What are surface water quality standards?
Water quality standards are the basis for protecting and regulating the quality of surface waters in Florida. The standards implement portions of the federal Clean Water Act by specifying the designated and potential uses of waterbodies. They set scientifically established physical, chemical, and biological thresholds (criteria) to protect those uses. The standards also contain policies to protect high quality waters. Taken together these standards ensure that a water body is suitable for both human and aquatic life uses. Floridas surface water quality standards include a classification system that describes how a water body is best used such as for drinking water supply, shellfish harvesting, swimming and recreation, aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife, or agricultural supply. The use classification describes the best attainable function or activity in a water body that is supported by a level of water quality (criteria). Why refine them now? In July, the Department of Environmental
