S.C. § 1317) for which criteria have been published pursuant to Section 304(a)(1) (33 U.S.C. § 1314), and which are present, or could reasonably be expected to be present, at levels that would impair the uses. A complete list of "priority pollutants" is contained in 40 C.F.R. § 423, incorporated above in § 1.3(G) of this Part. § 1.26 of this Part contains the ambient chemical-specific numeric criteria and guidelines for aquatic life and human health which satisfies the requirements of Section 303(c)(2)(B) (33 U.S.C. § 1313). Certain criteria in the table have been modified and approved by EPA in accordance with applicable EPA guidance.

B. § 1.26(J) of this Part contains the acute and chronic aquatic life criteria and minimum data base guidelines for freshwater and saltwater and two sets of human health criteria.

1. The first column of human health criteria represents criteria applicable to waters where the designated route of exposure is due to consumption of drinking water and aquatic organisms.

2. The second column under human health represents criteria applicable to waters where the designated route of exposure is due only to consumption of aquatic organisms.

C. For parameters which have both aquatic life and human health criteria or guidelines, the applicable criteria or guideline is determined by using the more stringent of the aquatic life or human health criteria or guidelines, according to the use of the waterbody.

D. Aquatic Life Criteria - The aquatic life criteria in § 1.26(J) of this Part represents the EPA water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life, pursuant to Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1314, for acute and chronic exposure to toxics in freshwater and saltwater. These toxics are priority metals, organics, pesticides, PCBs, and cyanide.

1. To protect aquatic life, the one hour average concentration of a pollutant should not exceed the acute criteria more than once every three years on the average.

a. An exclusion to this rule are the pesticides and PCBs acute criteria which are considered instantaneous values (§ 1.26(J)(5) of this Part and see $ of § 1.26(J)(7) of this Part).

2. The four day average concentration of a pollutant should not exceed the chronic criteria more than once every three years on the average.

3. These aquatic life criteria shall be achieved in all waters, except mixing zones, regardless of the waters' classification.

4. The acute and chronic aquatic life criteria for freshwaters shall not be exceeded at or above the lowest average 7 consecutive day low flow with an average recurrence frequency of once in 10 years (7Q10).

5. For non-flowing freshwaters, the acute and chronic aquatic life criteria shall not be exceed under the most adverse conditions which will be determined on a case-by case basis.

6. The acute and chronic aquatic life criteria for seawater shall not be exceeded beyond the boundary of the mixing zone(s), as defined and determined by §§ 1.10(B)(5) and 1.10(B)(6) of this Part, and thence throughout the waterbody.

a. If a mixing zone has not been established, these criteria shall not be exceeded in any portion of the receiving water.

7. For purposes of calculating freshwater aquatic life criteria for metals from the equations in § 1.26(M) of this Part, the ambient hardness values shall be used, and shall be consistent with the design flow conditions established by § 1.10 of this Part.

8. For waters in which the salinity is equal to or less than one part per thousand, the applicable criteria are the freshwater criteria.

9. For waters in which the salinity is equal to or greater than ten parts per thousand, the applicable criteria are the saltwater criteria.

10. For waters in which the salinity is between one and ten parts per thousand (brackish), the applicable criteria are the more stringent of the freshwater or saltwater criteria. However, for those waters between one and ten parts per thousand (brackish), the Department may deviate from the general rule if scientifically defensible information and data demonstrates that on a site-specific basis the biology of the waterbody is dominated by freshwater aquatic life and that freshwater criteria are more appropriate; or conversely, the biology of the waterbody is dominated by saltwater aquatic life and that saltwater criteria are more appropriate.

11. The acute and chronic freshwater criteria for 10 metals and the acute and chronic saltwater criteria for 11 metals listed in § 1.26(J) of this Part are presented as dissolved metal criteria (see #5 and #6 § 1.26(J)(1) of this Part). For these metals, the dissolved metal, as opposed to the total recoverable metal, more closely approximates the bioavailable fraction of the metal in the water column.

E. Human Health Criteria - The human health criteria in § 1.26(J) of this Part represent the highest concentration of a pollutant in surface waters that is not expected to pose a significant risk to human health as determined by EPA. For almost all of the pollutants, bioaccumulation properties are used to assess the relative extent of human exposure to the pollutant either directly through ingestion or indirectly through consumption of aquatic organisms. These criteria represent the chronic criteria necessary to protect human health.

1. Ambient water quality criteria for human health are primarily based on two types of biological endpoints:

a. Carcinogenicity and;

b. Toxicity (i.e., all other adverse effects other than cancer).

2. There are essentially two procedures for assessing health effects; one which addresses carcinogens and one which addresses non-carcinogens. The reason for having two methodologies is that, for the purpose of deriving ambient water quality criteria, carcinogenicity is regarded as a non-threshold phenomenon, whereas toxicity is regarded as having a threshold below which there will not be an effect.

a. For those toxic substances which are identified as carcinogens, the criteria have been established at a risk level of 10-5 assuming a lifetime exposure to a 70 kg male consuming 17.5 grams per day of fish and shellfish product and ingesting 2.0 liters of water per day.

b. For those toxic substances which are identified as non-carcinogens, the human health criteria are best estimates of concentrations which are not expected to produce adverse effects in human health assuming a lifetime exposure of a 70 kg male consuming 17.5 grams per day of fish and shellfish products and ingesting 2.0 liters of water per day.

