2019 Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards
Draft regulatory changes associated with the 2019 Triennial Review are available for review in advance of the notice of proposed action. These draft changes and accompanying material can be found here.
When the draft regulatory changes are finalized, the Department will issue a notice of proposed action and schedule the public comment period and hearing. |
What are water quality standards?
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.
What are Designated Uses?
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.
Water Quality Criteria
- 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.
Antidegradation
Current Water Quality Standards
For the full text of Maryland Water Quality Standards please visit COMAR 26.08.01 and COMAR 26.08.02.
How are changes to water quality standards made?
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.
Current Work
Cold Water Advisory Committee
Contact Information
For more information, please contact Timothy Fox at tim.fox@maryland.gov or at (410) 537-3958.
Last Updated 08/2021