Water Quality Standards Regulations: Minnesota

Presented are water quality standards in effect for Clean Water Act (CWA) purposes for this state.

The EPA is posting these standards as a convenience to users and has made a reasonable effort to assure their accuracy. For each document listed under "State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes", the EPA has made a reasonable effort to identify parts of the standards that are disapproved or are otherwise not in effect for CWA purposes. Additionally, please note the documents may also contain provisions that the EPA does not have the authority and duty to act on under the Clean Water Act because the provisions are not water quality standards.

• What is a New or Revised Water Quality Standard Under CWA 303(c)(3)? - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) (108.04 KB)

• State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes
• Federally Proposed or Promulgated Standards

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State Standards in Effect for CWA Purposes

• Chapter 7000, Procedural Rules, Section 7000: Variances (pdf) (147.85 KB)
  (Effective April 20, 2004) This chapter describes how the board or commissioner makes decisions and clarifies the authority of both the commissioner and the board as established under Minnesota Statutes, sections 116.02 and 116.03, and how members of the public may involve themselves in board or commissioner decision making.
• Chapter 7050, Water Quality Standards for the Protection of Waters of the State (pdf) (2.63 MB)
  (Effective October 16, 2023) This chapter includes a classification system of beneficial uses applicable to waters of the state; narrative and numeric water quality standards that protect specific beneficial uses; antidegradation provisions; and other provisions to protect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of waters of the state.
• Variances from Water Quality Standards Since 2004 (pdf) (174.03 KB)
  (Effective March 5, 2025) This table presents approved variance changes that have occurred since 2004. A list of Minnesota’s active variances is also available through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
• Chapter 7052, Lake Superior Basin Water Standards (pdf) (1022.51 KB)
  (Effective June 26, 2018) This chapter establishes aquatic life, human health, and wildlife water quality standards and criteria for Great Lakes Initiative (GLI) pollutants; antidegradation standards for surface waters of the state in the Lake Superior Basin; and implementation procedures for deriving effluent limitation from these standards and criteria.
• Industrial Consumption (Class 3) Narrative Translator (pdf) (3.48 MB)
  (Effective October 8, 2021) This narrative translator includes approved water quality standards for industrial consumption (Class 3) waters.
• Irrigation (Class 4A) Narrative Translator (pdf) (1.68 MB)
  (Effective October 8, 2021) This narrative translator includes approved water quality standards for irrigation (Class 4A) waters.

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Federally Proposed or Promulgated Standards

• 40 CFR § 132 - Water Quality Guidance for the Great Lakes System