Maryland's Surface Water Quality Standards
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Announcing the Public Review Period for Maryland's Proposed Water Quality Standards Regulations
The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that States review their water quality standards every three years (Triennial Review) and revise the standards as necessary. Consistent with this requirement, MDE will be publishing a notice of proposed action in the March 11, 2022 issue of the Maryland Register. This date (March 11th) will mark the beginning of the 30-day public comment period set to end on April 11, 2022.
MDE held a virtual public hearing on March 30, 2022 at 5pm to present on the proposed changes. Stakeholders are invited to comment both on the proposed changes to water quality standards and on other water quality standards of interest.
The proposed regulatory changes and all supporting materials can be accessed
here. After considering and addressing all comments received on this Triennial Review, the final set of regulations will be submitted to the Division of State Documents for promulgation.
Comments can be submitted during the public comment period to Matthew Stover at matthew.stover@maryland.gov or to the following address:
Mr. Matthew Stover
Maryland Department of the Environment
1800 Washington Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21230
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The purpose of water quality standards is to protect, maintain and improve the quality of Maryland surface waters. The following make up the three components of water quality standards:
- Designated Uses,
- Water quality criteria, and
- Antidegradation policy.
A designated use is a goal for water quality. Typically, the goal is the description of an appropriate intended use by humans and/or aquatic life for a water body. Designated uses for a particular waterbody may include recreation, shellfishing, water supply and/or aquatic life habitat. The designated uses established may or may not be met currently, but must be attainable. In Maryland these designated uses are grouped into "Use Classes" (e.g. Use Class I, I-P, II, III, IV-P) so as to describe a unique combination of designated uses that apply to a single water body. Each stream segment, lake, bay, etc. in Maryland is assigned to a use class.
For more detailed information about Maryland’s designated uses and use class groupings, please click HERE. To go directly to maps of surface waters and their associated use classes, please click HERE.
- Numeric criteria set the minimum water quality to meet the designated uses.
- Maryland has numerous numeric criteria for protection of aquatic life and human health (e.g., 5 milligrams/liter for dissolved oxygen; 82 micrograms/liter for Pb (acute, freshwater)
- Criteria are published for toxics, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, bacteria, and temperature.
- Where specific numeric criteria are not available (e.g., oil, grease, odor, nuisance), narrative criteria apply.
- The Numerical Criteria for Toxic Substances in Surface Waters are provided in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Section 26.08.02.03-2. They can be accessed through the web at: http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/26/26.08.02.03-2.htm.
- Water Quality Criteria Specific to Designated Uses, are provided in COMAR Section 26.08.02.03-3. They can be accessed through the web at: http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/26/26.08.02.03-3.htm.
Changes to the Water Quality Standards are implemented through regulatory changes which are subject to the normal promulgation process. Every three years, the Clean Water Act requires that States review their water quality standards in what is called the Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards (TR). The TR includes a robust public participation process prior to adoption of new or revised regulations. This process generally includes an Advanced Notice of Public Rule-Making (ANPRM) and solicitation of comments followed later by a more formal public comment period during which a hearing takes place (the formal comment period and hearing are required). Comments are incorporated and/or responded to in what becomes a public document as part of the TR package that EPA reviews. To see materials from Maryland's past Triennial Review actions please click here.
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Contact Information
For more information, please contact Matthew Stover at matthew.stover@maryland.gov or at (410) 537-3958.
Last Updated 03/2022
