Microbial (Pathogen)/Recreational Water Quality Criteria
EPA develops criteria to protect people from microbial organisms (sometimes referred to as pathogens) such as bacteria and viruses in water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, beaches). Pathogens can make our waters unsafe for humans. Swimming and other recreational activities in water contaminated with pathogens can make people ill. People can also become exposed by drinking untreated water from contaminated water bodies.
EPA recommends criteria for limiting microbial organisms in water bodies to protect human health. State and tribal governments can use the criteria as guidance when setting their own water quality standards to protect human health.
Recreational Water Quality Criteria
- 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria
- 2004 Bacteria Rule for Coastal and Great Lakes Recreation
- 1986 Recreational Water Quality Criteria
- Scientific Workshops and Research
Draft Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin
EPA has issued draft recreational water quality criteria and/or swimming advisories for the cyanotoxins microcystin and cylindrospermopsin. EPA has identified draft recommended concentrations of the cyanotoxins to protect human health while swimming or participating in other recreational activities in and on the water. Once final, states can consider adopting these criteria into their water quality standards and using them for Clean Water Act purposes. Alternatively, states can use these same values as the basis of swimming advisories for public notification purposes at beaches. The draft criteria and/or swimming advisories are based on peer-reviewed, published science and methods. EPA is also providing information on the latest science on human health effects from exposure to cyanotoxins, discussion of other governmental guidelines for recreational waters, and information on incidents involving exposure of pets and other animals to cyanotoxins. EPA will accept comments on the draft criteria document for 60 days.
- Federal Register Notice: Draft Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin (December 19, 2016)
- Fact Sheet: Draft Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin
- Document: Draft Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria and/or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin
Development of Recreational Water Quality Criteria for Coliphage
2016 Coliphage Experts Workshop
EPA held a Coliphage Experts Workshop in March 2016 as part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to build the scientific basis for developing coliphage-based water quality criteria.. EPA convened a group of twelve internationally recognized experts on the state of the science of coliphage and their usefulness as a viral indicator for the protection of public health in recreational waters. Experts represented a spectrum of perspectives from academia, federal agencies (EPA, CDC, FDA), and the wastewater industry. Agenda discussion topics included: the need for a viral indicator; coliphage as a predictor of gastrointestinal illnesses; how coliphage may be useful as an indicator of wastewater treatment performance; male-specific vs somatic coliphage; a systematic literature review of viral densities; and future research. This fact sheet outlines Workshop topics and overall findings. EPA plans to publish a peer-reviewed meeting proceedings report on the Workshop in early 2017.
Review of Coliphages as Possible Indicators of Fecal Contamination for Ambient Water Quality
This is a literature review of the scientific information that EPA will evaluate to develop coliphage-based ambient water quality criteria for the protection of swimmers. It generally indicates that coliphages are equally good indicators of fecal contamination as EPA’s currently recommended criteria for E. coli and enterococci. In addition, coliphages are better indicators of viruses in treated wastewater than bacteria. While EPA conducts its evaluation of coliphages as possible viral indicators for water quality, we continue to recommend that states adopt our 2012 recreational water quality criteria into their water quality standards.
Drinking Water Regulatory Support Documents for Microbials
Criteria documents and guidance for drinking water contaminants provide information so preliminary decisions can be made as to whether the contaminant is a significant health threat via drinking water exposure and whether sufficient data exists to perform quantitative risk assessments.
Criteria documents and guidance for surface waters on this page provide information to help states adopt water quality standards that protect the health of people who recreate in water.
Water Quality Standards and Implementation
- 2015 RWQC Implementation Materials
- Overview of Technical Support Materials: A Guide to the Site-Specific Alternative Recreational Criteria TSM Documents (EPA-820-R-14-010, December 2014)
- Site-Specific Alternative Recreational Criteria Technical Support Materials For Alternative Indicators and Methods (EPA-820-R-14-011, December 2014)
- Rapid Microbiological Methods for Ambient Waters
Drinking Water Health Documents
Health Advisories serve as informal technical guidance to assist federal, state, and local officials responsible for protecting public health when emergency spills or contamination situations occur. They are not to be construed as legally enforceable federal standards. The Health Advisories are subject to change as new information becomes available.