On This Page
- Connecticut 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:
Connecticut Assessment Report
State Water Quality Program
Connecticut 2008 Water Quality Assessment Report
Connecticut 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) |
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| Good Waters | 1,224.9 | 20,654.5 | 192.3 | ||||||||||||
| Previously impaired waters now attaining all uses |
16.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Threatened Waters | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | |||||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | |||||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | |||||||||||||||
| Impaired Waters | 874.1 | 6,220.5 | 419.6 | ||||||||||||
| TMDL completed | 76.0 | 256.7 | 173.8 | ||||||||||||
| TMDL alternative | 23.7 | 339.3 | |||||||||||||
| Non-pollutant impairment | 29.7 | 392.1 | |||||||||||||
| TMDL needed | 744.7 | 5,232.4 | 245.7 | ||||||||||||
| New TMDLs completed | 1.8 | .0 | .0 | ||||||||||||
| Remaining TMDLs needed | 742.9 | 5,232.4 | 245.7 | ||||||||||||
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| Total Assessed Waters | 2,099.1 | 26,874.9 | 611.9 | ||||||||||||
| Total Waters | 5,830.0 | 64,973.0 | 613.3 | ||||||||||||
| Percent of Waters Assessed | 36.0 | 41.4 | 99.8 | ||||||||||||
Summary of Water Quality Assessments for Each Waterbody Type
for Reporting Year 2008
Connecticut Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams
Reporting Year 2008
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Connecticut 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing Or Proposed Drinking Water | 1.2 | .0 | .0 | 100.0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 2,097.2 | 93.8 | .0 | 6.2 | |
| Habitat For Fish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife | 1,198.9 | 67.0 | .0 | 33.0 | |
| Recreation | 812.7 | 14.0 | .0 | 86.0 |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens | |
| Cause Unknown | Cause Unknown | |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Enterococcus Bacteria | Pathogens | |
| Other Flow Regime Alterations | Flow Alteration(s) | |
| Physical Substrate Habitat Alterations | Habitat Alterations | |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | |
| Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) | Total Toxics | |
| Iron | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Alterations in Wetland Habitats | Habitat Alterations | |
| Chlorine | Chlorine | |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Mercury | Mercury | |
| Zinc | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Propylene Glycol | Toxic Organics | |
| Ethylene Glycol | Toxic Organics | |
| Lead | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Ammonia, Un-ionized | Ammonia | |
| Temperature, Water | Temperature | |
| Sodium | Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates | |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | |
| Uranium | Radiation | |
| Cobalt | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators | Nutrients | |
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Organic Enrichment (Sewage) Biological Indicators | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Sulfates | Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates | |
| Diesel Fuel | Oil and Grease |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Source Unknown | Unknown | |
| Unspecified Urban Stormwater | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Municipal Point Source Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Sources Outside State Jurisdiction Or Borders | Other | |
| Industrial Point Source Discharge | Industrial | |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Illicit Connections/Hook-Ups To Storm Sewers | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | |
| Contaminated Sediments | Legacy/Historical Pollutants | |
| Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | |
| Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification | Hydromodification | |
| Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures) | Hydromodification | |
| Channelization | Hydromodification | |
| Site Clearance (Land Development Or Redevelopment) | Construction | |
| Baseflow Depletion From Groundwater Withdrawals | Hydromodification | |
| Above Ground Storage Tank Leaks (Tank Farms) | Spills/Dumping | |
| Flow Alterations From Water Diversions | Hydromodification | |
| Golf Courses | Recreation And Tourism (Non-Boating) | |
| Dredge Mining | Resource Extraction | |
| Loss Of Riparian Habitat | Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification) | |
| Animal Feeding Operations (Nps) | Agriculture | |
| Livestock (Grazing Or Feeding Operations) | Agriculture | |
| Waterfowl | Natural/Wildlife | |
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Surface Mining | Resource Extraction | |
| Habitat Modification - Other Than Hydromodification | Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification) | |
| Irrigated Crop Production | Agriculture | |
| Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation | Hydromodification | |
