Water Quality Standards

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality uses water quality standards to assess whether the quality of Oregon's rivers and lakes is adequate for fish and other aquatic life, recreation, drinking, agriculture, industry and other uses. DEQ also uses the standards as regulatory tools to prevent pollution of the state's waters. The Clean Water Act requires states to adopt water quality standards designating beneficial uses of the state's waters and setting criteria designed to protect those uses. States submit their standards to the federal Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

Learn more about Water Quality Standards
Find the Water Quality Standards at Oregon Administrative Rules 340, Division 41

Water Quality Standards

Other Water Quality Standards Policies

Active Rulemakings and Triennial Review

Current news

DEQ is conducting a triennial review of Oregon water quality standards and developing a water quality standards workplan for 2025-2027. Public comment on the draft project priority list will be open Oct. 14 to Dec. 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. DEQ will hold an informational webinar on Oct. 22 at 4 p.m. and a public hearing on Nov. 14, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Oregon Environmental Quality Commission adopted amended toxics criteria for protection of fish and aquatic life on Sept. 27, 2024. The revised criteria will not be applicable for Clean Water Act purposes until approved by the EPA.
The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission adopted amended Aquatic Life Use Designation rules on Nov. 16, 2023. The revised use designations are under EPA review.

Water Quality Standards staff contacts

Connie Dou: Water Quality Standards and Assessments Manager
James McConaghie: Program Coordinator
Aron Borok: Antidegradation, Use Attainability Analyses, Site-Specific Criteria, Variances
Tatyana Isupov: GIS and Conventional Standards
Mailea Miller-Pierce: Conventional Standards
Kaegan Scully-Engelmeyer: Toxics Standards, Implementation