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The State Water Board also adopts regulations and the protection of water quality. Under this policy, policies to protect water quality from discharges of whenever the existing quality of water is better than waste to water or to land where water quality could be that needed to protect all existing and probable future affected. beneficial uses of the water,such existing high quality shall be maintained until or unless it has been demon- The Porter-Cologne Act separates the State of Califor- strated to the state that any change in water quality nia,along major drainage divides,into nine Water (1)will be consistent with the maximum benefit to the Quality Control Regions. Nine Regional Water Quality i people of the state,and(2)will not unreasonably affect Control Boards act to protect water quality within these i present and probable future beneficial uses of such regions through the adoption of region-specific Water water. Therefore, unless these conditions are met, Quality Control Plans(or"Basin Plans"). The Basin background water quality—the concentrations of Plans contain water quality standards which are substances in natural waters which are unaffected by specific to waters within a particular region or part waste management practices or contamination inci- thereof. As with the State Water Board's Water Quality dents—are appropriate water quality goals to be Control Plans, implementation programs are also maintained. included in the Basin Plans. Through the issuance of waste discharge requirements(permits)and water If it is determined that some water quality degradation quality monitoring requirements,the Regional Water is in the best interest of the people of California,some Boards implement state and regional Water Quality increase in pollutant concentrations above background Control Plans,policies,and regulations. The State and levels may be permitted under the antidegradation Regional Water Boards also administer most of the policy. However,in no case may such increases cause federal clean water laws in California. adverse impacts to existing or probable future benefi- cial uses of waters of the state. The State and Regional Water Boards' water quality control programs are geared toward the prevention of In June 1992,the State Water Board adopted Resolution water pollution and nuisance. The Porter-Cologne Act No.92-49,'Policies and Procedures for Investigation defines"pollution" as "an alteration of the quality of and Cleanup and Abatement of Discharges Under the waters of the state by waste to a degree which Water Code Section 13304". As part of this policy for unreasonably affects(1)such waters for beneficial uses, water quality control,the antidegradation policy of or(2) facilities which serve such beneficial uses." Resolution No.68-16 was made explicitly applicable to "Nuisance"means"anything which: (1)is injurious to cleanup of contaminated sites. Therefore,in determin- health,or is indecent or offensive to the senses,or an ing cleanup levels for water and for soils which obstruction to the free use of property so as to interfere threaten water quality,background pollutant concen- with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property,and trations are the initial goal. If attainment of back- (2)affects at the same time an entire community or ground concentrations is infeasible,cleanup levels neighborhood,or any considerable number of persons, must be as close to background as feasible and must although the extent of the annoyance or damage restore and protect all applicable beneficial uses. inflicted upon individuals may be unequal,and (3)occurs during or as the result of the treatment or disposal of wastes." WATER QUALITY GOALS i To determine whether a particular waste management ANTIDEGRADATION POLICY activity or pollutant release has caused or has the potential to cause pollution,staff of the Regional Water In 1968,the State Water Resources Control Board Quality Control Boards often determine applicable adopted Resolution No.68-16, "Statement of Policy water quality goals for the pollutants involved. "Water With Respect to Maintaining High Quality of Waters in i quality goals" are numerical pollutant concentrations, California",establishing an antidegradation policy for above which pollutants are considered to have ad- Page 2 California's Water Quality Standards