Water Quality Standards are comprehensive guidelines that aim to protect human health, aquatic life, and the overall integrity of water bodies.

The Clean Water Act of 1972 is the primary federal law in the United States that regulates water pollution and establishes Water Quality Standards.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) refers to the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is a critical parameter for aquatic life, as it indicates the amount of oxygen available for respiration.

Assimilative Capacity refers to the ability of a water body to absorb and neutralize pollutants without causing harm to aquatic life.

Color, odor, and taste are all important parameters used to assess the aesthetic quality of water.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive daily without causing harm to aquatic life.

Fecal Coliform Bacteria, E. coli, and Total Coliform Bacteria are all commonly used to assess the presence of harmful bacteria in water.

Water Treatment, Pollution Prevention, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are all methods used to reduce pollutant levels in water and meet Water Quality Standards.

pH, Alkalinity, and Acidity are all commonly used to assess the acidity or alkalinity of water.

Self-Purification refers to the natural ability of a water body to purify itself through physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Sedimentation are all commonly used to assess the amount of suspended solids in water.

Water Quality Standards Setting is the process of establishing Water Quality Standards for specific water bodies.

Heavy Metals, Pesticides, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are all commonly used to assess the presence of toxic chemicals in water.

Water Quality Monitoring, Water Quality Enforcement, and Water Quality Compliance are all part of the process of monitoring and enforcing Water Quality Standards.