About the Handbook

The Water Quality Standards Handbook is a compilation of the EPA's water quality standards (WQS) program guidance including recommendations for states, authorized tribes, and territories in reviewing, revising, and implementing WQS. The guidance in this handbook supports the EPA’s WQS regulations at 40 CFR Part 131.

The Water Quality Standards Handbook was first issued in 1983 and provided a compilation of the EPA's WQS guidance to-date.

In 1994, The Water Quality Standards Handbook: Second Edition was issued and retained all of the guidance in the 1983 handbook unless such guidance was specifically revised in subsequent years. The 1994 handbook also contained new EPA guidance that was developed between 1983 and 1994.

In 2007 and 2012, the EPA updated the online version of the handbook to incorporate minor enhancements including links to additional information and resources that the EPA developed subsequent to 1994. However, the text of the chapters did not change from the 1994 handbook.

In 2014, the EPA updated the online version of the handbook to reflect current EPA guidance and streamlined the text to make the document more user friendly.

For any questions related to the guidance in this Handbook, please contact us. Copies of any referenced document can be obtained by clicking on the hyperlink or visiting the Reference Library of Water Quality Standards Policy and Guidance Documents page.

Use the Handbook

• [See Chapter 1: General Provisions (PDF)] (updated 9/2014)
• [See Chapter 2: Designation of Uses (PDF)] (updated 8/1994)
• [See Chapter 3: Water Quality Criteria (PDF)] (updated 8/1994)
• [See Chapter 4: Antidegradation (PDF)] (updated 8/1994)
• [See Chapter 5: General Policies (PDF)] (updated 9/2014)
• [See Chapter 6: Provision for Review and Revision of Water Quality Standards (PDF)] (updated 8/2014)
• [See Chapter 7: Water Quality Standards and the Water Quality-based Approach to Pollution Control (PDF)] (updated 1/2015)
• Chapter 8: Requirements for Indian Tribes (Under Development) - EPA is developing this chapter to comprehensively address circumstances and requirements for tribes. See the link below for current policy and guidance regarding tribal WQS.
  • Water Quality Standards – Requirements for Indian Tribes

Handbook Appendices & Other Information

• [See Cover Page, Table of Contents, and Glossary (PDF)]
• [See References (PDF)]
• Appendices
  • [See Appendix A: Water Quality Standards Regulation (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix B: Chronological Summary of Federal Water Quality Standards Promulgation Acts (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix C: Biological Criteria: National Program Guidance for Surface Waters (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix D: National Guidance: Water Quality Standards for Wetlands (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix E: An Approach for Evaluating Numeric Water Quality Criteria for Wetlands Protection (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix F: Coordination between the EPA, Fish & Wildlife Services and National Marine Fisheries Service (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix G: Questions and Answers on Antidegradation (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix H: Derivation of the 1985 Aquatic Life Criteria (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix I: List of EPA Water Quality Criteria Documents (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix J: Attachments of Office to Water Policy and Technical Guidance on Interpretation and Implementation of Aquatic Life Metals Criteria (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix K: Procedures for the Initiation of Narrative Biological Criteria (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix L: Interim Guidance on Determination and use of Water-Effect Ratios for Metals (PDF)]
  • Appendix M: Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards
  • [See Appendix N: Integrated Risk Information System Background Paper (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix O: Reserved (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix P: List of 126 CWA Section 307(a) Priority Toxic Pollutants (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix Q: Wetlands and 401 Certification (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix R: Policy on the use of Biological Assessments and Criteria in the Water Quality Program (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix S: Reserved (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix T: Use Attainability Analysis (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix U: List of EPA Regional Water Quality Standards Coordinators (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix V: Water Quality Standards Program Document Request Forms (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix W: Update Request Form for WQS Handbook: 2nd Edition (PDF)]
  • [See Appendix X: Summary of Updates to 1994 Handbook (PDF)]