3. The concentration of these pollutants should not exceed criteria under stream conditions that represent long-term average conditions.

a. The stream design flow to be used to implement both carcinogen and noncarcinogen human health criteria is the harmonic mean flow which is a long term mean flow value calculated by dividing the number of daily flows analyzed by the sum of the reciprocals of those daily flows.

b. For non-flowing freshwaters, the human health criteria shall not be exceed under the most adverse conditions which will be determined on a case-by case basis.

4. For seawaters, the ambient human health water quality criteria for carcinogens and non-carcinogens are applicable when the most adverse hydrographic and pollution conditions occur at the particular point of evaluation.

F. Ammonia Criteria - The criteria presented in § 1.26(L) of this Part represent the ammonia criteria for aquatic life use.

1. Averaging Periods and Frequency of Exceedances

a. Chronic criteria - The ambient concentration, averaged over a period of 30 days, shall not exceed the chronic criterion more than once every three years on average. The highest four-day average ambient concentration should not exceed a concentration 2.5 times greater than the chronic criterion.

b. Acute - The ambient concentrations, averaged over one hour shall not exceed the acute criterion more than once every three years on average.

2. Early Life Stage Absent (ELS-Absent) Provision

a. This provision allows for a relaxation of the chronic criteria when early life stages (ELS) of fish are not present, since at low ambient water temperatures, adult and juvenile fish are less sensitive to ammonia toxicity than are early life stages of fish. As ambient water temperature decreases, it is appropriate to relax the ammonia chronic criterion in waterbodies where it is determined, to the Director's satisfaction, that early life stages are not present. The chronic criteria applicable when ELS are absent are found in § 1.26(L)(1)(c) of this Part.

b. The Director has determined that the ELS-Absent Provision applies to:

(1) The entire Blackstone River during the period November 1 to April 30.

(2) The main stem of the Pawtuxet River during the period November 1 to April 30.

(3) The Woonasquatucket River from Georgiaville Pond to the confluence with the Mosshasuck River during the period November 1 to April 30.

G. Site Specific Criteria

1. Criteria, 40 C.F.R. § 131.11(b)(1)(ii) provides States with the opportunity to adopt water quality criteria that are modified to reflect local environmental conditions. Certain criteria are developed as site specific criteria in accordance with State and EPA procedures and guidance.

a. Aquatic life criteria may be subject to site-specific modification procedures. Aquatic life guidelines may be modified following the procedures outlined in § 1.26(H) of this Part.

(1) Aquatic life site specific criteria modification procedures are based on EPA's "Interim Guidance on Determination and Use of Water Effect Ratios for Metals, EPA-823-B-94-001, February 1994, and subsequent site specific criteria modification guidance documents published in a memo from Jeanette Wiltse, Director of EPA's Health and Ecological Criteria Division on December 3, 1997; and EPA's Streamlined Water Effect Ration Procedure for Discharges of Copper, EPA-822-R-01-005, March 2001.

b. Human health criteria are subject to site-specific criteria development utilizing the methodology in EPA guidance. Human health guidelines may be modified utilizing the methodology in the EPA guidance manual, "Assessing Human Health Risk from Chemically-Contaminated Fish and Shellfish" (EPA - 503/ 8-89-002), incoporated in § 1.3 of this Part, and the methodology published in the Federal Register on November 28, 1980 (45 FR 79347) entitled "Water Quality Criteria Documents; Availability, Appendix C - Guidelines and Methodology used in Preparation of Health Effect Assessment Chapters of the Consent Decree Water Criteria Documents," incorporated above in § 1.3(E) of this Part

2. Water Effect Ratios (WERs) were developed for 5 metals; cadmium, copper, lead, silver and zinc for portions of the Pawtuxet River (§ 1.26(M) of this Part) using total recoverable metals. The WERs are then used to derive acute site specific criteria for the State's aquatic life criteria as indicated in § 1.26(M) of this Part. Chronic site specific criteria are then calculated using the derived acute site specific criteria, as indicated in § 1.26(M) of this Part.

a. The resulting acute and chronic site specific criteria are as total recoverable metals. The conversion factors noted in §§ 1.26(J)(3) and 1.26(K) of this Part cannot be applied to the site specific criteria.

b. The WERs and resulting site specific criteria apply only to the segments of the Pawtuxet River classified as B1 (§ 1.25 of this Part)

c. The WERs were developed using the procedures outlined in § 1.29 of this Part and EPA's "Interim Guidance on Determination and Use of Water Effect Ratios for Metals" (EPA 823-B-94-001).

3. Site specific dissolved copper criteria have been adopted for the Blackstone River, Ten Mile River (including run-of-the-river impoundments Slater Park Pond, Turner Reservoir North and South, and Omega Pond), and the Woonasquatucket River from the Smithfield WWTF discharge to the mouth of the river (§ 1.26(J) of this Part).

H. Freshwater Minimum Data Base Guidelines - RIDEM has derived freshwater guidelines for many pollutants for which EPA water quality criteria are not available. In order for guidelines to be derived, the toxicity data base for the pollutants must meet minimum requirements. These guidelines are given in § 1.26(J) of this Part and are marked with an asterisk (*), which is in § 1.26(J)(1) of this Part. The data base must contain at least two acute toxicity test results expressed as either an EC50 or an LC50. The two acute toxicity test results shall consist of:

1. One daphnid (D. magna or D. pulex)

2. One fish, either:

a. fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)

b. bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

c. rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

3. For every pollutant which meets these minimum data requirements, acute and chronic guidelines are derived using the following equations:

Click to view image

a. The uncertainty factor, 0.05, is intended to provide an adequate margin of safety to protect most aquatic organisms from acutely toxic effects.

b. The acute guideline is divided by an acute to chronic ratio of 45 to yield the chronic guideline.

