Water Quality Attainment

B. Water Quality Data

2. Water Quality Attainment

The goal of the Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain water quality and habitat of all surface waters. An important step towards meeting this goal is requiring each state to establish water quality standards that address the needs of both aquatic life and humans.

Recreational Use Standards

The water quality standards as applied to human use or recreational use is based on accepted levels of either fecal coliform or E. coli. Most streams in the Darby Watershed were not attaining E. coli bacterial criteria, but some subwatersheds and their tributaries had fecal coliform bacteria levels that met the criteria. The mainstem of lower Big Darby Creek from downstream of Hellbranch Run to SR 104 in Pickaway County is the only stream segment that is in attainment of both bacteria levels. Flat Branch and Barron Run both had very high fecal coliform and E. Coli results. Overall, most streams in the Darby Watershed are considered unsafe for human contact based on elevated bacteria levels. The bacteria standards and sampling results in the watershed are listed in Appendix K.

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Last updated: November 18, 2008.