Archived Outdoors

New water quality standards proposed

The Environmental Protection Agency is in the midst of reviewing a set of proposed revisions to water quality standards in North Carolina.

The standards were approved by the N.C. Environmental Management Commission in response to federal requirements that state periodically evaluate surface water standards and integrate recent research. 

Changes to the standards include:

• Changing some standards to regulate dissolved metal concentrations instead of total recoverable concentrations where the dissolved metal number more accurately describes the portion of metal that’s toxic. 

• Considering the effect of water hardness on metal toxicity. 

• Instituting health-protective standards for 2,4-D, a widely used herbicide. 

• Updating aquatic life protective concentrations arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium III, chromium VI, copper, lead, nickel, silver and zinc.

• Clarifying when site-specific standards can be developed after studies are done in accordance with guidance from the EPA. 

Two public hearings were held in July to gather input on the proposed changes, and a report summarizing the issues and comments is available at portal.ncdenr.org/web/ emc/november-13-2014. 

Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.