Ipswich-Parker Suburban WATershed CHannel



Massachusetts Class B and SA Surface Water Quality Standards

The State of Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control has established target goals for all bodies of water within the state. The freshwater portions of the Ipswich and Parker Rivers are categorized as Class B water resources, while the estuarine portions belong to Class SA. The target standards associated with these two classes are reproduced below:
NOTE: The following text has been extracted from Document 314 CMR, Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control. Download the entire PDF document (955 kB/107 pages)
Class B

Class B - These waters are designated as a habitat for fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife, and for primary and secondary contact recreation. Where designated they shall be suitable as a source of public water supply with appropriate treatment. They shall be suitable for irrigation and other agricultural uses and for compatible industrial cooling and process uses. These waters shall have consistently good aesthetic value.

  1. Dissolved Oxygen -
    1. Shall not be less than 6.0 mg/l in cold water fisheries nor less than 5.0 mg/l in warm water fisheries unless background conditions are lower;
    2. natural seasonal and daily variations above these levels shall be maintained; levels shall not be lowered below 75% of saturation in cold water fisheries nor 60% of saturation in warm water fisheries due to a discharge; and
    3. site-specific criteria may apply where background levels are lower than specified levels, to the hypolimnion of stratified lakes or where the Department determines that designated uses are not impaired.
    4. Temperature -
      1. Shall not exceed 68°F (20°C) in cold water fisheries, nor 83°F (28.3°C) in warm water fisheries, and the rise in temperature due to a discharge shall not exceed 3°F (1.7°C) in rivers and streams designated as cold water fisheries nor 5°F (2.8°C) in rivers and streams designated as warm water fisheries (Based on the minimum expected flow for the month); in lakes and ponds the rise shall not exceed 3°F (1.7°C) in the epilimnion (based on the monthly average of maximum daily temperature); and
      2. natural seasonal and daily variations shall be maintained. There shall be no changes from background conditions that would impair any use assigned to this Class, including site-specific limits necessary to protect normal species diversity, successful migration, reproductive functions or growth of aquatic organisms.
    5. pH - Shall be in the range of 6.5 through 8.3 standard units and not more than 0.5 units outside of the background range. There shall be no change from background conditions that would impair any ise assigned to this Class.
    6. Fecal Coliform Bacteria - Shall not exceed a geometric mean of 200 organisms per 100 ml in any representative set of samples nor shall more than 10% of the samples exceed 400 organisms per 100 ml. This criterion may be applied on a seasonal basis at the discretion of the Department.
    7. Solids - These waters shall be free from floating, suspended and settleable solids in concentrations and combinations that would impair any use assigned to this Class, that would cause aesthetically objectionable conditions, or that would impair the benthic biota or degrade the chemical composition of the bottom.
    8. Color and Turbidity - These waters shall be free from color and turbidity in concentrations or combinations that are aesthetically objectionable or would impair any use assigned to this Class.
    9. Oil and Grease - These waters shall be free from oil, grease and petrochemicals that produce a visible film on the surface of the water, impart an oily taste to the water or an oily or other undesirable taste to the edible portions of aquatic life, coat the banks or bottom of the water course, or are deleterious or become toxic to aquatic life.
    10. Taste and Odor - None in such concentrations or combinations that are aesthetically objectionable, that would impair any use assigned to this Class, or that would cause tainting or undesirable flavors in the edible portions of aquatic life.
Class SA

Class SA - These waters are designated as an excellent habitat for fish, other aquatic life and wildlife and for primary and secondary contact recreation. In approved areas they shall be suitable for shellfish harvesting without depuration (Open Shellfish Areas). These waters shall have excellent aesthetic value.

  1. Dissolved Oxygen -
    1. Shall not be less than 6.0 mg/l unless background conditions are lower.
    2. natural seasonal and daily variations above this level shall be maintained; levels shall not be lowered below 75% of saturation due to a discharge; and
    3. site-specific criteria may apply where background conditions are lower than specified levels or to the bottom stratified layer where the Department determines that designated uses are not impaired.
  2. Temperature -
    1. Shall not exceed 85°F (29.4°C) nor a maximum daily mean of 80°F (26.7°C), and the rise in temperature due to a discharge shall not exceed 1.5°F (0.8°C);
    2. natural seasonal and daily variations shall be maintained, there shall be no change from background that would impair any uses assigned to this class including site-specific limits necessary to protect normal species diversity, successful migration, reproductive functions or growth of aquatic organisms; and
    3. any determinations concerning thermal discharge limitations in accordance with 33U.S.C. 1251 § 316(a) will be considered site-specific limitations in compliance with 314 CMR 4.00.
  3. pH - Shall be in the range of 6.5 through 8.5 standard units and not more than 0.2 standard units outside of the normally occurring range. There shall be no change from background conditions that would impair any use assigned to this class.
  4. Fecal Coliform Bacteria -
    1. Waters approved for open shell-fishing shall not exceed a geometric mean MPN of 14 organisms per 100 ml, nor shall more than 10% of the samples exceed a MPN of 43 per 100 ml (more stringent regulations may apply, see 314 CMR 4.06(1)(d)(4); and
    2. waters not designated for shellfishing shall not exceed a geometric mean of 200 organisms in any representative set of samples, nor shall more than 10% of the samples exceed 400 organisms per 100 ml. This criterion may be applied on a seasonal basis at the discretion of the Department.
  5. Solids - These waters shall be free from floating, suspended and settleable solids in concentrations or combinations that would impair any use assigned to this class, that would cause aesthetically objectionable conditions, or that would impair the benthic biota or degrade the chemical composition of the bottom.
  6. Color and Turbidity - These waters shall be free from color and turbidity in concentrations or combinations that are aesthetically objectionable or would impair any use assigned to this class.
  7. Oil and Grease - These waters shall be free from oil and grease and petrochemicals.
  8. Taste and Odor - None other than of natural origin.