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- Puerto Rico Assessment Summary
- Water Quality by Waterbody Type
- Causes of Impairment
- Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
- Previously Impaired Waters Now Attaining All Uses
- TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment
- Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters
- Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant
- Cumulative Number of TMDLs
Data are also available for these years: 2002 2004 2006
Waterbody Changes from Prior Cycle
Comparison Summary by Reporting Year
For More Information:
Puerto Rico 2008 Water Quality Assessment Report
Assessed Waters of Puerto Rico by Watershed
Search for a Waterbody within Puerto Rico
NOTE: The data provided in this report for San Juan Bay Estuary differs slightly from the information provided in the original Puerto Rico 2008 Integrated Report. This is a result of differences between the Puerto Rico assessment database, which tracked two San Juan Bay Estuary assessment units (PREE13A2 and PREE13A3) in both miles and acres under the estuary waterbody type. In this report, these assessment units appear in both the river and estuary waterbody type.
NOTE: The data provided in this report for San Juan Bay Estuary differs slightly from the information provided in the original Puerto Rico 2008 Integrated Report. This is a result of differences between the Puerto Rico assessment database, which tracked two San Juan Bay Estuary assessment units (PREE13A2 and PREE13A3) in both miles and acres under the estuary waterbody type. In this report, these assessment units appear in both the river and estuary waterbody type.
Puerto Rico Assessment Summary for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table| Size of Water | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles) |
Coastal Shoreline (Miles) |
||||||||||||
| Good Waters | 147.3 | 548.2 | 233.4 | ||||||||||||
| Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses |
20.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Threatened Waters | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | |||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | |||||||||||||||
| Impaired Waters | 4,711.6 | 7,323.0 | 775.1 | 44.9 | |||||||||||
| TMDL completed | 154.0 | ||||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | |||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | 413.9 | .3 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | 4,143.7 | 7,323.0 | 4.8 | 26.6 | |||||||||||
| New TMDLs completed | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | |||||||||||
| Remaining TMDLs needed | 4,143.7 | 7,323.0 | 4.8 | 26.6 | |||||||||||
 |
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| Total Assessed Waters | 4,858.9 | 7,323.0 | 1,323.3 | 278.3 | |||||||||||
| Total Waters | 5,394.0 | 12,146.0 | Unavailable | 550.0 | |||||||||||
| Percent of Waters Assessed | 90.1 | 60.3 | Unavailable | 50.6 | |||||||||||
Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008
Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
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Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Miles Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired |  % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 % Threatened |
|||||
 % Impaired |
|||||
| Aquatic Life | 4,633.9 | 8.4 | .0 | 91.6 | |
| Primary Contact Recreation | 4,814.8 | 7.5 | .0 | 92.5 | |
| Public Water Supply | 4,280.1 | 12.6 | .0 | 87.4 | |
| Secondary Contact Recreation | 4,658.2 | 45.5 | .0 | 54.5 | |
| Use Code | 4,683.7 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Metals (other than Mercury) | 3,432.8 |
| Fecal Coliform | Pathogens | 3,332.4 |
| Cyanide | Toxic Inorganics | 3,150.5 |
| Surfactants | Other Cause | 2,566.6 |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | 2,535.6 |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | 2,231.2 |
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 2,022.3 |
| Lead | Metals (other than Mercury) | 1,590.1 |
| Ammonia, Total | Ammonia | 513.2 |
| Mercury | Mercury | 494.5 |
| Thermal Modifications | Temperature | 452.4 |
| Cause Unknown | Cause Unknown | 331.2 |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | 282.4 |
| Pesticides | Pesticides | 258.2 |
| Cadmium | Metals (other than Mercury) | 225.3 |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 189.7 |
| Selenium | Metals (other than Mercury) | 154.7 |
| Other Inorganics | Toxic Inorganics | 22.0 |
Puerto Rico Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 4,519.7 |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | 3,163.9 |
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 2,814.5 |
| Minor Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 2,759.5 |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | 1,969.3 |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | 1,963.5 |
| Collection System Failure | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 1,874.1 |
| Minor Municipal Point Sources | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 989.3 |
