Agenda - 10-14-1993 - D 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TABLE 3.5 NC WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATIONS Class WS-I: Waters protected as water supplies which are within essentially natural and undeveloped watersheds. No development is allowed. No wastewater discharges allowed except groundwater remediation discharges if no other alternative is available. Class WS-II: Waters protected as water supplies which are generally in predominately undeveloped watersheds where a WS-1 is not feasible. Density of development is restricted. Only General Permits and permitted stormwater discharges allowed. No new industrial or domestic wastewater discharges allowed in entire WS-II watershed. Groundwater remediation discharges allowed when no alternative. Class WS-III: Waters protected as water supplies which are generally in low to moderately developed watersheds where a WS-I or WS-II is not feasible. Density of development is restricted. General Permits and permitted stormwater, domestic and industrial nonprocess discharges allowed in entire watershed. No new industrial process discharges permitted in Critical Area or rest of watershed. Class WS-IV: Waters protected as water supplies which are generally in moderately to highly developed watersheds or are segments of large drainage areas where a WS-I, II, or Ill is not feasible. Density of development restricted only on new projects requiring a State or local Sedimentation and Erosion Control Plan. All types of wastewater discharges are allowed, but new industrial process discharges in Critical Area must meet additional treatment requirements. Class WS-V: Waters protected as water supplies which are generally upstream and draining to Class IV waters or waters used by industry to supply their employees with drinking water. WS-V has no categorical restrictions on watershed development or wastewater discharges like the other WS classifications. No restrictions on development. No categorical restrictions on wastewater discharges but instream water quality standards for WS waters must be met. Class B: Waters used for primary recreation and other uses suitable for Class C. Primary recreational activities include swimming, skin diving, water skiing, and similar uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an organized or on a frequent basis. No specific development restrictions. No categorical restrictions on wastewater discharges, however discharges may be subject to treatment reliability requirements. Class C: Freshwaters protected for secondary recreation, fishing, wildlife, fish and aquatic life propagation and survival, agriculture and other uses suitable for Class C. Secondary recreation includes wading, boating, and other uses involving human body contact with water where such activities take place in an infrequent, unorganized, or incidental basis. No specific development restrictions. No categorical restrictions on wastewater discharges, however all discharges to State surnce waters must meet certain •atment standards. Source: High Quality What?: A Guide to Surface Freshwater Classifications in North Carolina, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, September 1992. 3-13 rl