2002 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report

The Delaware River Basin Commission's (DRBC) 2002 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report provides an assessment of the Delaware River's support of various uses during 2000 and 2001. The uses, which are protected by the DRBC's water quality regulations (462 KB; free Adobe reader required to download) or by the federal Clean Water Act of 1972, are:

The assessment primarily involves comparing levels of key water quality indicators (pH, for example) with DRBC stream quality objectives listed in the water quality regulations. Because DRBC’s water quality regulations define "zones" in the Delaware River to which the stream quality objectives are applied, the 305(b) report assesses water quality based upon those zones.

Data used for the report come from a variety of sources. The foundation for the assessment comes from DRBC's three water quality monitoring programs that cover different sections of the Delaware River. These include the Scenic Rivers Monitoring Program (From Hancock, N.Y. to the Delaware Water Gap), the Lower Delaware Monitoring Program (from the Delaware Water Gap to Trenton, N.J.), and the Delaware Estuary Boat Run Program (from Trenton, N.J. to the mouth of the Delaware Bay). In addition, data from a variety of other sources were utilized in making the water quality assessments. These other sources include the U.S. Geological Survey, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Stream and Wastewater Treatment Plant Water Quality Monitoring Program, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program, and the New Jersey DEP Ambient Surface Water Monitoring Program.

Consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Guidelines for Preparation of the Comprehensive State Water Quality Assessments [305(b) Reports] and Electronic Updates (September 1997), assessed water bodies are categorized into one of four use support levels:

The report also describes the methodology utilized to assign water bodies to use support categories.

The biennial reporting of water quality assessments of the Delaware River is intended to provide EPA and the public with an overview of water quality conditions, identifying broad issues. More intensive studies and analyses are needed for focusing in on site-specific issues. The 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report can serve as a basis for further study.