Has the state’s surface water quality standard for bacteria changed recently?

The Department of Ecology establishes and regulates water quality standards in Washington State. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approves the standards. The National Shellfish Sanitation Program establishes separate standards for marine water quality in areas where shellfish are grown. 

In January 2019, Washington Department of Ecology adopted updated fresh and marine water quality standards for the protection of water contact recreational uses in state waters. Updates became effective in February 2019. Among other changes, updates include:

Protecting primary contact recreation in fresh water

  • established criteria for E. coli as the bacterial indicator to protect water contact recreation
  • set a December 31, 2020 expiration date for use of fecal coliform levels to determine compliance

Protecting primary contact recreation in marine water

  • established criteria for enterococci as the bacterial indicator to protect water contact recreation
  • set a December 31, 2020 expiration date for use of fecal coliform levels to determine compliance

Protecting shellfish harvest use: Fecal coliform continues to be the bacterial indicator for protecting shellfish harvesting uses in marine water. Bacteria criteria to protect shellfish harvest use did not change when Ecology updated standards to protect water contact recreational uses. Because fresh water flows to and affects the quality of marine water in shellfish growing areas, we will continue to monitor for fecal coliform in fresh water. New fresh water data will be compared to historic data and to fecal coliform benchmarks to track status toward protecting the shellfish harvest use.

Show All Answers

1. How does fecal bacteria pollution get into water?
2. Why do we test for indicator bacteria instead of pathogens to determine if water is healthy?
3. Are wastewater treatment plants polluting the Nooksack River?
4. Is pollution from the Lummi Reservation causing high fecal coliform bacteria levels in Portage Bay?
5. Can wildlife contribute to high fecal bacteria levels in water?
6. Do agencies use DNA testing to identify sources of fecal bacteria?
7. What can I do about fecal bacteria pollution?
8. Who can help me prevent manure-related pollution?
9. Who can help me prevent pollution from my septic system?
10. Has the state’s surface water quality standard for bacteria changed recently?
11. How does Whatcom County decide when to sample water?
12. Can wood waste (decomposing wood or vegetation) contribute to bacteria pollution?
13. Can Klebsiella be harmful to people?
14. Who enforces codes and laws related to protecting water quality?
15. What does “non-regulatory technical assistance” mean?