Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0400 - Environment and Conservation
Subtitle 0400-40 - Water Resources (WPC)
Chapter 0400-40-03 - General Water Quality Criteria
Section 0400-40-03-.03 - CRITERIA FOR WATER USES
Current through September 24, 2024
(1) The criteria for the use of Domestic Water Supply are the following.
Compound |
Criteria (µg/L) |
Compound |
Criteria (µg/L) |
Antimony |
6 |
Diquat |
20 |
Arsenic |
10 |
Endothall |
100 |
Beryllium |
4 |
Glyphosate |
700 |
Barium |
2000 |
Hexachlorobenzene |
1 |
Cadmium |
5 |
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene |
50 |
Chromium, total |
100 |
Oxamyl (Vydate) |
200 |
Lead |
5 |
Picloram |
500 |
Cyanide (as free cyanide) |
200 |
Simazine |
4 |
Mercury |
2 |
2,3,7,8 TCDD (Dioxin) |
0.00003 |
Nickel |
100 |
Benzene |
5 |
Selenium |
50 |
Carbon tetrachloride |
5 |
Thallium |
2 |
1,2-Dichloroethane |
5 |
Alachlor |
2 |
1,1-Dichloroethylene |
7 |
Atrazine |
3 |
1,1,1-Trichloroethane |
200 |
Carbofuran |
40 |
Trichloroethylene |
5 |
Chlordane |
2 |
Vinyl chloride |
2 |
Dibromo chloropropane |
0.2 |
para-Dichlorobenzene |
75 |
2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid |
70 |
cis 1,2-Dichloroethylene |
70 |
Ethylene dibromide |
0.05 |
1,2-Dichloropropane |
5 |
Heptachlor |
0.4 |
Ethyl benzene |
700 |
Heptachlor epoxide |
0.2 |
Monochlorobenzene |
100 |
Lindane |
0.2 |
ortho-Dichlorobenzene |
600 |
Methoxychlor |
40 |
Styrene |
100 |
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
0.5 |
Tetrachloroethylene |
5 |
2,4,5 Trichloropheno- |
Toluene |
1000 |
|
xyprioponic acid |
50 |
trans 1,2-Dichloroethylene |
100 |
Pentachlorophenol |
1 |
Xylenes, total |
10000 |
Benzo(a)pyrene |
0.2 |
Dichloromethane |
5 |
Chlorobenzene |
100 |
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene |
70 |
Dalapon |
200 |
1,1,2-Trichloroethane |
5 |
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate |
400 |
Endrin |
2.0 |
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate |
6 |
Toxaphene |
3 |
Dinoseb |
7 |
Nitrate |
10000 |
Nitrite |
1000 |
(2) The criteria for the use of Industrial Water Supply are the following.
(3) The criteria for the use of Fish and Aquatic Life are the following.
Substantial and/or frequent variations in dissolved oxygen levels, including diel fluctuations, are undesirable if caused by man-induced conditions. Diel fluctuations in wadeable streams shall not be substantially different than the fluctuations noted in reference streams in that region.
In lakes and reservoirs, the dissolved oxygen concentrations shall be measured at mid-depth in waters having a total depth of 10 feet or less, and at a depth of five feet in waters having a total depth of greater than 10 feet and shall not be less than 5.0 mg/L.
The temperature of impoundments where stratification occurs will be measured at mid-depth in the epilimnion (see definition in Rule 0400-40-03-.04) for warm water fisheries and mid-depth in the hypolimnion (see definition in Rule 0400-40-03-.04) for cold water fisheries. In the case of large impoundments (100 acres or larger) subject to stratification and recognized as trout waters, the temperature of the hypolimnion shall not exceed 20°C.
A successful demonstration as determined by the Department conducted for thermal discharge limitations under Section 316(a) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1326) shall constitute compliance with this paragraph.
