General Glossary

The maximum level at which a contaminant can exist in drinking
water without having an adverse effect on human health.

(a) Any substance defined in the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 (but
not including any substance regulated as a hazardous waste) or
(b) petroleum, including crude oil or any fraction thereof that
is liquid at standard conditions of temperature and pressure.
Petroleum and petroleum-based substances are comprised of a
complex blend of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil through
processes of separation, conversion, and finishing, such as

POMS are a broad class of compounds that includes the
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs), of which benzo
[a]pyrene is a member. POM compounds are formed primarily from
combustion and are present in the atmosphere in particulate
form. Sources of air emissions are diverse and include
cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, home heating, laying tar, and
grilling meat. Cancer is the major concern from exposure to
POM. Epidemiologic studies have reported an increase in lung

"Dioxins" refers to a group of chemical compounds that share
certain chemical structures and biological characteristics.
Several hundred of these compounds exist and are members of
three closely related families: the chlorinated dibenzo-p-
dioxins (CDDs), chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) and certain
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Sometimes the term dioxin is
also used to refer to the most studied and one of the most
toxic dioxins, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). CDDs

Caused by human activity.

A beneficial use designation in which the waterbody provides
suitable habitat for survival and reproduction of desirable
fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms.

Refers to water body type as indicated in MDNR's PWI. PWI
serves to document all public waters (lakes and wetlands) and
assign individual ID numbers. (consistent with Bulletin 25).
However some lakes in Bulletin 25 are really protected wetlands
and are coded as "W" whereas protected lakes have the codes
"P" or "L" in the
PWI. Lakes that are "wetlands" based on the PWI were
not
assessed for the 303(d) list, however this differentiation was

<p>The concentration of molecular oxygen (O2) dissolved in
water, usually expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L), parts
per million, or percent of saturation. The DO level represents
one of the most important measurements of water quality and is a
critical indicator of a water body's ability to support healthy
ecosystems. Levels above 5 mg/L are considered optimal, and
most fish cannot survive for prolonged periods at levels below
3 mg/L.</p>

Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) are a family of manmade chemicals
that have been used for decades to make products that resist
heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Common uses include
nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, as
components of fire-fighting foam, and other industrial
applications.

Lowest observation.