<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" citation="COMAR 26.08.02.01" title_num="26" subtitle_num="08" chapter_num="02" heading="Surface Water Quality Protection.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Purpose. To protect surface water quality, this State shall adopt water quality standards to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Protect public health or welfare;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Enhance the quality of water;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Protect aquatic resources; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Serve the purposes of the Federal Act.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Water Quality Standards.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The surface water quality standards consist of three parts:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Designated uses of the waters of this State;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Water quality criteria to protect the designated uses; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Antidegradation Policy.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Water quality standards shall provide water quality for the designated uses of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Water contact recreation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Fishing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Propagation of fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Agricultural and industrial water supply.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Waters of this State shall be protected for the basic designated uses in Regulation .02A.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Water quality standards shall consider the use and value of public water supplies.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Regulations .02—.08 of this chapter implement this State's water quality standards by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Defining and establishing specific designated uses for the surface waters of this State;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Assigning a designated use to all surface waters;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Establishing water quality criteria for each designated use;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Defining this State's antidegradation policy;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Defining this State's criteria for mixing zones; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Defining other water quality protective policies.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>