Tools to interpret and implement

We provide resources and guidance to help you understand how the surface water quality standards apply to your work. We provide a general overview about some of our tools; please contact us for technical assistance about specific uses.

Visit the groundwater quality standards page for more information on how to implement groundwater standards.

The water quality standards provide tools to help users apply the criteria and designated uses to their work. All of these tools can be implemented in various ways and in different water bodies. Please contact us to discuss if any of these tools may be appropriate for your needs.

Short-term modifications

Short-term modifications allow us to modify the established criteria and special conditions on a short-term basis to accommodate essential activities, respond to emergencies, or to otherwise protect the public interest.

Variance

A variance is a change to the water quality standards that is for a limited time and for a specific parameter. A variance may apply to a specific permitted discharger, a group of permitted dischargers, or a body of water.

Use Attainability Analysis

A use attainability analysis (UAA) is a process that considers the physical, chemical, biological, and economic factors that affect meeting a designated use. The UAA process can result in changing a designated use in the water quality standards.

The Chelan Public Utility District is requesting revisions to the water quality standards for the Chelan River. These revisions include:

Aquatic life use designation to reflect highest attainable use in the river
Site-specific temperature and dissolved oxygen criteria that protect the proposed aquatic life use designation

We hope to initiate the public process for this rulemaking with a rule announcement (CR-101) later this year. This decision to announce a CR-101 must first be approved by Ecology's director.

Application materials:

Other Tools

Contact information

Marla Koberstein
Water Quality Standards Project Manager - Rulemaking
swqs@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6413

Chad Brown
Water Quality Standards Unit Supervisor - Triennial review
swqs@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6128

For questions about toxic pollutants (aquatic life, human health), variance:
swqs@ecy.wa.gov

Bryson Finch
Water Quality Standards Specialist - Conventional pollutants (temperature, bacterial indicators)
bryson.finch@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-7158

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