I. Priority Pollutants Without Criteria or Guidelines - Any pollutant listed on the most recent EPA priority pollutant list published in accordance with Section 307(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1317 (listed in 126 Priority Pollutants, 40 C.F.R. § 423, incorporated above in § 1.3(G) of this Part) or additional criteria EPA has established for non-priority pollutants, for which there is no RIDEM ambient water quality criteria or guideline, shall be regulated in accordance with §§ 1.8(D)(2) and (3) of this Part.

J. Table of Acute and Chronic Aquatic Life Criteria and Minimum Database Guidelines for Freshwater and Saltwater and Human Health Criteria

1. Priority Pollutant: Toxic Metals and Cyanide

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			For Consumption of:
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC		Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
Antimony	7440360	450*	10*	-	-	No	5.6	640
Arsenic5, 6	7440382	340	150	69	36	Yes	0.18	1.4
Asbestos	1332214	-	-	-	-	Yes	7x106 fibers/l
Beryllium	7440417	7.5*	0.17*	-	-	Yes	-	-
Cadmium 5,6	7440439	@	@	40	8.8	No	-	-
Chromium III 5	1606583	@	@	-	-	No	-	-
Chromiu m VI 5,6	18540299	16	11	1100	50	No	-	-
Copper 5,6	7440508	@	@	4.8	3.1	No	1300	-
Copper (Site Specific) 7	7440508	20.41	14.45	-	-	No	1300	-
Cyanide	57125	22	5.2	1.0	1.0	No	140	140
Lead 5,6	7439921	@	@	210	8.1	No	-	-
Mercury 5,6	7439976	1.4	0.77	1.8	0.94	No	0.14	0.15
Nickel 5,6	7440020	@	@	74	8.2	No	610	4600
Selenium 6	7782492	20	5	290	71	No	170	4200
Silver 5,6	7440224	@	-	1.9	-	No	-	-
Thallium	7440280	46*	1.0*	-	-	No	0.24	0.47
Zinc 5,6	7440666	@	@	90	81	No	7400	26000

2. Priority Pollutant: Volatile Organic Compounds

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN?	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2 For Consumption of:
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC
Acrolein	107028	2.9*	0.06*	-	-	No	190	290
Acrylonitrile	107131	378*	8.4*	-	-	Yes	0.51	2.5
Benzene	71432	265*	5.9*	-	-	Yes	22	510
Bromoform	75252	1465*	33*	-	-	Yes	43	1400
Carbon Tetrachloride	56235	1365*	30*	-	-	Yes	2.3	16
Chlorobenzene	108907	795*	18*	-	-	No	130	1600
Chlorodibromo methane	124481						4.0	130
Chloroform	67663	1445*	32*	-	-	Yes	57	4700
Dichlorobromo methane	75274	-	-	-	-	Yes	5.5	170
1,2-Dichloroethane	107062	5900*	131*	-	-	Yes	3.8	370
1,1-Dichloroethylene	75354	580*	13*	-	-	Yes	330	7100
1,2-Dichloropropane	78875	2625*	58*	-	-	Yes	5.0	150
1,3-Dichloropropene	542756	-	-	-	-	No	0.34	21
Ethylbenzene	100414	1600*	36*	-	-	No	530	2100
Methyl bromide	74839	-	-	-	-	No	47	1500
Methyl chloride	74873	-	-	-	-	Yes	-	-
Methylene chloride	75092	965 0*	214*	-	-	Yes	46	5900
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane	79345	466*	10*	-	-	Yes	1.7	40
Tetrachloroethylene	127184	240*	5.3*	-	-	Yes	6.9	33
Toluene	108883	635*	14*	-	-	No	1300	15 mg/l
1,2-trans-dichloroethylene	156605	-	-	-	-	No	140	10 mg/l
1,1,1-trichloroethane	71556	-	-	-	-	No	-	-
1,1,2-trichloroethane	79005	900*	20*	-	-	Yes	5.9	160
Trichloroethylene	79016	195 0*	43*	-	-	Yes	25	300
Vinyl chloride	75014	-	-	-	-	Yes	0.025	2.4

3. Priority Pollutants: Acid Organic Compounds

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN?	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2 For Consumption of:
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC
2-chlorophenol	95578	129*	2.9*	-	-	No	81	150
2,4-dichlorophenol	120832	101*	2.2*	-	-	No	77	290
2,4-dimethylphenol	105679	106*	2.4*	-	-	No	380	850
2-methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol	534521						13	280
2,4-dinitrophenol	51285	31*	0.69*	-	-	No	69	5300
4-nitrophenol	88755	-	-	-	-		-	-
Pentachlorophenol	87865	@	@	13	7.9	Yes	2.7	30
Phenol	108952	251*	5.6*	-	-	No	21 mg/l	1700 mg/l
2,4,6-trichlorophenol	88062	16*	0.36*	-	-	Yes	14	24

