§ 18-48 Water Quality Standards.
RCNY § 18-48
(a)The water in all reservoirs, Lake Gilead, and Lake Gleneida, shall meet the following standards of quality: (1) 6 NYCRR Parts 701 and 703 (standards applicable to Class AA waters), and (2) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Technical and Operational Guidance Series (TOGS) 1.1.1, Ambient Water Quality Standards and Guidance Values (October 22, 1993, Reissue Date June 1998, as modified and supplemented by the January 1999 Errata Sheet and the April 2000 and June 2004 Addenda) which lists the ambient water quality standards and guidance values for principal organic chemicals and synthetic organic chemicals.
(b)In addition, the water in source water reservoirs shall meet the following phosphorus standard: (1) Total phosphorus concentrations shall be equal to or less than 15 micrograms per liter.
(c)In addition, the water within 500 feet of the aqueduct effluent chamber located at a terminal reservoir (Kensico, West Branch, New Croton, Ashokan and Rondout) shall meet the following coliform standard: (1) Raw water fecal coliform concentrations shall be equal to or less than 20 colonies per 100 milliliters or total coliform concentration shall be equal to or less than 100 colonies per 100 milliliters in at least 90 percent of the measurements made over any consecutive six month period. For purposes of determining compliance with this paragraph, a minimum of five samples per week will be taken from each terminal reservoir. If both fecal and total coliform analyses are performed, the fecal coliform results shall take precedence over the total coliform analysis.
(d)For purposes of determining compliance with this subchapter, the Department shall take water samples from the controlled lakes and reservoirs and shall evaluate them in accordance with subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of this section.
(1)Where total coliform concentrations exceed the standards set forth in 6 NYCRR Parts 701 and 703, and are determined by the Department to be due to non-perennial, non-anthropogenic sources, such exceedances shall not be included in calculating whether a violation of these rules and regulations has occurred.
(2)Where fecal coliform concentrations exceed the standards set forth in subparagraph (c) above, and are determined by the Department to be due to non-perennial, non-anthropogenic sources, such exceedances shall not be included in calculating whether a violation of these rules and regulations has occurred.
(e)The Department shall, on an annual basis, conduct a review of water quality data for the purpose of determining whether each reservoir and controlled lake meets or fails to meet the water quality standards set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of this section, as applicable. The results of the Department's review, together with the calculations used in arriving at the results for each reservoir, shall be published in a report which shall be made available to the public upon request.
