49-221
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49-221. Water quality standards in general A. The director shall adopt, by rule, water quality standards for all navigable waters and for all waters in all aquifers to preserve and protect the quality of those waters for all present and reasonably foreseeable future uses. B. The director may adopt, by rule, water quality standards for waters of the state other than those described in subsection A of this section, including standards for the use of water pumped from an aquifer that does not meet the standards adopted pursuant to section 49-223, subsections A and B and that is put to a beneficial use other than drinking water. These standards may include standards for the use of water pumped as part of a remedial action. In adopting such standards, the director shall consider the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits that would result from the adoption of a water quality standard at a particular level or for a particular water category. C. In setting standards pursuant to subsection A or B of this section, the director shall consider, but not be limited to, the following: 1. The protection of the public health and the environment. 2. The uses which have been made, are being made or with reasonable probability may be made of these waters. 3. The provisions and requirements of the clean water act and safe drinking water act and the regulations adopted pursuant to those acts. 4. The degree to which standards for one category of waters could cause violations of standards for other, hydrologically connected, water categories. 5. Guidelines, action levels or numerical criteria adopted or recommended by the United States environmental protection agency or any other federal agency. 6. Any unique physical, biological or chemical properties of the waters. D. Water quality standards shall be expressed in terms of the uses to be protected and, if adequate information exists to do so, numerical limitations or parameters, in addition to any narrative standards which the director may deem appropriate. E. The director may adopt by rule water quality standards for the direct reuse of reclaimed water. In establishing these standards the director shall consider the following: 1. The protection of public health and the environment. 2. The uses that are being made or may be made of the reclaimed water. 3. The degree to which standards for the direct reuse of reclaimed water may cause violations of water quality standards for other hydrologically connected water categories. |