| Major Municipal Point Sources | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 951.3 |
| Package Plant Or Other Permitted Small Flows Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 471.8 |
| Surface Mining | Resource Extraction | 445.4 |
| Major Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 266.9 |
| Land Development | Construction | 55.5 |
| Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures) | Hydromodification | 47.9 |
Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
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Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Acres Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Threatened |
|||||
| % Impaired |
|||||
| Aquatic Life | 7,323.0 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
| Primary Contact Recreation | 7,323.0 | 58.8 | .0 | 41.2 | |
| Public Water Supply | 7,323.0 | 14.3 | .0 | 85.7 | |
| Secondary Contact Recreation | 7,323.0 | 83.7 | .0 | 16.3 | |
| Use Code | 7,323.0 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 7,323.0 |
| Arsenic | Metals (other than Mercury) | 2,907.0 |
| Fecal Coliform | Pathogens | 2,459.0 |
| Pesticides | Pesticides | 2,133.0 |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | 1,273.0 |
| Cyanide | Toxic Inorganics | 1,194.0 |
| Mercury | Mercury | 1,000.0 |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 922.0 |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | 713.0 |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | 634.0 |
| Surfactants | Other Cause | 634.0 |
Puerto Rico Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Acres Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 6,016.0 |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | 2,767.0 |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | 2,252.0 |
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 1,413.0 |
| Collection System Failure | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 1,086.0 |
| Minor Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 919.0 |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | 560.0 |
| Package Plant Or Other Permitted Small Flows Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 560.0 |
| Major Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 285.0 |
Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries
Reporting Year 2008
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Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Bays and Estuaries
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Square Miles Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Threatened |
|||||
| % Impaired |
|||||
| Aquatic Life | 1,322.3 | 41.4 | .0 | 58.6 | |
| Primary Contact Recreation | 1,322.3 | 99.6 | .0 | .4 | |
| Secondary Contact Recreation | 1,323.2 | 99.6 | .0 | .4 | |
| Use Code | 5.1 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Bays and Estuaries
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Square Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Metals (other than Mercury) | 557.9 |
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 220.7 |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 219.7 |
| Cause Unknown | Cause Unknown | 216.1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Pathogens | 4.9 |
| Cyanide | Toxic Inorganics | 3.9 |
| Surfactants | Other Cause | 3.8 |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | 3.8 |
| Ammonia, Total | Ammonia | 3.8 |
| Lead | Metals (other than Mercury) | 3.8 |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | 3.8 |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | 3.7 |
| Mercury | Mercury | 3.7 |
| Cadmium | Metals (other than Mercury) | 3.7 |
Puerto Rico Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Bays and Estuaries
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Square Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 775.1 |
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 774.0 |
| Marinas And Recreational Boating | Recreational Boating And Marinas | 216.0 |
| Collection System Failure | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 4.5 |
| Major Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 4.4 |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | 3.9 |
| Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures) | Hydromodification | 3.7 |
| Minor Municipal Point Sources | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | .5 |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | .4 |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | .2 |
| Minor Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | .1 |
| Major Municipal Point Sources | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | .1 |
| Highways, Roads, Bridges, Infrastructure (New Construction) | Construction | .0 |
| Surface Mining | Resource Extraction | .0 |
Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Coastal Shoreline
Reporting Year 2008
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Puerto Rico Assessed Waters
Designated Use Support for Coastal Shoreline
Reporting Year 2008*
* Waters assessed for more than one designated use are included in multiple designated use groups below.
