ALABAMA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Home | Contacts| Air Quality Forecast| Monitoring | Certification| Publications| FAQ's| Flight Info|
 Search| Organization| Contents| Feedback| Related Links| Maps| Forms| Records Request | eDMR

Water Division

Water Division Drinking Water Groundwater Industrial Municipal
Operator Cert SRF Water Quality

Water Quality

General Information

ADEM administers a number of programs related to the State’s surface water quality. These programs include:

  • Water Quality Standards – include both the designated uses of surface waters and the criteria intended to protect those uses. Designated uses are listed in ADEM regulations at 335-6-11 and the criteria are found in 335-6-10.
     

  • Water Quality Report to Congress (305(b) Report) – biennial report submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency as part of the national water quality assessment required by the Clean Water Act. This report provides a summary of activities related to surface water quality and an assessment of surface water quality conditions in Alabama.

305(b) Reports
2006 2000
2004 1998
2002  

  • List of Impaired Waters (303(d) List) – list of waterbodies in Alabama that do not fully support their designated uses based on a review of water quality data and information. The list is submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency for approval after an opportunity for public comment. The list includes the causes and sources of water quality impairment for each waterbody listed and a schedule for development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for each pollutant causing impairment.

  • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development – for waterbodies included on the 303(d) list the State must determine the amount of each pollutant causing water quality impairment that can be allowed such that the water quality standards for the waterbody are maintained. The TMDLs are developed according to a specified schedule and must be approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency after an opportunity for public comment.

  • Waste Load Allocation Development – waste load allocations are developed for proposed and existing dischargers to surface waters in support of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that are protective of water quality standards.

  • Water Quality Planning – Section 303(e) of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that each State establish and maintain a continuing planning process (CPP) consistent with the CWA and pertaining to all navigable waters of the State. The State is responsible for managing its water quality program to implement the processes specified in the CPP. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for periodically reviewing the adequacy of the State’s CPP. Alabama’s CPP is an umbrella document that provides the framework to coordinate and unify the activities and procedures necessary for maintaining waters of an acceptable quality throughout the State, in a manner consistent with the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act and the federal Clean Water Act.

  • 401 Certifications

Top of Page

Water Quality Modeling Information

Contact Information

ADEM
Attn: Water Quality Branch
Post Office Box 301463
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463

Telephone Number : (334) 270-5604
Fax Number: (334) 279-3051

You are visitor No. Hit Counter
Since April 8, 2002
Send mail to webmaster@adem.state.al.us with questions or comments about this web site.
For Environmental Questions, please go to the Contacts page.

Home | Contacts | About ADEM