| Industrial Land Treatment | Industrial | |
| Natural Sources | Natural/Wildlife | |
| Airports | Industrial | |
| Accidental Release/Spill | Spills/Dumping | |
| Non-Point Source | Unspecified Nonpoint Source | |
| Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Streambank Modifications/Destabilization | Hydromodification | |
| Drainage/Filling/Loss Of Wetlands | Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification) | |
| Managed Pasture Grazing | Agriculture | |
| Discharges From Biosolids (Sludge) Storage, Application Or Disposal | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | |
| Inappropriate Waste Disposal | Spills/Dumping | |
| Non-Irrigated Crop Production | Agriculture | |
| Leaking Underground Storage Tanks | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks |
Connecticut Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds
Reporting Year 2008
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Connecticut 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing Or Proposed Drinking Water | 1,190.3 | 100.0 | .0 | .0 | |
| Fish Consumption | 26,864.2 | 85.9 | .0 | 14.1 | |
| Habitat For Fish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife | 26,618.9 | 95.6 | .0 | 4.4 | |
| Recreation | 24,526.2 | 80.5 | .0 | 19.5 |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators | Nutrients | |
| Excess Algal Growth | Algal Growth | |
| Chlorophyll-A | Algal Growth | |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Taste and Odor | Taste, Color and Odor | |
| Debris/Floatables/Trash | Trash | |
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens | |
| Mercury | Mercury | |
| Non-Native Aquatic Plants | Nuisance Exotic Species | |
| Other Flow Regime Alterations | Flow Alteration(s) | |
| Sedimentation/Siltation | Sediment | |
| Turbidity | Turbidity | |
| Phosphorus, Total | Nutrients | |
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Alterations in Wetland Habitats | Habitat Alterations | |
| Enterococcus Bacteria | Pathogens | |
| Chlordane | Pesticides | |
| Lead | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | Turbidity | |
| Cadmium | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Ammonia, Un-ionized | Ammonia | |
| Organic Enrichment (Sewage) Biological Indicators | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Contaminated Sediments | Legacy/Historical Pollutants | |
| Sources Outside State Jurisdiction Or Borders | Other | |
| Industrial Point Source Discharge | Industrial | |
| Source Unknown | Unknown | |
| Unspecified Urban Stormwater | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | |
| Municipal Point Source Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Non-Point Source | Unspecified Nonpoint Source | |
| Atmospheric Deposition - Toxics | Atmospheric Deposition | |
| Internal Nutrient Recycling | Natural/Wildlife | |
| Waterfowl | Natural/Wildlife | |
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification | Hydromodification | |
| Post-Development Erosion And Sedimentation | Hydromodification | |
| Sediment Resuspension (Clean Sediment) | Hydromodification | |
| Habitat Modification - Other Than Hydromodification | Habitat Alterations (Not Directly Related To Hydromodification) | |
| Above Ground Storage Tank Leaks (Tank Farms) | Spills/Dumping | |
| Natural Sources | Natural/Wildlife | |
| Surface Mining | Resource Extraction | |
| Other Spill Related Impacts | Spills/Dumping | |
| Streambank Modifications/Destabilization | Hydromodification | |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Discharges From Biosolids (Sludge) Storage, Application Or Disposal | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks |
Connecticut Assessed Waters
Summary of Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries
Reporting Year 2008
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Connecticut 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Shellfish Harvesting Where Authorized | 65.1 | 60.1 | .0 | 39.9 | |
| Fish Consumption | 611.9 | 98.6 | .0 | 1.4 | |
| Habitat For Marine Fish, Other Aquatic Life And Wildlife | 548.5 | 42.7 | .0 | 57.3 | |
| Recreation | 40.2 | 71.1 | .0 | 28.9 | |
| Shellfish Harvesting For Direct Consumption Where Authorized | 246.4 | 17.3 | .0 | 82.7 |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolved Oxygen | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Dissolved Oxygen Saturation | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Nutrient/Eutrophication Biological Indicators | Nutrients | |
| Nitrogen, Total | Nutrients | |
| Fecal Coliform | Pathogens | |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Estuarine Bioassessments | Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota | |
| Enterococcus Bacteria | Pathogens | |
| Oil and Grease | Oil and Grease | |
| Cause Unknown | Cause Unknown | |
| Organic Enrichment (Sewage) Biological Indicators | Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Aquatic Ecosystems) | Toxic Organics | |
