2006 Delaware River and Bay Integrated List Water Quality Assessment

This report provides an assessment of the Delaware River's support of various uses from 2002 through 2004 that are protected by the Delaware River Basin Commission's (DRBC) Water Quality Regulations, or by the federal Clean Water Act of 1972. The uses are: maintenance of aquatic life; providing a raw water source for human consumption; swimming and recreation; fish consumption; and shellfish consumption. The assessment primarily involves comparisons of several key water quality parameters with DRBC water quality standards and stream quality objectives. DRBC Water Quality Regulations also designate agricultural and industrial uses for the Delaware River. However, since these two uses would require less stringent water quality criteria than the other uses discussed, they were not assessed for this report.Purpose: To provide an assessment of the Delaware River's support of various uses from 2002 through 2004 that are protected by the Delaware River Basin Commission's Water Quality Regulations, or by the federal Clean Water Act of 1972