North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (DWR) is set to hold a public hearing on April 22. The hearing will focus on proposed changes to the state's surface water quality standards, including the introduction of a standard for E. coli as an indicator of pathogens in recreational waters.

These proposed amendments are part of a triennial update mandated by federal and state law. The review considers existing water quality standards, EPA National Recommended Water Quality Criteria, and new or updated ecological, health, and toxicological information.

North Carolina's surface water standards aim to protect waters based on their classified uses such as recreation or water supply. The federal Clean Water Act requires states to adopt Surface Water Quality Standards to safeguard surface waters from pollution.

The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. in the Ground Floor Hearing Room of the Archdale Building in Raleigh, NC. Speaker registration begins at 5 p.m.

One significant proposal includes replacing the fecal coliform standard with an E. coli standard for certain recreational waters. For Class B waterways used for primary recreation, the proposed E. coli standard would be 126 colony forming units per 100 milliliters based on five samples over 30 days. No more than 20% of samples should exceed 274 colony forming units per 100 milliliters.

Additionally, the changes aim to clarify requirements for obtaining variances to surface water quality standards and address other topics not covered by this rulemaking.

Comments on these proposals can be submitted during the hearing or via email or postal mail until May 2. Written comments should be sent to Christopher Ventaloro at NC DEQ-DWR Planning Section in Raleigh.

The hearing will conclude by 9 p.m., though it may end earlier if all registered speakers have been heard. Public parking is available after 5 p.m. at Parking Deck 64 across from the Archdale Building.

For additional information or language assistance, contact Laura Oleniacz at laura.oleniacz@deq.nc.gov or call 919-707-8604.