[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 19]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR130.3]

[Page 355]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 130--WATER QUALITY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 130.3  Water quality standards.

    A water quality standard (WQS) defines the water quality goals of a 
water body, or portion thereof, by designating the use or uses to be 
made of the water and by setting criteria necessary to protect the uses. 
States and EPA adopt WQS to protect public health or welfare, enhance 
the quality of water and serve the purposes of the Clean Water Act 
(CWA). Serve the purposes of Act (as defined in sections 101(a)(2) and 
303(c) of the Act) means that WQS should, wherever attainable, provide 
water quality for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and 
wildlife and for recreation in and on the water and take into 
consideration their use and value for public water supplies, propagation 
of fish, shellfish, wildlife, recreation in and on the water, and 
agricultural, industrial and other purposes including navigation.

Such standards serve the dual purposes of establishing the water quality 
goals for a specific water body and serving as the regulatory basis for 
establishment of water quality-based treatment controls and strategies 
beyond the technology-based level of treatment required by sections 
301(b) and 306 of the Act. States shall review and revise WQS in 
accordance with applicable regulations and, as appropriate, update their 
Water Quality Management (WQM) plans to reflect such revisions. Specific 
WQS requirements are found in 40 CFR part 131.