SECTION 785:45-1-1. Purpose

(a)   The Oklahoma Water Resources Board's statutory authority and responsibility concerning establishment of standards of quality of waters of the state are provided for under 82 O.S., §1085.30. Under this statute the Oklahoma Water Resources Board is authorized to promulgate rules which establish classifications of uses of waters of the state, criteria to maintain and protect such classifications, and other standards or policies pertaining to the quality of such waters [82:1085.30(A)]. These Standards are designed to maintain and protect the quality of the waters of the state.

(b)   The Standards specify numerical and narrative criteria to protect beneficial uses designated for certain waters of the State. Beneficial use designations can be found in Appendix A of this Chapter for listed surface waters and in 785:45-5-3 for unlisted surface waters. The numerical and narrative criteria assigned to protect surface water beneficial uses are shown in Subchapter 5 of this Chapter. Classifications for groundwater can be found in Subchapter 7 and Appendix D of this Chapter. Narrative criteria to protect groundwater are shown in Subchapter 7 of this Chapter. The criteria that are the standards for a specific water of the State are the most stringent assigned to its designated beneficial uses. Since these criteria will protect the most sensitive use assigned, they will protect all designated uses. The purpose of the Standards is to promote and protect as many beneficial uses as are attainable and to assure that degradation of existing quality of waters of the State does not occur.

[Source: Amended at 9 Ok Reg 1889, eff 5-26-92; Amended at 12 Ok Reg 3305, eff 7-27-95; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3377, eff 8-13-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2511, eff 7-1-02]