4. Priority Pollutants: Base Neutral Compounds

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN?	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2 For Consumption of:
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC
Acenapthene	83329	85*	1.9*	-	-	No	670	990
Anthracene	120127	-	-	-	-	No	8300	40 mg/l
Benzidine	92875	-	-	-	-	Yes	0.86 ng/l	2.0 ng/l
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons4		-	-	-	-	Yes	0.038	0.18
Bis(2-Chloroethyl)ether	111444	-	-	-	-	Yes	0.30	5.3
Bis(2- Chloroisopropyl) ether	108601	-	-	-	-	No	1400	65 mg/l
Bis(2- Ethylhexyl)phthalate	117817	555*	12*	-	-	Yes	12	22
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate	85687	85*	1.9*			No	1500	1900
2-Chloronaphthalene	91587	-	-	-	-	No	1000	1600
1,2-Dichlorobenzene	95501	79*	1.8*	-	-	No	420	1300
1,3-Dichlorobenzene	541731	390*	8.7*	-	-	No	320	960
1,4-Dichlorobenzene	106467	56*	1.2*	-	-	No	63	190
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidene	91941	-	-	-	-	Yes	0.21	0.28
Diethyl Phthalate	84662	2605*	58*	-	-	No	17 mg/l	44 mg/l
Dimethyl Phthalate	131113	1650*	37*	-	-	No	270 mg/l	1.1 g/l
Di-n-Butyl Phthalate	84742	-	-	-	-	No	2000	4500
2,4-Dinitrotoluene	121142	1550*	34*	-	-	Yes	1.1	34
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine	122667	14*	0.31*	-	-	Yes	0.36	2.0
Fluoranthene	206440	199*	4.4*	-	-	No	130	140
Fluorene	86737	-	-	-	-	No	1100	5300
Hexachlorobenzene	118741	-	-	-	-	Yes	2.8 ng/l	2.9 ng/l
Hexachlorobutadiene	87683	-	-	-	-	Yes	4.4	180
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	77474	0.35*	0.008*	-	-	No	40	1100
Hexachloroethane	67721	49*	1.1*	-	-	Yes	14	33
Isophorone	78591	5850*	130*	-	-	Yes	350	9600
Napthalene	91203	115*	2.6*	-	-		-	-
Nitrobenzene	98953	1350*	30*	-	-	No	17	690
N-Nitrosodimethylamine	62759	-	-	-	-	Yes	6.9 ng/l	30
N-Nitrosodi-N-Propylamine	621647	-	-	-	-	Yes	0.05	5.1
N- Nitrosodiphenylamine	86306	293*	6.5*	-	-	Yes	33	60
Pyrene	129000	-	-	-	-	No	830	4000
1,2,4- Trichlorobenzene	120821	75*	1.7*	-	-		35	70

5. Priority Pollutants: Pesticides/PCBs

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN?	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2 For Consumption of:
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC
Aldrin	309002	3.0$	-	1.3$	-	Yes	0.49 ng/l	0.5 ng/l
alpha BHC	319846	-	-	-	-	Yes	26 ng/l	49 ng/l
beta BHC	319857	-	-	-	-	Yes	91 ng/l	170 ng/l
gamma BHC (Lindane)	58899	0.95$		0.16$	-	Yes	0.98	1.8
Chlordane	57749	2.4$	0.0043	0.09$	0.004	Yes	8.0 ng/l	8.1 ng/l
4,4DDT	50293	1.1$	0.001	0.13$	0.001	Yes	2.2 ng/l	2.2 ng/l
4,4DDE	72559	-	-	-	-	Yes	2.2 ng/l	2.2 ng/l
4,4DDD	72548	-	-	-	-	Yes	3.1 ng/l	3.1 ng/l
Dieldrin	60571	0.24	0.056	0.71$	0.0019	Yes	0.52 ng/l	0.54 ng/l
Endosulfan alpha	959988	0.22$	0.056	0.03 4$	0.0087	No	62	89
Endosulfan, beta	33213659	0.22$	0.056	0.03 4$	0.0087		62	89
Endosulfan (sulfate)	1031078	-	-	-	-	No	62	89
Endrin	72208	0.08 6$	0.036	0.03 7$	0.0023	No	0.059	0.06
Endrin Aldehyde	7421934	-	-	-	-	No	0.29	0.30
Heptachlor	76448	0.52$	0.0038	0.053$	0.0036	Yes	0.79 ng/l	0.79 ng/l
Heptachlor Epoxide	1024573	0.52$	0.0038	0.053$	0.0036	Yes	0.39 ng/l	0.39 ng/l
Polychlori nated Biphenyls (PCBs)3	1336363	-	0.014	-	0.03	Yes	0.64 ng/l	0.64 ng/l
2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin)	1746016	-	-	-	-	Yes	5 x 10-8	5.1 x 10-8
Toxaphene	8001352	0.73	0.0002	0.21	0.0002	Yes	2.8 ng/l	2.8 ng/l
Tributyltin	**	0.46	0.072	0.42	0.0074	No	-	-

