Introduction (Adopted November 21, 1991)

Introduction (Adopted November 21, 1991). Mississippi groundwaters are among the basic resources of the state. They are utilized for many economically beneficial purposes, including agricultural irrigation, aquaculture, livestock watering, & industrial manufacturing. The most critical use, however, is that it serves as the principal source of drinking water in the state. In fact, over 90% of the population of the state utilizes groundwater as its potable water supply. Therefore, the standards adopted herein focus on preserving the quality of the groundwater as a drinking water resource. In doing so, it is generally believed that other uses will be adequately protected. It is the policy of the Commission on Environmental Quality that where alternate technology is available, groundwater should not be used for wastewater disposal. Therefore, the standards adopted herein should not be misconstrued to allow or condone deliberate, limited degradation of groundwater from disposal practices that can be avoided with alternate technology.