Water Quality Assessment

Every other year, DWQ compiles all readily available data and conducts analyses to determine whether water quality is sufficient to meet the beneficial uses assigned to Utah’s waters.

Beneficial use assessments are made both directly and indirectly. Indirect assessments are made by comparing values obtained from water samples against water quality standards that set pollutant concentrations that must be maintained to meet beneficial uses. In contrast, biological uses are directly assessed with tools that quantify the biological health of the lake, reservoir, river, or stream. These biological assessments are typically made by comparing biota observed at a site with samples obtained from similar, relatively undisturbed waters (reference sites).

To meet our obligations under the Clean Water Act, DWQ compiles all existing and readily available data, conducts beneficial use assessments, and summarizes the results biennially in the Integrated Report (IR). The IR consists of three parts, Part 1 describes the methods, Part 2 is a summary of the overall condition and significant water quality threats to the beneficial uses of Utah’s waters (305(b) Report), and Part 3, the list of impaired waters that fail to meet water quality standards or are biologically impaired (303(d) List). This report is important because it allows DWQ to prioritize where limited resources can be most efficiently and effectively applied to address water quality problems. For instance, remediation plans (typically TMDLs) are developed for impaired waters, which are subsequently implemented with the assistance of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) or the nonpoint source program.

Get Involved!

Public Review of the Final Integrated Report

The Clean Water Act requires a formal 30-day comment period for the IR before it can be submitted to the EPA for approval. DWQ reviews all public comments and develops and develops written responses to each comment that we receive.

Public comments are important. These are used by DWQ to identify potential shortcomings in our current monitoring and assessment approaches. Also, while we try to assess as many waters as possible, our stakeholders frequently highlight previously unknown water quality concerns. In short, we listen!

If you are interested in commenting on future IRs, please contact us and we will make sure that you are added to our mailing list. Alternatively, you can sign up for the Water Quality list serve to receive e-mail updates of all major water quality actions in Utah.

EPA Review

DWQ maintains delegated authority to uphold sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act for Utah’s waters, whereas EPA maintains oversight to ensure that these programs are implemented in accordance with federal rules and regulations. Once the IR is complete, DWQ submits the report, along with public comments and our response to these comments, to EPA for approval of the 303(d) list of impaired waters. EPA subsequently reviews the report to ensure that assessments were based on all existing and readily available data and that each assessment is legally and scientifically justified. In most cases, DWQ is able to work with EPA to address their comments by modifying the report. If a consensus cannot be reached, EPA maintains the ability to approve, deny, or partially approve the 303(d) list by reclassifying any site as impaired (not meeting designated uses).

Data

DWQ collects and analyzes thousands of samples yearly, yet it is impossible for us to be everywhere all of the time. As a result, we also rely on Utah’s citizens to submit data or inform us of water quality concerns. The deadline for data submittal for the next IR is May 1 of odd years. For instance, the deadline for data submittal for the 2012 IR is May 1, 2011. Data requirements are discussed in Part 1, Assessment Methods of the most recent IR. The Integrated Report is posted for public comment and we encourage comments on how we can more effectively conduct assessments in current and future efforts.

Questions?

Please contact us anytime.

Mark Stanger, GIS Analyst
801-536-4375

Ben Holcomb, Biological Assessment Program Coordinator
801-536-4373

Jeff Ostermiller, Section Manager, Water Quality Management
801-536-4370 (office)
801-258-1611 (mobile)

You can also sign up for the DWQ listserve to receive e-mails of all major water quality actions.

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