6. Non Priority Pollutants: Other Substances

CHEMICAL NAME	CAS Number	AQUATIC LIFE CRITERIA (µg/l)				CARCINOGEN?	HUMAN HEALTH CRITERIA (µg/l)2 For Consumption of:
		FRESHWATER		SALTWATER			Water and Aquatic Organisms	Aquatic Organisms Only
		ACUTE	CHRONIC	ACUTE	CHRONIC
Aluminum	7429905	750^	87^	-	-		-	-
Ammonia	7664417	#	#	#	#	No	-	-
4-BromophenylPhenyl Ether		18*	0.4*	-	-		-	-
Chloride	16887006	860,000	230,000
Chlorine	7782505	19	11	13	7.5
4-Chloro-2-Methylphenol		15*	0.32*	-	-		-	-
1-Chloronaphthalene		80*	1.8*	-	-		-	-
4-Chlorophenol	106489	192*	4.3*	-	-		-	-
2,4-Dichloro-6-Methylphenol		22*	0.48*	-	-		-	-
1,1-Dichloropropane		1150*	26*	-	-		-	-
1,3-Dichloropropane	142289	303*	6.7*	-	-		-	-
2,3-Dinitrotoluene		17*	0.37*	-	-		-	-
2,4-Dinitro-6-Methyl Phenol		12	0.26	-	-		-	-
Iron	7439896		1000				300
Pentachlorobenzene	608935	13*	0.28*	-	-		-	-
Pentachloroethane		362*	8.0*	-	-		-	-
1,2,3,5-Tetrachlorobenzene		321*	7.1*	-	-		-	-
1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane	630206	980*	22*	-	-		-	-
2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol	58902	7*	0.16*	-	-		-	-
2,3,5,6-Tetrachlorophenol		8.5*	0.19*	-	-		-	-
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol	95954	23*	0.51*	-	-		-	-
2,4,6-Trinitrophenol	88062	4235	94	-	-		-	-
Xylene	1330207	133*	3.0*	-	-

7. Key for § 1.26(J) of this Part

Symbol	Meaning
*	RIDEM minimum database guidelines.
**	Only data generated in toxicity and bioconcentration tests on TBTCl (tributyltin chloride; CAS 1461-22-9), TBTF (tributyltin floride; CAS 1983-10-4), TBTO [bis(tributyltin) oxide; CAS 56-35-9], commonly called "tributyltin oxide" and TBTS[bis(tributyltin) sulfide; CAS 4808-30-4], commonly called "tributyltin sulfide" were used in the derivation of the water quality criteria concentrations for aquatic life presented herein. All concentrations from such tests are expressed as TBT, not as tin and not as the chemical tested.
^	Freshwater criteria for aluminum are for waters in which the pH is between 6.5 and 9
#	See § 1.26(L) of this Part for ammonia criteria
@	See § 1.26(K) of this Part for criteria equations
-	No criteria recommendation.
$	The aquatic life criteria for these compounds were issued in 1980 utilizing the 1980 Guidelines for criteria development. The acute values shown are final acute values which, by the 1980 Guidelines, are instantaneous values as contrasted with a Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC) which is a one-hour average.
1	Carcinogens calculated at 10-5 risk
2	Criteria are in µg/l unless otherwise noted: µg/l = micrograms/liter, ng/l = nanograms/liter, mg/l = milligrams/liter
3	Polychlorinated Biphenyl criteria apply to total PCBs (e.g. the sum of all cogener or all isomer or homolog or Aroclor analyses.)
4	Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons criteria apply to each of the following: indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (CAS Number 193395), dibenzo(ah)anthracene (CAS Number 53703), benzo(a)anthracene (CAS Number 56553), benzo(a)pyrene (CAS Number 50328), benzo(b)fluoranthene (CAS Number 205992), benzo(k)fluoranthene (CAS Number 207089), chrysene (CAS Number 218019)
5	Freshwater aquatic life criteria values in § 1.26(J) of this Part for the following parameters are presented as dissolved criteria using the EPA recommended conversion factors (CF), as listed in § 1.26(J)(2) of this Part
6	Saltwater aquatic life criteria values in § 1.26(J) of this Part for the following parameters are presented as dissolved criteria using the EPA recommended conversion factors, as listed in § 1.26(J)(3) of this Part
7	Site specific criteria for dissolved copper apply for the following waters: Blackstone River (RI 0001003R-01A and RI 0001003R-01B) From the MA/RI border to the mouth of the river, Ten Mile River (RI 0004009R-01A and RI 0004009R-01B) From the MA/RI border to the mouth of the river including Slater Park Pond (included in Ten Mile River (RI 0004009R-01A), Turner Reservoir North (RI 0004009L-01A) and South (RI 0004009L-01B), and Omega Pond (RI 0004009L-03). Woonasquatucket River (RI 0002007R-10C and RI 0002007R-10D) From the Smithfield WWTF discharge to confluence with Moshassuck River.

8. Table of EPA Recommended Conversion Factors (CF)-Freshwater Values

Metal	Acute CF	Chronic CF
Arsenic	1.000	1.000
Cadmium	1.136672 - [(ln H) x 0.041838]	1.101672 - [(ln H) x 0.041838]
Chromium III	0.316	0.86
Chromium VI	0.982	0.962
Copper	0.96	0.96
Lead	1.46203 - [(ln H) x 0.145712]	1.46203 - [(ln H) x 0.145712]
Mercury	0.85	0.85
Nickel	0.998	0.997
Silver	0.85	(no freshwater criteria)
Zinc	0.978	0.986
NOTE: (ln H) = natural log of Hardness, using any hardness as appropriate.

