The Water Quality Branch is responsible for monitoring and assessing the quality of water in the state's streams and lakes.

Standards and Specifications Section

Revises water quality standards and criteria, classifies surface waters for designated uses (e.g., aquatic life, swimming) and interprets standards for Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit decisions.

Ecological Support Section

Collects and assesses physicochemical and biological data for rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands throughout the state; reviews water quality impacts on aquatic biological systems; and prepares summaries and reports of this information.  Administers the Kentucky Wild Rivers Program, including monitoring water quality, enforcing land-use compliance, evaluating candidates for future designation and educating users and landowners.

Water Quality Certification Section

Considers water quality certification for dredge and fill activities proposed within rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands that require federal 404 permits.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Section

Prepares reports for water bodies on the impaired waters of Kentucky. A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. Collects and monitors biological and chemical data on impaired waters.

Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program

Monitors and evaluates toxicity data related to KPDES permits. The WET program testing methods were designed to protect aquatic life in data gathering and compliance monitoring within the KPDES process. Methods of WET testing are outlined by federal regulations and measure the short-term chronic adverse effects of receiving waters.