Compound |
Criterion Maximum Concentration µg/L (CMC) |
Criterion Continuous Concentration µg/L (CCC) |
Arsenic (III) 1 |
340 |
150 |
Chloride |
860000 |
230000 |
Cadmium 2 |
1.8 |
0.72 |
Chromium, III 2 |
570 |
74 |
Chromium, VI 1 |
16 |
11 |
Copper 2 |
13 |
9.0 |
Lead 2 |
65 |
2.5 |
Mercury 1 (b) |
1.4 |
0.77 |
Nickel 2 |
470 |
52 |
Selenium (lentic) |
20 |
1.5 3 |
Selenium (lotic) |
20 |
3.1 3 |
Silver 2 |
3.2 |
--- |
Zinc 2 |
120 |
120 |
Cyanide 4 |
22 |
5.2 |
Chlorine (TRC) |
19 |
11 |
Pentachlorophenol 5 |
19 |
15 |
Acrolein |
3.0 |
3.0 |
Aldrin |
3.0 |
--- |
g-BHC - Lindane (b) |
0.95 |
--- |
Carbaryl |
2.1 |
2.1 |
Chlordane (b) |
2.4 |
0.0043 |
Chlorpyrifos |
0.083 |
0.041 |
4-4'-DDT (b) |
1.1 |
0.001 |
Demeton |
--- |
0.1 |
Diazinon |
0.17 |
0.17 |
Dieldrin (b) |
0.24 |
0.056 |
a-Endosulfan |
0.22 |
0.056 |
b-Endosulfan |
0.22 |
0.056 |
Endrin |
0.086 |
0.036 |
Guthion |
---- |
0.01 |
Heptachlor |
0.52 |
0.0038 |
Heptachlor epoxide |
0.52 |
0.0038 |
Malathion |
---- |
0.1 |
Methoxyclor |
---- |
0.03 |
Mirex |
---- |
0.001 |
Nonylphenol |
28.0 |
6.6 |
Parathion |
0.065 |
0.013 |
PCBs, total (b) |
--- |
0.014 |
Toxaphene (b) |
0.73 |
0.0002 |
Tributyltin (TBT) |
0.46 |
0.072 |
1 Criteria for these metals are expressed as dissolved.
2 Criteria for these metals are expressed as dissolved and are a function of total hardness (mg/L). Hardness-dependent metals criteria may be calculated from the following (values displayed above correspond to a total hardness of 100 mg/l and may have been rounded):
CMC (dissolved) = exp{mA[ln(hardness)]+bA } (CF)
CCC (dissolved) = exp{mC [ln(hardness)]+bC} (CF)
Chemical |
MA |
bA |
MC |
BC |
Freshwater Conversion Factors (CF) |
|
CMC |
CCC |
|||||
Cadmium |
0.9798 |
-3.866 |
0.7977 |
-3.909 |
1.136672-[(ln hardness)(0.041838)] |
1.101672-[(ln hardness)(0.041838)] |
Chromium III |
0.8190 |
3.7256 |
0.8190 |
0.6848 |
0.316 |
0.860 |
Copper |
0.9422 |
-1.700 |
0.8545 |
-1.702 |
0.960 |
0.960 |
Lead |
1.273 |
-1.460 |
1.273 |
-4.705 |
1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] |
1.46203-[(ln hardness)(0.145712)] |
Nickel |
0.8460 |
2.255 |
0.8460 |
0.0584 |
0.998 |
0.997 |
Silver |
1.72 |
-6.59 |
0.85 |
|||
Zinc |
0.8473 |
0.884 |
0.8473 |
0.884 |
0.978 |
0.986 |
If criteria are hardness-dependent, the Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) and Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) shall be based on the actual stream hardness. When an ambient hardness of less than 25 mg/L is used to establish criteria for cadmium or lead, the hardness dependent conversion factor (CF) shall not exceed one. When ambient hardness is greater than 400 mg/L, criteria shall be calculated according to one of the following two options:
3 The numeric water criteria for selenium are applicable for all purposes, but for water quality assessment, fish tissue values may be used to confirm or refute impacts to aquatic life in accordance with and using the values from EPA's Final Criterion: Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criterion for Selenium - Freshwater (June 30, 2016). However, a lack of fish tissue data or the absence of fish from a waterbody will not prevent it from being assessed as impaired if a numeric water concentration criterion is exceeded. Fish tissue concentration alone may be used to establish use impairment.