9. Table of EPA Recommended Conversion Factors (CF)-Saltwater Values

Metal	Conversion Factor
Arsenic	1
Cadmium	0.994
Chromium III	(no saltwater criteria)
Chromium VI	0.993
Copper	0.83
Lead	0.951
Mercury	0.85 (see Note below)
Nickel	0.99
Selenium	0.998
Silver	0.85
Zinc	0.946
Note: Conversion factors on this table were calculated for acute criteria only. Conversion factors for chronic criteria are not currently available. In the absence of chronic conversion factors saltwater acute conversion factors are used. Chronic criteria for mercury cannot be converted to dissolved because it is based on mercury residues rather than toxicity.

K. Freshwater Criteria Equations and Base e Exponential Values

Parameter	ACUTE (µg/l) Click here to view Image			CHRONIC (µg/l) Click here to view Image
	CF =	ma =	ba =		CF =	mc =	bc =
Cadmium	@	1.0166	-3.924		@	0.7409	- 4.719
Chromium III	0.316	0.8190	3.7256		0.86	0.819	0.6848
Copper	0.96	0.9422	-1.700		0.96	0.8545	-1.702
Lead	#	1.273	-1.46		#	1.273	-4.705
Nickel	0.998	0.846	2.255		0.997	0.846	0.0584
Silver	0.85	1.72	-6.52		-	-	-
Zinc	0.978	0.8473	0.884		0.986	0.8473	0.884
Pentachlorophenol*	-	1.005	-4.869		-	1.005	-5.134

1. Hardness values in § 1.26(K) of this Part are in mg/l as CaCO3

2. Key for § 1.26(K) of this Part

Symbol	Meaning
*	substitute pH for hardness in the equations for pentachlorophenol
-	no recommended value
@	Cadmium conversion Factors: acute CF = 1.136673 - [(ln H) x 0.041838)] chronic CF = 1.101672 - [(ln H) x 0.041838]
[ln H]	natural log of hardness
#	Lead conversion factors acute and chronic CF = 1.46203 - [(ln H) x 0.145712]
NOTE: When an ambient hardness of less than 25 mg/l is used to establish for lead or cadmium, the hardness dependent Conversion Factor (CF) should not exceed one.

L. Ammonia Criteria

1. Freshwater

a. Acute Criteria as Total Ammonia Nitrogen (mg N/L)

pH	Acute Criterion with Salmonids present	Acute Criterion with Salmonids absent
6.5	32.6	48.8
6.6	31.3	46.8
6.7	29.8	44.6
6.8	28.1	42.0
6.9	26.2	39.1
7.0	24.1	36.1
7.1	22.0	32.8
7.2	19.7	29.5
7.3	17.5	26.2
7.4	15.4	23.0
7.5	13.3	19.9
7.6	11.4	17.0
7.7	9.65	14.4
7.8	8.11	12.1
7.9	6.77	10.1
8.0	5.62	8.40
8.1	4.64	6.95
8.2	3.83	5.72
8.3	3.15	4.71
8.4	2.59	3.88
8.5	2.14	3.20
8.6	1.77	2.65
8.7	1.47	2.20
8.8	1.23	1.84
8.9	1.04	1.56
9.0	0.885	1.32

b. Chronic Criteria for Fish Early Life Stages Present, mg N/L

Temperature and pH-Dependent Values of the Chronic Criterion for Fish Early Life Stages Present
pH	Temperature, C
	0	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30
6.5	6.67	6.67	6.06	5.33	4.68	4.12	3.62	3.18	2.80	2.46
6.6	6.57	6.57	5.97	5.25	4.61	4.05	3.56	3.13	2.75	2.42
6.7	6.44	6.44	5.86	5.15	4.52	3.98	3.50	3.07	2.70	2.37
6.8	6.29	6.29	5.72	5.03	4.42	3.89	3.42	3.00	2.64	2.32
6.9	6.12	6.12	5.56	4.89	4.30	3.78	3.32	2.92	2.57	2.25
7.0	5.91	5.91	5.37	4.72	4.15	3.65	3.21	2.82	2.48	2.18
7.1	5.67	5.67	5.15	4.53	3.98	3.50	3.08	2.70	2.38	2.09
7.2	5.39	5.39	4.90	4.31	3.78	3.33	2.92	2.57	2.26	1.99
7.3	5.08	5.08	4.61	4.06	3.57	3.13	2.76	2.42	2.13	1.87
7.4	4.73	4.73	4.30	3.78	3.32	2.92	2.57	2.26	1.98	1.74
7.5	4.36	4.36	3.97	3.49	3.06	2.69	2.37	2.08	1.83	1.61
7.6	3.98	3.98	3.61	3.18	2.79	2.45	2.16	1.90	1.67	1.47
7.7	3.58	3.58	3.25	2.86	2.51	2.21	1.94	1.71	1.50	1.32
7.8	3.18	3.18	2.89	2.54	2.23	1.96	1.73	1.52	1.33	1.17
7.9	2.80	2.80	2.54	2.24	1.96	1.73	1.52	1.33	1.17	1.03
8.0	2.43	2.43	2.21	1.94	1.71	1.50	1.32	1.16	1.02	0.897
8.1	2.10	2.10	1.91	1.68	1.47	1.29	1.14	1.00	0.879	0.773
8.2	1.79	1.79	1.63	1.43	1.26	1.11	0.973	0.855	0.752	0.661
8.3	1.52	1.52	1.39	1.22	1.07	0.941	0.827	0.727	0.639	0.562
8.4	1.29	1.29	1.17	1.03	0.906	0.796	0.700	0.615	0.541	0.475
8.5	1.09	1.09	0.990	0.870	0.765	0.672	0.591	0.520	0.457	0.401
8.6	0.920	0.920	0.836	0.735	0.646	0.568	0.499	0.439	0.386	0.339
8.7	0.778	0.778	0.707	0.622	0.547	0.480	0.422	0.371	0.326	0.287
8.8	0.661	0.661	0.601	0.528	0.464	0.408	0.359	0.315	0.277	0.244
8.9	0.565	0.565	0.513	0.451	0.397	0.349	0.306	0.269	0.237	0.208
9.0	0.486	0.486	0.442	0.389	0.342	0.300	0.264	0.232	0.204	0.179

