Water Quality Standards Regulations: Wisconsin

Presented are water quality standards in effect for Clean Water Act (CWA) purposes for this state.

The EPA is posting these standards as a convenience to users and has made a reasonable effort to assure their accuracy. For each document listed under "State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes", the EPA has made a reasonable effort to identify parts of the standards that are disapproved or are otherwise not in effect for CWA purposes. Additionally, please note the documents may also contain provisions that the EPA does not have the authority and duty to act on under the Clean Water Act because the provisions are not water quality standards.

• What is a New or Revised Water Quality Standard Under CWA 303(c)(3)? - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) (108.04 KB)

• State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes
• Federally Proposed or Promulgated Standards

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State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes

• Chapter NR 2. Procedure and Practice (pdf) (97.32 KB)
  Document contains rules that apply during all hearings and proceedings before the department of natural resources unless otherwise specified.
• Chapter NR 102. Water Quality Standards for Wisconsin Surface Waters (pdf) (306.05 KB)
  (Effective April 26, 2024) This document, in conjunction with NR 103 to 105 establishes water quality standards for surface waters of the State.
• Chapter NR 103. Water Quality Standards for Wetlands (pdf) (101.45 KB)
  This document establishes water quality standards for wetlands.
  
  Water Quality Standards for Wetlands (pdf) (1.45 MB)
  This document provides background for NR 103 Water Quality Standards for Wetlands and guidance for its implementation.
• Chapter NR 104. Uses and Designated Standards (pdf) (124.3 KB)
  (Effective September 30, 2004) This document specifies the designated uses, effluent limitations, provisions for changes, and applicable variances for intrastate and interstate waters of the State.
• Variances from Water Quality Standards Since 2019 (pdf) (236.8 KB)
  (Effective September 4, 2024) This table presents approved variance changes that have occurred since September 2019.
• Chapter NR 105. Surface Water Quality Criteria and Secondary Values for Toxic Substances (pdf) (207.41 KB)
  This document establishes water quality criteria, methods for developing water quality criteria and secondary values for toxic substances.
  
  The EPA disapproved the acute and chronic aquatic life criteria for copper and nickel (Wis. Adm. Code NR 105, Tables 2 and 6), a chronic aquatic life criterion for endrin (Wis. Adm. Code NR 105, Table 5) as being inconsistent with Tables 1 and 2 of the Great Lakes Guidance at 40 CFR 132. In addition, the EPA also disapproved Wisconsin's failure to adopt and submit to the EPA a chronic aquatic life water quality criterion for selenium as required by 40 CFR 132.3(b). Pursuant to the Great Lakes Guidance, these water quality criteria are replaced by corresponding federal water quality criteria contained at 40 CFR 132, Tables 1 and 2.
• Chapter NR 106. Procedures for Calculating Water Quality Based Effluent Limitations for Point Source Discharges to Surface Waters (pdf) (389.95 KB)
  This document specifies the calculation of water quality based effluent limitations and subsequent inclusion of limitations in Wisconsin pollution discharge elimination system (WPDES) permits.
• Chapter NR 205. General Provisions (pdf) (91.32 KB)
  The document specifies definitions for use in Chapters 200-298.
• Chapter NR 207. Water Quality Antidegradation (pdf) (108.01 KB)
  This document sets forth the antidegradation implementation procedures for the antidegradation policy in NR 102.5.
• Chapter NR 217. Effluent Standards and Limitations for Phosphorus (pdf) (144.86 KB)
  This document establishes effluent standards and limitations, including water quality based effluent limitations, for phosphorus in effluent discharged to surface waters of the state.
• Chapter 227. Administrative Procedure and Review (pdf) (422.97 KB)
  (Effective February 6, 2017) This document provides the administrative procedure and review provisions of Wisconsin’s statute.
• Chapter 281. Water and Sewage (pdf) (954.52 KB)
  (Effective February 6, 2017) This document grants necessary powers and organizes a comprehensive program under a single state agency for the enhancement of the quality management and protection of all waters of the state, ground and surface, public and private.
• Chapter 283. Pollution Discharge Elimination (pdf) (65.31 KB)
  (Effective February 6, 2017) The document grants the department of natural resources all authority necessary to establish, administer, and maintain a state pollutant discharge elimination system. Chapter 283.15 describes the process for establishing water quality standard variances. Chapter 283.16 establishes the statewide variance for phosphorus.
• Stream Classification Guidelines for Wisconsin (pdf) (1.49 MB)
  This document describes potential stream designated uses and provides a basis for making and supporting water quality management decisions.
• Water Quality Rules Implementation Plan (pdf) (13.14 MB)
  This document describes the implementation of water quality regulations adopted by the State in 1997.
• Mixing Zone Guidance for Chronic Toxicity and Zones of Initial Dilution (pdf) (2 MB)
  This document provides guidance on the selection of the correct mixing zone size for chronic toxicity mixing zones and zones of initial dilution.

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Federally Proposed or Promulgated Standards

• 40 CFR § 132 - Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System