4 If Standard Methods 4500-CN I (Weak Acid Dissociable), 4500-CN G (Cyanides Amenable to Chlorination after Distillation), or OIA-1677 are used, this criterion may be applied as free cyanide.
5 Criteria for pentachlorophenol are expressed as a function of pH. Values displayed above correspond to a pH of 7.8 and are calculated as follows:
CMC = exp(1.005(pH) - 4.869) CCC = exp(1.005(pH) - 5.134)
The 30-day average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (in mg N/L) shall not exceed the CCC (chronic criterion) calculated using the following equation:
In addition, the highest four-day average within the 30-day period shall not exceed 2.5 times the CCC.
Interpretation of this provision may be made using the 2001 document Development of Regionally-based Interpretations of Tennessee's Narrative Nutrient Criterion and/or other scientifically defensible methods.
Interpretation of this provision for any stream that (a) has at least 80% of the upstream catchment area contained within a single bioregion and (b) is of the appropriate stream order specified for the bioregion and (c) contains the habitat (riffle or rooted bank) specified for the bioregion, may be made using protocols found in the Department's 2021 Quality System Standard Operating Procedure for Macroinvertebrate Stream Surveys and/or other scientifically defensible methods.
Interpretation of this provision for all other wadeable streams, lakes, and reservoirs may be made using Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Wadeable Streams and Rivers (EPA/841-B-99-002) or Lake and Reservoir Bioassessment and Biocriteria (EPA 841-B-98-007), and/or other scientifically defensible methods. Interpretation of this provision for wetlands or large rivers may be made using scientifically defensible methods. Effects to biological populations will be measured by comparisons to upstream conditions or to appropriately selected reference sites in the same bioregion if upstream conditions are determined to be degraded.
(4) The criteria for the use of Recreation are the following.
Additionally, the concentration of the E. coli group in any individual sample shall not exceed 410 cfu per 100 ml more often than in 10% of samples during any 30-day interval.
Compound |
Water & Organisms Criteria 1 (µg/L) |
Organisms Only Criteria (µg/L) |
INORGANICS |
||
Antimony |
5.6 |
640 |
Arsenic (c) |
10.0 |
10.0 |
Mercury (b) |
0.05 |
0.051 |
Nickel |
610 |
4600 |
Thallium |
0.24 |
0.47 |
Cyanide |
140 |
140 |
Selenium |
170 |
4200 |
Zinc |
7400 |
26000 |
Dioxin 2 (b) |
0.000001 |
0.000001 |
VOLATILES |
||
Acrolein |
6 |
9 |
Acrylonitrile (c) |
0.51 |
2.5 |
Benzene (c) |
22 |
510 |
Bromoform (c) |
43 |
1400 |
Carbon tetrachloride (c) |
2.3 |
16 |
Chlorobenzene |
130 |
1600 |
Chlorodibromomethane (c) |
4.0 |
130 |
Chloroform (c) |
57 |
4700 |
Dichlorobromomethane (c) |
5.5 |
170 |
1,2-Dichloroethane (c) |
3.8 |
370 |
1,1-Dichloroethylene |
330 |
7100 |
1,2-Dichloropropane (c) |
5.0 |
150 |
1,3-Dichloropropene (c) |
3.4 |
210 |
Ethylbenzene |
530 |
2100 |
Methyl bromide |
47 |
1500 |
Methylene chloride (c) |
46 |
5900 |
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (c) |
1.7 |
40 |
Tetrachloroethylene (c) |
6.9 |
33 |
Toluene |
1300 |
15000 |
1,2-Trans-Dichloroethylene |
140 |
10000 |
1,1,2-Trichloroethane (c) |
5.9 |
160 |
Trichloroethylene (c) |
25 |