c. Chronic Criteria for Fish Early Life Stages Absent, mg N/L

Temperature and pH-Dependent Values of the CCC (Chronic Criterion) for Fish Early Life Stages Absent
pH	Temperature, C
	0-7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15*	16*
6.5	10.8	10.1	9.51	8.92	8.36	7.84	7.35	6.89	6.46	6.06
6.6	10.7	9.99	9.37	8.79	8.24	7.72	7.24	6.79	6.36	5.97
6.7	10.5	9.81	9.20	8.62	8.08	7.58	7.11	6.66	6.25	5.86
6.8	10.2	9.58	8.98	8.42	7.90	7.40	6.94	6.51	6.10	5.72
6.9	9.93	9.31	8.73	8.19	7.68	7.20	6.75	6.33	5.93	5.56
7.0	9.60	9.00	8.43	7.91	7.41	6.95	6.52	6.11	5.73	5.37
7.1	9.20	8.63	8.09	8.58	7.11	6.67	6.25	5.86	5.49	5.15
7.2	8.75	8.20	7.69	7.21	6.76	6.34	5.94	5.57	5.22	4.90
7.3	8.24	7.73	7.25	6.79	6.37	5.97	5.60	5.25	4.92	4.61
7.4	7.69	7.21	6.76	6.33	5.94	5.57	5.22	4.89	4.59	4.30
7.5	7.09	6.64	6.23	5.84	5.48	5.13	4.81	4.51	4.23	3.97
7.6	6.46	6.05	5.67	5.32	4.99	4.68	4.38	4.11	3.85	3.61
7.7	5.81	5.45	5.11	4.79	4.49	4.21	3.95	3.70	3.47	3.25
7.8	5.17	4.84	4.54	4.26	3.99	3.74	3.51	3.29	3.09	2.89
7.9	4.54	4.26	3.99	3.74	3.51	3.29	3.09	2.89	2.71	2.54
8.0	3.95	3.70	3.47	3.26	3.05	2.86	2.68	2.52	2.36	2.21
8.1	3.41	3.19	2.99	2.81	2.63	2.47	2.31	2.17	2.03	1.91
8.2	2.91	2.73	2.56	2.40	2.25	2.11	1.98	1.85	1.74	1.63
8.3	2.47	2.32	2.18	2.04	1.91	1.79	1.68	1.58	1.48	1.39
8.4	2.09	1.96	1.84	1.73	1.62	1.52	1.42	1.33	1.25	1.17
8.5	1.77	1.66	1.55	1.46	1.37	1.28	1.20	1.13	1.06	0.990
8.6	1.49	1.40	1.31	1.23	1.15	1.08	1.01	0.951	0.892	0.836
8.7	1.26	1.18	1.11	1.04	0.976	0.915	0.858	0.805	0.754	0.707
8.8	1.07	1.01	0.944	0.885	0.829	0.778	0.729	0.684	0.641	0.601
8.9	0.917	0.86	0.806	0.756	0.709	0.664	0.623	0.584	0.548	0.513
9.0	0.790	0.740	0.694	0.651	0.610	0.572	0.536	0.503	0.471	0.442
* At 15 C and above, the criterion for fish ELS absent is the same as the criterion for fish ELS present.

2. Saltwater: criteria as total ammonia (mg/l)

a. Acute Water Quality Criteria for Saltwater Aquatic Life Based on Total Ammonia (mg/l).

