To ensure safe drinking water for human consumption

To protect aquatic life and ecosystems

To prevent water pollution and contamination

To regulate industrial wastewater discharge

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Numeric criteria, narrative criteria, and biological criteria

Physical criteria, chemical criteria, and biological criteria

Acute criteria, chronic criteria, and secondary criteria

Primary criteria, secondary criteria, and tertiary criteria

Numeric criteria are quantitative limits, while narrative criteria are qualitative descriptions.

Numeric criteria are based on scientific data, while narrative criteria are based on subjective judgments.

Numeric criteria are enforceable by law, while narrative criteria are not.

Numeric criteria apply to specific pollutants, while narrative criteria apply to general water quality conditions.

Measurements of the abundance and diversity of aquatic organisms

Chemical analyses of water samples to determine pollutant concentrations

Physical measurements of water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen

Microbial analyses to assess the presence of pathogens

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

Water Quality Index (WQI)

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

To ensure sufficient oxygen levels for aquatic respiration

To prevent the formation of harmful algal blooms

To control the growth of aquatic plants and vegetation

To minimize the risk of fish kills and other aquatic life impairments

Acute toxicity criterion

Chronic toxicity criterion

Secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL)

Water quality index (WQI)

It affects the solubility and toxicity of various pollutants.

It influences the growth and survival of aquatic organisms.

It determines the buffering capacity of water against acidification or alkalization.

All of the above

Turbidity

Color

Odor

Taste

To protect human health from waterborne contaminants

To prevent ecological damage to aquatic ecosystems

To ensure compliance with regulatory standards and permits

All of the above

Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR)

Electrical Conductivity (EC)

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

pH

Water quality criteria provide the scientific basis for developing water quality standards.

Water quality standards are legally enforceable regulations based on water quality criteria.

Water quality criteria are more stringent than water quality standards.

Water quality standards are more stringent than water quality criteria.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)

Reference Dose (RfD)

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)

To assess compliance with water quality standards

To identify and track changes in water quality over time

To evaluate the effectiveness of water pollution control measures

All of the above