Water Quality Standards
Effective November 1, 2022 – The Oklahoma Legislature delegated the State of Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards program to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
Water Quality Standards are provisions of State law, approved by EPA, that describe the desired condition of a waterbody and the means by which that condition will be protected or achieved. Water Quality Standards have been established to protect human health and aquatic life, and form a legal basis for controlling pollutants entering Waters of the State. Water Quality Standards consist of three core components:
- Designated Beneficial Uses
- Water Quality Criteria
- Antidegradation Requirements
OAC 252:730 – Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards (Official)
- 252:730 – Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards (Unofficial Version with Searchable Appendices)
OAC 252:740 – Implementation of Oklahoma’s Water Quality Standards
2012 Continuing Planning Process (CPP)
2026 Water Quality Standards Triennial Review and Proposed Rule Changes for Chapters 606, 730, and 740
The proposed changes to the Water Quality Standards and other related DEQ rules can be found on the following web page: DEQ WQD Proposed Rules and Regulations
Last Modified on
Oct 13, 2026