300 |
Vinyl chloride (c) |
0.25 |
24 |
ACID EXTRACTABLES |
||
2-Chlorophenol |
81 |
150 |
2,4-Dichlorophenol |
77 |
290 |
2,4-Dimethylphenol |
380 |
850 |
2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol |
13 |
280 |
Dinitrophenols |
69 |
5300 |
Pentachlorophenol (c) (pH) |
2.7 |
30 |
Phenol |
10000 |
860000 |
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (c) |
14 |
24 |
BASE NEUTRALS |
||
Acenaphthene |
670 |
990 |
Anthracene |
8300 |
40000 |
Benzidine (c) |
0.00086 |
0.0020 |
Benzo(a)anthracene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Benzo(a)pyrene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Benzo(b)fluoranthene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Benzo(k)fluoranthene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Bis(2-Chlorethyl)ether (c) |
0.30 |
5.3 |
Bis(2-Chloro-isopropyl)ether |
1400 |
65000 |
Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (c) |
12 |
22 |
Bis(Chloromethyl)ether (c) |
0.0010 |
0.0029 |
Butylbenzyl Phthalate (c) |
1500 |
1900 |
2-Chloronaphthalene |
1000 |
1600 |
Chrysene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Dibenz(a,h)Anthracene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
1,2-Dichlorobenzene |
420 |
1300 |
1,3-Dichlorobenzene |
320 |
960 |
1,4-Dichlorobenzene |
63 |
190 |
3,3-Dichlorobenzidine (c) |
0.21 |
0.28 |
Diethyl phthalate |
17000 |
44000 |
Dimethyl phthalate |
270000 |
1100000 |
Di-n-butyl phthalate |
2000 |
4500 |
2,4-Dinitrotoluene (c) |
1.1 |
34 |
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine (c) |
0.36 |
2.0 |
Fluoranthene |
130 |
140 |
Fluorene |
1100 |
5300 |
Hexachlorobenzene (b)(c) |
0.0028 |
0.0029 |
Hexachlorobutadiene (b)(c) |
4.4 |
180 |
Hexachlorocyclohexane- |
0.123 |
0.414 |
Technical (b)(c) |
||
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene |
40 |
1100 |
Hexachloroethane (c) |
14 |
33 |
Ideno(1,2,3-cd)Pyrene (c) |
0.038 |
0.18 |
Isophorone (c) |
350 |
9600 |
Nitrobenzene |
17 |
690 |
Nitrosamines |
0.0008 |
1.24 |
Nitrosodibutylamine (c) |
0.063 |
2.2 |
Nitrosodiethylamine (c) |
0.008 |
12.4 |
Nitrosopyrrolidine (c) |
0.16 |
340 |
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (c) |
0.0069 |
30 |
N-Nitrosodi-n-Propylamine (c) |
0.05 |
5.1 |
N-Nitrosodiphenylamine (c) |
33 |
60 |
Pyrene |
830 |
4000 |
Pentachlorobenzene (b) |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene (b) |
0.97 |
1.1 |
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene |
35 |
70 |
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol |
1800 |
3600 |
PESTICIDES |
||
Aldrin (c) |
0.00049 |
0.00050 |
a-BHC (c) |
0.026 |
0.049 |
b-BHC (c) |
0.091 |
0.17 |
g-BHC - Lindane (b) |
0.98 |
1.8 |
Chlordane (b)(c) |
0.0080 |
0.0081 |
4-4'-DDT (b)(c) |
0.0022 |
0.0022 |
4,4'-DDE (b)(c) |
0.0022 |
0.0022 |
4,4'-DDD (b)(c) |
0.0031 |
0.0031 |
Dieldrin (b)(c) |
0.00052 |
0.00054 |
a-Endosulfan |
62 |
89 |
b-Endosulfan |
62 |
89 |
Endosulfan Sulfate |
62 |
89 |
Endrin |
0.059 |
0.06 |
Endrin Aldehyde |
0.29 |
0.30 |
Heptachlor (c) |
0.00079 |
0.00079 |
Heptachlor epoxide (c) |
0.00039 |
0.00039 |
PCB, total (b)(c) |
0.00064 |
0.00064 |
Toxaphene (b)(c) |
0.0028 |
0.0028 |
1 These criteria are for protection of public health due to consumption of water and organisms and should only be applied to these waters designated for both recreation and domestic water supply.
