The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has begun its review of standards for protecting Arkansas’ waters. The federal government requires that each state review its Standards every three years to study how water is used and to consider whether limits on pollutants should be tightened.

Water Quality Standards Limit Pollution

Water Quality Standards are essentially numerical limits on pollutants which affect how we use water. The Standards include limitations on minerals, bacteria, clarity, temperature, oiliness, acidity or alkalinity, oxygen, nutrients and toxic substances.

The Standards Protect Waterways

The federal Clean Water Act requires each state to develop Standards to protect lakes and rivers, streams, creeks and even large ditches. The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission adopts Standards for Arkansas. ADEQ uses these Standards to help make sure state waterways can be used as a source of drinking water or for swimming, fishing, industrial and agricultural use. The Standards restrict what individuals, businesses or farms may discharge into waterways.

Arkansans Are Invited to Participate

ADEQ held meetings during Fall 2001 to gather the public’s specific comments on the needs and priorities of Arkansans for the state’s waterways. The Department is in the process of analyzing water quality data to determine if the current Regulation 2 - Regulation Establishing Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Arkansas, is adequate to protect the uses of the waters of the State.

The ADEQ Water Division may then determine if current Standards are adequate or propose new Standards. Next, the Water Division of the ADEQ will concentrate on producing a working draft of revisions for discussions with special interest stakeholders.

After resolving the concerns of special interest groups, the ADEQ Water Division will then focus on producing a final draft of the Water Quality Standards for formal public review; thus initiating a 45-day final comment period.

Following review and response of comments, the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission will take final action on Regulation 2 and submit the final Water Quality Standards to EPA. EPA approval requires a period of 60 to 90 days before finalization.

Brochures and References Provide More Information

Use brochures to learn more about the Standards and how to get involved:

Use references to learn detailed information about the Standards and the quality of specific waterways:

Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Regulation No. 2 contains Standards.
2002 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report contains information about the quality of the state’s waters.

For More Information

For more information about Arkansas' review of Water Quality Standards, or to send written suggestions about Arkansas Water Quality Standards, please contact:

ADEQ Technical Assistance Manager
5301 Northshore Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317
(501) 682-0660
ADEQ Public Outreach and Assistance Division
5301 Northshore D5301 Northshore Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317501) 682-0923
E-mail Customer Service