25 Pa. Code § 96.3 - Water quality protection requirements
(a) Existing and designated surface water
uses shall be protected.
(b)
Antidegradation requirements in §§
93.4a-93.4d and 105.1, 105.15, 105.17,
105.18a, 105.20a and 105.451 shall apply to surface waters .
(c) To protect existing and designated
surface water uses, the water quality criteria described in Chapter 93
(relating to water quality standards ), including the criteria in §§
93.7 and
93.8a(b)
(relating to specific water quality criteria; and toxic substances) shall be
achieved in all surface waters at least 99% of the time, unless otherwise
specified in this title. The general water quality criteria in §
93.6 (relating to general water
quality criteria) shall be achieved in surface waters at all times at design
conditions.
(d) As an exception to
subsection (c), the water quality criteria for total dissolved solids,
nitrite-nitrate nitrogen, phenolics, chloride, sulfate and fluoride established
for the protection of potable water supply shall be met at least 99% of the
time at the point of all existing or planned surface potable water supply
withdrawals unless otherwise specified in this title.
(e) When a water quality criterion described
in Chapter 93, including the criteria in §§
93.7 and
93.8a(b), cannot
be attained at least 99% of the time due to natural quality , as determined by
the Department under §
93.7(d) based on
water quality observations in that waterbody or at one or more reference
stations of similar physical characteristics to the surface water, the natural
quality that is achieved at least 99% of the time shall be the applicable water
quality criterion for protection of fish and aquatic life.
(f) When the minimum flow of a stream segment
is determined or estimated to be zero, applicable water quality criteria shall
be achieved at least 99% of the time at the first downstream point where the
stream is capable of supporting existing or designated uses.
(g) Functions and values of wetlands shall be
protected pursuant to Chapters 93 and 105 (relating to water quality standards ;
and dam safety and waterway management).
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