Description of this table| Designated Use | Miles Assessed | Percent Good | Percent Threatened | Percent Impaired | % Good |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Threatened |
|||||
| % Impaired |
|||||
| Aquatic Life | 278.3 | 91.3 | .0 | 8.7 | |
| Primary Contact Recreation | 278.3 | 88.7 | .0 | 11.3 | |
| Secondary Contact Recreation | 278.3 | 96.2 | .0 | 3.8 | |
| Use Code | 5.1 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment
for Threatened and Impaired Coastal Shoreline
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Cause of Impairment | Cause of Impairment Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Fecal Coliform | Pathogens | 23.6 |
| Enterococcus Bacteria | Pathogens | 13.1 |
| Cause Unknown | Cause Unknown | 10.8 |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | 7.1 |
| pH | pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 6.0 |
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 5.5 |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | 3.0 |
| Thermal Modifications | Temperature | 2.5 |
Puerto Rico Probable Sources of Impairments
for Threatened and Impaired Coastal Shoreline
Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| Probable Source | Probable Source Group | Miles Threatened or Impaired |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 20.4 |
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 18.3 |
| Major Industrial Point Sources | Industrial | 3.0 |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined Cause of Impairment Group to see a list of specific state causes of impairment making up the Cause of Impairment Group. | |||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles) |
Coastal Shoreline (Miles) |
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| Ammonia | 513.2 | 3.8 | |||||||||||||
| Cause Unknown | 331.2 | 216.1 | 10.8 | ||||||||||||
| Mercury | 494.5 | 1,000.0 | 3.7 | ||||||||||||
| Metals (other than Mercury) | 3,432.8 | 2,907.0 | 557.9 | ||||||||||||
| Nutrients | 282.4 | 1,273.0 | 3.7 | 3.0 | |||||||||||
| Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 2,022.3 | 7,323.0 | 220.7 | 5.5 | |||||||||||
| Other Cause | 2,566.6 | 634.0 | 3.8 | ||||||||||||
| Pathogens | 3,332.4 | 2,459.0 | 4.9 | 28.9 | |||||||||||
| Pesticides | 258.2 | 2,133.0 | |||||||||||||
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 189.7 | 922.0 | 219.7 | 6.0 | |||||||||||
| Temperature | 452.4 | 2.5 | |||||||||||||
| Toxic Inorganics | 3,172.5 | 1,194.0 | 3.9 | ||||||||||||
| Turbidity | 2,535.6 | 713.0 | 3.8 | 7.1 | |||||||||||
Puerto Rico Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined Probable Source Group to see a list of specific state Probable Sources making up the Probable Source Group. | |||||||||||||||
| Probable Source Group | Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairments | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles) |
Coastal Shoreline (Miles) |
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| Agriculture | 4,010.4 | 4,385.0 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||
| Construction | 55.5 | .0 | |||||||||||||
| Hydromodification | 47.9 | 3.7 | |||||||||||||
| Industrial | 2,884.3 | 919.0 | 4.4 | 3.0 | |||||||||||
| Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | 1,969.3 | 560.0 | .4 | ||||||||||||
| Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | 4,568.5 | 6,016.0 | 775.1 | 18.3 | |||||||||||
| Recreational Boating And Marinas | 216.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Resource Extraction | 445.4 | .0 | |||||||||||||
| Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | 2,814.5 | 1,413.0 | 774.0 | 20.4 | |||||||||||
Puerto Rico TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008
No TMDL Alternatives reported.
Puerto Rico Previously Impaired Waters Now Attaining All Uses
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of Waters Attaining" value for a detailed list of those waters now attaining all uses. | ||
| Cycle Attaining | Number of Waters Attaining | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
1 |
Puerto Rico Causes of Impairment for 303(d) Listed Waters
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on a cause of impairment (e.g. pathogens) to see the specific state-reported causes that are grouped to make up this category. Click on the "Number of Causes of Impairment Reported" to see a list of waters with that cause of impairment. | |
| Cause of Impairment Group Name | Number of Causes of Impairment Reported |
|---|---|
| Metals (other than Mercury) | 180 |
| Pathogens | 110 |
| Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | 88 |
| Toxic Inorganics | 77 |
| Turbidity | 57 |
| Other Cause | 57 |
| Pesticides | 16 |
| Mercury | 14 |
| Ammonia | 13 |
| pH/Acidity/Caustic Conditions | 12 |
| Nutrients | 11 |
| Temperature | 11 |
Total: 646 Causes of Impairment
Puerto Rico Cumulative TMDLs by Pollutant
This chart includes TMDLs since October 1, 1995.
Description of this table| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Pollutant" value to see associated listed waters for which a TMDL was developed. Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs" value to see a listing of those TMDLs for the pollutant. | ||
| Pollutant | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Fecal Coliform |  45 |
45 |
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) | 4 |
4 |
| Copper | 2 |
2 |
| Total Ammonia | 2 |
2 |
Total: 53 TMDLs; 53 Causes of Impairment Addressed
Puerto Rico Cumulative Number of TMDLs
EPA Fiscal Year starts October 1 and ends September 30.
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDLs Completed" value for a detailed list of the TMDLs for the fiscal year. | ||
| Fiscal Year | Number of TMDLs | Number of Causes of Impairment Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 14 |
14 |
| 2003 | 4 |
4 |
| 2007 | 27 |
27 |
| 2008 | 8 |
8 |
Total: 53 TMDLs; 53 Causes of Impairment Addressed