| Zinc | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Copper | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Dioxin (Including 2,3,7,8-TCDD) | Dioxins | |
| Lead | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Mercury | Mercury | |
| Alterations in Wetland Habitats | Habitat Alterations | |
| Gold | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Silver | Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | Pathogens |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unspecified Urban Stormwater | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Residential Districts | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Non-Point Source | Unspecified Nonpoint Source | |
| Atmospheric Deposition - Nitrogen | Atmospheric Deposition | |
| Municipal Point Source Discharges | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Industrial Point Source Discharge | Industrial | |
| Marina/Boating Sanitary On-Vessel Discharges | Recreational Boating And Marinas | |
| Combined Sewer Overflows | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Waterfowl | Natural/Wildlife | |
| On-Site Treatment Systems (Septic Systems And Similar Decentralized Systems) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Wet Weather Discharges (Point Source And Combination Of Stormwater, Sso Or Cso) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Source Unknown | Unknown | |
| Natural Sources | Natural/Wildlife | |
| Contaminated Sediments | Legacy/Historical Pollutants | |
| Landfills | Land Application/Waste Sites/Tanks | |
| Illicit Connections/Hook-Ups To Storm Sewers | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Sources Outside State Jurisdiction Or Borders | Other | |
| Sanitary Sewer Overflows (Collection System Failures) | Municipal Dishcarges/Sewage | |
| Agriculture | Agriculture | |
| Industrial/Commercial Site Stormwater Discharge (Permitted) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Airports | Industrial | |
| Upstream Impoundments (E.G., Pl-566 Nrcs Structures) | Hydromodification | |
| Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff (Non-Construction Related) | Urban-Related Runoff/Stormwater | |
| Other Spill Related Impacts | Spills/Dumping | |
| Dredge Mining | Resource Extraction | |
| Non-Irrigated Crop Production | Agriculture | |
| Flow Alterations From Water Diversions | Hydromodification | |
| Impacts From Hydrostructure Flow Regulation/Modification | Hydromodification |
Connecticut Causes of Impairment for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
Connecticut Probable Sources Contributing to Impairments
for Reporting Year 2008
Description of this table
Connecticut TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment 2008
Description of this table
| NOTE: Click on the underlined "Number of TMDL Alternatives by Cause of Impairment " value to see a listing of those Causes of Impairment. | ||||||||||||||
| Cause of Impairment | Number of TMDL Alternatives |
Rivers and Streams (Miles) |
Lakes, Reservoirs, and Ponds (Acres) |
Bays and Estuaries (Square Miles) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | 49 | 2,861 | ||||||||||||
| Chlorine | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Cobalt | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Diesel Fuel | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Lead | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Mercury | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Sulfates | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Uranium | 1 | |||||||||||||
Total: 17 TMDL Alternatives
Connecticut 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 | 8 | |
| 2006 | 3 | |
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|
| Pathogens | |
| Cause Unknown | |
| Organic Enrichment/Oxygen Depletion | |
| Nutrients | |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) | |
| Metals (other than Mercury) | |
| Algal Growth | |
| Mercury | |
| Oil and Grease | |
| Cause Unknown - Impaired Biota | |
| Sediment | |
| Turbidity | |
| Dioxins | |
| Pesticides | |
| Ammonia | |
| Toxic Organics | |
| Chlorine | |
| Taste, Color and Odor | |
| Other Cause | |
| Salinity/Total Dissolved Solids/Chlorides/Sulfates | |
| Total Toxics | |
Total: 684 Causes of Impairment
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) | 64 | |
| Copper | 6 | |
| Zinc | 5 | |
| Chlorine | 4 | |
| Algal Growth | 3 | |
| Ammonia | 3 | |
| Lead | 3 | |
| 1,2-Propanediol | 2 | |
| Ethylene Glycol | 2 | |
| Fecal Coliform | 2 | |
| Nitrogen, Total | 2 | |
| Nutrients | 2 | |
| Organic Enrichment/Low Dissolved Oxygen | 2 | |
| Phosphorus, Total | 2 | |
| Pollutants in Urban Stormwater | 2 | |
| Turbidity | 2 | |
| Algal Growth/Chlorophyll A | 1 | |
| Chlorophyll-A | 1 | |
| Nitrogen | 1 | |
| Toxicity | 1 | |
Total: 109 TMDLs; 110 Causes of Impairment Addressed
Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 | |
| 2001 | 9 | |
| 2002 | 7 | |
| 2004 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 30 | |
| 2006 | 16 | |
| 2007 | 7 | |
| 2008 | 27 | |
Total: 109 TMDLs; 110 Causes of Impairment Addressed
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