1. Setting Standards: The Science of Water Quality Criteria EA Engineering, Science, and Technology ® Presented by: James B. Whitaker Review of Annex 1 of the GLWQA IJC Great Lakes Science Advisory Board 21 March 2001

2. ®Introduction Setting standards Standards are a necessity Standards are a necessity The ideal vs. the reality The ideal vs. the reality

3. ®Introduction Confusion introduced by terminology Water Quality Standards Water Quality Standards Water Quality Criteria Water Quality Criteria Specific Objectives Specific Objectives Guidelines Guidelines Action Levels Action Levels

4. ®Introduction Do all of these terms mean the same thing? Do all of these terms mean the same thing? Are the numerical values comparable? Are the numerical values comparable? Can a single value be used for each chemical? Can a single value be used for each chemical? What is the best approach based on current science? What is the best approach based on current science?

5. ® Water Quality Standards Consist of two parts Designated Use Designated Use Water Quality Criteria to protect that use Water Quality Criteria to protect that use

6. ® Water Quality Standards Designated Uses Aquatic life Aquatic life  Warm water/cold water  Survival/propagation Human Health Human Health  Drinking/non-drinking Wildlife Wildlife

7. ® Water Quality Standards Designated Uses (continued) Recreation Recreation Agricultural Agricultural Industrial Industrial Existing vs. attainable uses Use attainability analysis

8. ® Water Quality Criteria Narrative: “No toxics in toxic amounts” Narrative: “No toxics in toxic amounts” Numeric: Chemical concentrations to protect designated uses Numeric: Chemical concentrations to protect designated uses

9. ® Water Quality Criteria Ohio WQC for Total Chromium (ug/l) Aquatic life (acute) 1,800 Aquatic life (acute) 1,800 Aquatic life (chronic) 86 Aquatic life (chronic) 86 Human Health (drinking) 140 Human Health (drinking) 140 Human Health (non-drinking) 14,000 Human Health (non-drinking) 14,000 Agricultural 100 Agricultural 100 Annex 1 Specific Objective 50

10. ® Water Quality Criteria Three Components Magnitude (How much?) Magnitude (How much?) Duration (How long?) Duration (How long?) Frequency (How often?) Frequency (How often?)

11. ® Aquatic Life Criteria US EPA Guidelines US EPA Guidelines Virtually unchanged since 1985 Virtually unchanged since 1985 Stringent data requirements (e.g., 8 families) Stringent data requirements (e.g., 8 families) Basis for GLWQG, most states Basis for GLWQG, most states

12. ® Aquatic Life Criteria Magnitude Protect 95th percentile most sensitive species Protect 95th percentile most sensitive species Acute and chronic criteria Acute and chronic criteria May be expressed as function of water hardness, pH May be expressed as function of water hardness, pH

13. ® Aquatic Life Criteria Key Drivers of Magnitude Acute toxicity of four most sensitive species Acute toxicity of four most sensitive species Number of species Number of species Acute-chronic ratio Acute-chronic ratio

14. ® Aquatic Life Criteria Duration Acute: 1-hour average Acute: 1-hour average Chronic: 4-day average Chronic: 4-day average How do these compare to actual exposures in toxicity tests? How do these compare to actual exposures in toxicity tests? Are these appropriate for all chemicals? Are these appropriate for all chemicals?

15. ® Aquatic Life Criteria Frequency Once every three years Once every three years Basis? Basis? Is it dependent on magnitude of exceedance? Is it dependent on magnitude of exceedance? Is this appropriate for all chemicals? Is this appropriate for all chemicals?

16. ® Aquatic Life Criteria Site-Specific Criteria Recalculation Recalculation Water Effect Ratio Water Effect Ratio Resident species Resident species

17. ® Human Health Criteria US EPA Guidelines US EPA Guidelines Updated in 2000 Updated in 2000 Similar to GLWQC Similar to GLWQC Carcinogens and non-carcinogens Carcinogens and non-carcinogens

18. ® Human Health Criteria Key Drivers of Magnitude Fish consumption rate Fish consumption rate BAF vs. BCF BAF vs. BCF Cancer risk level Cancer risk level Uncertainty factors Uncertainty factors Relative source contribution Relative source contribution

19. ® Human Health Criteria Duration Lifetime (70 years) Lifetime (70 years)Frequency Not expressed Not expressed

20. ® Wildlife Criteria Introduced in GLWQG Introduced in GLWQG Protect birds and mammals that consume fish Protect birds and mammals that consume fish Similar to human health procedures Similar to human health procedures Limited data, few criteria Limited data, few criteria

21. ® Emerging Criteria Aquatic life criteria for metals Aquatic life criteria for metals  Dissolved  Biotic Ligand Model Tier 2 “values” Tier 2 “values” Nutrient criteria Nutrient criteria Tissue-based criteria Tissue-based criteria Sediment criteria/guidelines Sediment criteria/guidelines Biocriteria Biocriteria

22. ® Key Considerations for Deriving Criteria What are you trying to protect? What are you trying to protect?  Appropriate and attainable uses  Individuals or populations? What is actual exposure? What is actual exposure? What is “acceptable” level of risk? What is “acceptable” level of risk? Where do criteria apply? Where do criteria apply?

23. ® Key Considerations for Deriving Criteria National, regional, watershed, or site- specific? National, regional, watershed, or site- specific? What chemicals do you set criteria for? What chemicals do you set criteria for? What do you do when minimum data requirements are not met? What do you do when minimum data requirements are not met? How do you assess compliance? How do you assess compliance? Many of these are policy, rather than scientific issues.

24. ® Characteristics of “Quality” Criteria Robust Robust  Based on extensive data base across range of species to minimize effects of statistical analyses and uncertainty factors Localized Localized  Appropriate for ecosystem and designated use Flexible Flexible  Adjustable using reasonable site-specific procedures