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Document ID ca-bc-lavsmwqg-2016-06 Title Long-Term Average vs. Short-Term Maximum Water Quality Guidelines URL https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/waste-management/industrial-waste/industrial-waste/mining-smelt-energy/guidance-documents/max-vs-long-term-wq-guidelines-fs.pdf Jurisdiction /ca/bc Subdomain(s) Drinking Water, Wastewater, Industrial Water Language en Status completed Analyzed at 2026-03-15 05:24:58.481360+00:00 Relevance Explains BC MOE policy for WQGs used in waste discharge authorizations.

Q Qualitative Requirements (4)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Context Conditions Confidence
#Q001administrativeoperationalmandatoryMOE Consideration of WQGsdrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherWQGs do not have any direct legal standing, but are MOE policy and must be considered in any decision affecting water quality made within the MOE.In any decision affecting water quality made within the MOEhigh
#Q002corrective_actionoperationalguidanceAdditional Investigation for Long-Term WQG Exceedancedrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherNote that exceeding a long-term water quality guideline does not imply that an unacceptable risk exists, but rather that the potential for adverse effects may be increased and additional investigation may be required for consideration in resource management decisions.Exceeding a long-term water quality guidelinehigh
#Q003monitoringoperationalmandatoryComparison of Individual Samples for Insufficient Monitoringdrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherIf the monitoring frequency at a site is insufficient to meet the requirements for the specified averaging period of the long-term average WQG (often 5 samples over 30 days), then individual samples will be compared against the long-term average WQG.If the monitoring frequency at a site is insufficient to meet the requirements for the specified averaging periodhigh
#Q004monitoringoperationalguidanceAlert Signal for Increased Monitoring Frequencydrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherIn this case, failure of any individual sample to meet the long-term average guideline would serve as an alert signal to increase the monitoring frequency.Failure of any individual sample to meet the long-term average guideline when monitoring frequency is insufficienthigh

P Quantitative Requirements (3)

Req ID Category Intent Legal Status Name Subdomain(s) Limit Type Limit Value Context Conditions Confidence
#R001operationaloperationalguidelineLong-term average WQG averaging period frequencydrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherrequirement5 samples in 30 daysAveraging period approach for long-term average (chronic) guidelinesUsed to address long-term effects and fit into monitoring timetableshigh
#R002operationaloperationalguidelineShort-term maximum WQG exposure periodaquatic liferequirement96 hrsDefined short-term exposure period for acute WQGsTo assess risks associated with infrequent exposure events such as spillshigh
#R003operationaloperationalguidelineLong-term average WQG monitoring frequency thresholddrinking water, agricultural water, aquatic life, otherrequirement5 samples over 30 daysCriteria for applying long-term average WQG to individual samplesWhen monitoring frequency at a site is insufficient to meet specified averaging periodhigh

D Definitions (4)

Req ID Category Name Context Confidence
#D001MOEMinistry of Environmenthigh
#D002WQGswater quality guidelineshigh
#D003short-term maximum (i.e. acute) WQGA short-term maximum (i.e. acute) WQG is a level that should never be exceeded in order to meet the intended protection of the most sensitive species and life stage against severe effects such as lethality over a defined shortterm exposure period (e.g. 96 hrs).medium
#D004Long-term average (i.e. chronic) WQGsLong-term average (i.e. chronic) WQGs are intended to protect the most sensitive species and life stage against sub-lethal and lethal effects for indefinite exposures.high