Which of the following best describes the purpose of secondary water quality standards?

Which of the following best describes the purpose of secondary water quality standards?

• A. To enforce strict penalties for water pollution
• B. To protect human health from contaminants
• C. To maintain aesthetic qualities like taste and odor of water
• D. To regulate the industrial discharge into water bodies

Answer: (C)

Secondary water quality standards are designed primarily to maintain the aesthetic qualities of water, including parameters such as taste, odor, and color. These standards are not legally enforceable like primary standards but serve to guide water quality management in a way that helps ensure public satisfaction with water supplies. While protecting human health from contaminants is critical, that is the focus of primary standards, which aim to safeguard public health by limiting the presence of harmful substances in drinking water. Similarly, enforcing penalties for pollution or regulating industrial discharges are aspects of environmental enforcement and compliance but do not describe the intent of secondary standards specifically. Thus, the emphasis on aesthetic qualities best aligns with the purpose of secondary water quality standards.

Secondary water quality standards are designed primarily to maintain the aesthetic qualities of water, including parameters such as taste, odor, and color. These standards are not legally enforceable like primary standards but serve to guide water quality management in a way that helps ensure public satisfaction with water supplies.

While protecting human health from contaminants is critical, that is the focus of primary standards, which aim to safeguard public health by limiting the presence of harmful substances in drinking water. Similarly, enforcing penalties for pollution or regulating industrial discharges are aspects of environmental enforcement and compliance but do not describe the intent of secondary standards specifically. Thus, the emphasis on aesthetic qualities best aligns with the purpose of secondary water quality standards.