Section 160. Fecal coliform bacteria; shellfish waters

Part II. Standards with More Specific Application

In all open ocean or estuarine waters capable of propagating shellfish or in specific areas where public or leased private shellfish beds are present, and including those waters on which condemnation are established by the State Department of Health, the following criteria for fecal coliform bacteria shall apply:

The geometric mean fecal coliform value for a sampling station shall not exceed an MPN (most probable number) or MF (membrane filtration using mTEC culture media) of 14 per 100 milliliters (ml). The estimated 90th percentile shall not exceed an MPN of 43 per 100 ml for a 5-tube decimal dilution test or an MPN of 49 per 100 ml for a 3-tube decimal dilution test or MF test of 31 CFU (colony forming units) per 100 ml.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR680-21-02.1, eff. May 20, 1992; amended, Volume 14, Issue 04, eff. December 10, 1997; Volume 19, Issue 07, eff. January 15, 2003; Volume 26, Issue 12, eff. February 1, 2010.

Statutory Authority

§ 62.1-44.15 of the Code of Virginia; 33 USC § 1251 et seq. of the federal Clean Water Act; 40 CFR Part 131.