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Surface Water Quality <br />Uses of water are directly dependent on <br />water quality. <br />Water quality - Water quality is a <br />product of its physical, chemical, and <br />biological characteristics. <br />Water quality standards - Water <br />quality standards identify the water <br />quality goals for a particular water body. <br />Designated uses (such as drinking water, <br />recreation, cold or warm water fishery, <br />or irrigation) are established and criteria <br />set for the individual characteristics of <br />water to protect designated use(s). <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> IN I'll <br /> <br /> <br /> e <br /> 4 <br />r <br />o <br />µ <br />z <br /> . <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Mountain stream <br />Critical physical characteristics of water include sediment and temperature. <br />Important chemical characteristics are pH, alkalinity, and acidity; dissolved <br />oxygen; nutrients; and toxic organic chemicals. The presence or absence of <br />various kinds of stream biota such as fish, mayflies, and algae can provide <br />important information about water quality. <br />Pollution <br />Pollution is human-induced alteration of the <br />physical, chemical, and biological integrity of <br />water. <br />Pollution coming from point sources such as <br />pipes is controlled by requiring treatment of all <br />discharges utilizing the best available technology. <br />There are approximately 1,000 regulated point <br />sources in Colorado. <br />Most water pollution comes from nonpoint sources. <br />These sources are diffuse and cannot be attributed <br />to a specific location or point. Stormwater <br />Clear Creek along US Highway 6 <br />discharges are controlled in large cities. Other <br />sources of polluted runoff can be addressed only through voluntary use <br />of best management practices. <br />U <br />T <br />0 <br />0 <br />13