For the purposes of the Clean Water Act, water pollution can be measured in terms of its effect on “beneficial uses” of the water. These may be a downstream fishery, a municipal water supply, a swimming area, or other direct uses of the water that may be sensitive to pollutants.
desirable uses that water quality should support. Examples are drinking water supply, primary contact recreation (such as swimming), and aquatic life support.
uses of Lake Erie that are valued by society, such as water quality that is suitable for drinking, swimming, agricultural, and industrial uses; healthy fish and wildlife populations which support a broad range of subsistence, sport, and commercial uses; and aesthetics. The first stage of LaMP development focuses on impairments to specific beneficial uses that are listed in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Desirable uses of a water resource such as recreation (fishing, boating, swimming) and water supply.
Those activities that are dependent on the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes system; the impairment of which is identified under Annex 2 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
Uses designated in Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards for public water supply, for protection and propagation of fish and other wildlife, and for primary and secondary contact recreation and any other uses that do not impair these designated uses.
As referred to in the State Water Quality Standards, beneficial uses are activities that range from recreational to agricultural uses, depending on the source of the water.