2 Total dioxin is the sum of the concentrations of all dioxin and dibenzofuran isomers after multiplication by Toxic Equivalent Factors (TEFs). Following are the TEFs currently recommended by EPA (subject to revision):
DIOXIN ISOMERS |
TEF |
FURAN ISOMERS |
TEF |
Mono-, Di-, & TriCDDs |
0.0 |
Mono-, Di-, & TriCDFs |
0.0 |
2,3,7,8 TCDD |
1.0 |
2,3,7,8 TCDF |
0.1 |
Other TCDDs |
0.0 |
Other TCDFs |
0.0 |
1,2,3,7,8 PeCDD |
1.0 |
1,2,3,7,8 PeCDF |
0.03 |
Other PeCDDs |
0.0 |
2,3,4,7,8 PeCDF |
0.3 |
Other PeCDFs |
0.0 |
||
1,2,3,4,7,8 HxCDD |
0.1 |
1,2,3,4,7,8 HxCDF |
0.1 |
1,2,3,6,7,8 HxCDD |
0.1 |
1,2,3,6,7,8 HxCDF |
0.1 |
1,2,3,7,8,9 HxCDD |
0.1 |
1,2,3,7,8,9 HxCDF |
0.1 |
Other HxCDDs |
0.0 |
2,3,4,6,7,8 HxCDF |
0.1 |
Other HxCDFs |
0.0 |
||
1,2,3,4,6,7,8 HpCDD |
0.01 |
1,2,3,4,6,7,8 HpCDF |
0.01 |
1,2,3,4,7,8,9 HpCDF |
0.01 |
||
Other HpCDDs |
0.0 |
Other HpCDFs |
0.0 |
OCDD |
0.0003 |
OCDF |
0.0003 |
R = qE where:
R= Plausible-upper-limit risk of cancer associated with a chemical in a fisheries species for a human subpopulation.
q = Carcinogenic Potency Factor for the chemical (mg kg-1 day-1)-1 estimated as the upper 95% confidence limit of the slope of a linear dose-response curve. Scientifically defensible Potency Factors will be used.
E = Exposure dose of the chemical (mg kg-1 day-1) from the fish species for the human subpopulation in the area. E is calculated by the following formula:
C = Concentration of the chemical (mg/kg) in the edible portion of the species in the area. The average levels from multiple fillet samples of the same species will be used. Catfish will be analyzed skin-off with the belly flap included in the sample. Gamefish and carp will be analyzed skin-on with the belly flap included in the sample. Sizes of fish collected for analysis will represent the ranges of sizes likely to be collected and consumed by the public. References on this subject include, but are not limited to: EPA's Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for use in Fish Advisories.
I = Mean daily consumption rate (g/day averaged over 70-year lifetime) of the fish species by the human subpopulation in the area.
X = Relative absorption coefficient, or the ratio of human absorption efficiency to test animal absorption efficiency of the chemical.
W = Average human mass (kg).
For substances for which the public health concern is based on toxicity, a "do not consume" advisory will be considered warranted when average levels of the substance in the edible portion of fish exceed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Action Levels or EPA national criteria. Based on the rationale used by FDA or EPA for their levels, the Commissioner may issue precautionary advisories at levels appropriate to protect sensitive populations.
(5) The criteria for the use of Irrigation are the following.
(6) The criteria for the use of Livestock Watering and Wildlife are the following.
(7) The criteria for the use of Navigation are the following.
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-201, et seq., and 69-3-101, et seq.