Government of British Columbia: Ministry of Environment: Water Quality Guidelines for Lead
Water Quality Criteria for Lead
Overview Report
Prepared pursuant to Section 2(e) of the
Environment Management Act, 1981
Original signed by T. R. Johnson
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Environment and Parks
November 2, 1987
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary
Tables
- Table 1: Summary of Water Quality Criteria for Lead
- Table 2: Evaluation of 30-Day Average Levels Based on Five Observations Collected Over a 30-Day Period
Preface
Recommended Guidelines
Application of the Guidelines
Summary
This report is one in a series which establishes water quality criteria for the province. The report sets criteria for lead to protect a number of water uses. These include drinking water, freshwater and marine aquatic life, wildlife, livestock, irrigation, and recreation.
The criteria are set as either maximum concentrations of total lead which should not be exceeded at any time, or average concentrations which should not be exceeded over a 30-day period. Actual values are summarized in Table 2.
Except for aquatic life, the criteria are consistent with Canadian Water Quality Guidelines drafted by the CCREM Task Force on Water Quality Guidelines (1987). For aquatic life, the criteria are slightly less restrictive than the CCREM guidelines which are considered to be over-protective with regard to no-effect levels reported in the literature. A major use of the criteria is as a guideline for assessments of water quality conditions. They are thus one of the factors considered when water quality objectives for a specific body of water are being set.