	Temperature, (°C)
	0	5	10	15	20	25	30	35
pH	Salinity = 10 g/kg
7.0	270	191	131	92	62	44	29	21
7.2	175	121	83	58	40	27	19	13
7.4	110	77	52	35	25	17	12	8.3
7.6	69	48	33	23	16	11	7.7	5.6
7.8	44	31	21	15	10	7.1	5.0	3.5
8.0	27	19	13	9.4	6.4	4.6	3.1	2.3
8.2	18	12	8.5	5.8	4.2	2.9	2.1	1.5
8.4	11	7.9	5.4	3.7	2.7	1.9	1.4	1.0
8.6	7.3	5.0	3.5	2.5	1.8	1.3	0.98	0.75
8.8	4.6	3.3	2.3	1.7	1.2	0.92	0.71	0.56
9.0	2.9	2.1	1.5	1.1	0.85	0.67	0.52	0.44
	Salinity = 20 g/kg
7.0	291	200	137	96	64	44	31	21
7.2	183	125	87	60	42	29	20	14
7.4	116	79	54	37	27	18	12	8.7
7.6	73	50	35	23	17	11	7.9	5.6
7.8	46	31	23	15	11	7.5	5.2	3.5
8.0	29	20	14	9.8	6.7	4.8	3.3	2.3
8.2	19	13	8.9	6.2	4.4	3.1	2.1	1.6
8.4	12	8.1	5.6	4.0	2.9	2.0	1.5	1.1
8.6	7.5	5.2	3.7	2.7	1.9	1.4	1.0	0.77
8.8	4.8	3.3	2.5	1.7	1.3	0.94	0.73	0.56
9.0	3.1	2.3	1.6	1.2	0.87	0.69	0.54	0.44
	Salinity = 30 g/kg
7.0	312	208	148	102	71	48	33	23
7.2	196	135	94	64	44	31	21	15
7.4	125	85	58	40	27	19	13	9.4
7.6	79	54	37	25	21	12	8.5	6.0
7.8	50	33	23	16	11	7.9	5.4	3.7
8.0	31	21	15	10	7.3	5.0	3.5	2.5
8.2	20	14	9.6	6.7	4.6	3.3	2.3	1.7
8.4	12.7	8.7	6.0	4.2	2.9	2.1	1.6	1.1
8.6	8.1	5.6	4.0	2.7	2.0	1.4	1.1	0.81
8.8	5.2	3.5	2.5	1.8	1.3	1.0	0.75	0.58
9.0	3.3	2.3	1.7	1.2	0.94	0.71	0.56	0.46
To convert these values to mg/liter N, multiply by 0.822

b. Chronic Water Quality Criteria for Saltwater Aquatic Life Based on Total Ammonia (mg/l).

	Temperature (°C)
	0	5	10	15	20	25	30	35
pH	Salinity = 10 g/kg
7.0	41	29	20	14	9.4	6.6	4.4	3.1
7.2	26	18	12	8.7	5.9	4.1	2.8	2.0
7.4	17	12	7.8	5.3	3.7	2.6	1.8	1.2
7.6	10	7.2	5.0	3.4	2.4	1.7	1.2	0.84
7.8	6.6	4.7	3.1	2.2	1.5	1.1	0.75	0.53
8.0	4.1	2.9	2.0	1.40	0.97	0.69	0.47	0.34
8.2	2.7	1.8	1.3	0.87	0.62	0.44	0.31	0.23
8.4	1.7	1.2	0.81	0.56	0.41	0.29	0.21	0.16
8.6	1.1	0.75	0.53	0.37	0.27	0.20	0.15	0.11
8.8	0.69	0.50	0.34	0.25	0.18	0.14	0.11	0.08
9.0	0.44	0.31	0.23	0.17	0.13	0.10	0.08	0.07
	Salinity = 20 g/kg
7.0	44	30	21	14	9.7	6.6	4.7	3.1
7.2	27	19	13	9.0	6.2	4.4	3.0	2.1
7.4	18	12	8.1	5.6	4.1	2.7	1.9	1.3
7.6	11	7.5	5.3	3.4	2.5	1.7	1.2	0.84
7.8	6.9	4.7	3.4	2.3	1.6	1.1	0.78	0.53
8.0	4.4	3.0	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.72	0.50	0.34
8.2	2.8	1.9	1.3	0.94	0.66	0.47	0.31	0.24
8.4	1.8	1.2	0.84	0.59	0.44	0.30	0.22	0.16
8.6	1.1	0.78	0.56	0.41	0.28	0.20	0.15	0.12
8.8	0.72	0.50	0.37	0.26	0.19	0.14	0.11	0.08
9.0	0.47	0.34	0.24	0.18	0.13	0.10	0.08	0.07
	Salinity = 30 g/kg
7.0	47	31	22	15	11	7.2	5.0	3.4
7.2	29	20	14	9.7	6.6	4.7	3.1	2.2
7.4	19	13	8.7	5.9	4.1	2.9	2.0	1.4
7.6	12	8.1	5.6	3.7	3.1	1.8	1.3	0.90
7.8	7.5	5.0	3.4	2.4	1.7	1.2	0.81	0.56
8.0	4.7	3.1	2.2	1.6	1.1	0.75	0.53	0.37
8.2	3.0	2.1	1.4	1.0	0.69	0.50	0.34	0.25
8.4	1.9	1.3	0.90	0.62	0.44	0.31	0.23	0.17
8.6	1.2	0.84	0.59	0.41	0.30	0.22	0.16	0.12
8.8	0.78	0.53	0.37	0.27	0.20	0.15	0.11	0.09
9.0	0.50	0.34	0.26	0.19	0.14	0.11	0.08	0.07
To convert these values to mg/liter N, multiply by 0.822

M. Freshwater Water Effect Ratios and Site Specific Criteria Equations

Parameter	Acute Click here to view Image			Chronic (Acute Site Specific x 2)¸ National Acute:Chronic Ratio
	WER@	ma =	ba =	National Acute:Chronic Ratio
Cadmium	2.2	1.0166	-3.924	--
Copper	4.77	0.9422	-1.700	2.823
Lead	0.19	1.273	-1.46	51.29
Silver	2.85	1.72	-6.52	--
Zinc	1.63	0.8473	0.8840	2.208
@WER=Water Effect Ratio --=no recommended value, use chronic value as calculated in Table 2.

250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-150-05-1.26

Amended effective 12/28/2023