Organoleptic considerations have been used to establish the basis for nonregulatory human health criteria when either:

• There is insufficient information on toxicological effects and the chemical has an objectionable impact on the taste or odor of the water, or
• The pollutant level estimate based on taste and odor effects is lower than the level calculated from the toxicological data.

A criterion derived from organoleptic data does not necessarily represent a value that adversely affects human health. It is presented as an estimate of the level of a pollutant that will not produce unpleasant tastes or odors for persons consuming water or aquatic organisms found in ambient waters.

Return to Supplemental Module: Human Health Ambient Water Quality Criteria