What are Water Quality Standards?

Water quality regulations safeguard the river for recreational, industrial, and community use.

Water quality standards are set by states, territories, tribes, and the federal government. Water quality standards identify uses for water bodies and lay out the scientific criteria to support those uses. Uses include drinking water supply, contact recreation (swimming), and aquatic life support (fishing). TMDLs (Total maximum daily load calculations) are an important way of maintaining water quality according to the standards. The Clean Water Act, section 303, establishes the water quality standards and the TMDL programs.

What Are the Water Quality Standards for the Red River?

North Dakota and Minnesota each apply the standards of their individual states to the Red River. Both states view the Red River as an important resource since the river provides drinking water, wildlife habitat, water for industry and agriculture, and recreation opportunities.

The Red River is a Class I stream under the North Dakota Water Quality Standards (Appendix I, North Dakota Water Quality Standards). Class I streams "are suitable for the propagation and/or protection of resident fish species and other aquatic biota and for swimming, boating, and other water recreation. The quality of the water shall be for irrigation, stock watering, and wildlife without injurious effects. After treatment …the water shall meet the bacteriological, physical, and chemical requirements …

Boating is one of several recreational opportunities on the Red.

for municipal or domestic use (p. 8, North Dakota Water Quality Standards)." Class I waters like the Red River are granted a very high level (Category 1) of protection against degradation.

The Red River falls under multiple classes under the Minnesota Water Quality Standards with the most stringent standards overriding the standards in other water classes. The Red River falls under Class 1 (domestic consumption), Class 2 (aquatic life and recreation), Class 3 (industrial consumption), and Class 4 (agriculture and wildlife).