OAC 252:730-5-16
Primary Body Contact Recreation
Cite as Okla. Admin. Code § 252:730-5-16
(a) Primary Body Contact Recreation involves direct body contact with the water where a
possibility of ingestion exists. In these cases the water shall not contain chemical, physical or
biological substances in concentrations that are irritating to skin or sense organs or are toxic or
cause illness upon ingestion by human beings.
(b) In waters designated for Primary Body Contact Recreation the following limits for bacteria set
forth in (c) of this section shall apply only during the recreation period of May 1 to September 30.
The criteria for Secondary Body Contact Recreation will apply during the remainder of the year.
(c) Compliance with OAC 252:730-5-16 shall be based upon meeting the requirements of one of
the options specified in (1) or (2) of this subsection (c) for bacteria. Upon selection of one (1)
group or test method, said method shall be used exclusively over the time period prescribed
therefore. Provided, where concurrent data exist for multiple bacterial indicators on the same
waterbody or waterbody segment, no criteria exceedances shall be allowed for any indicator group.
(1) Escherichia coli (E. coli): The E. coli geometric mean criterion is 126/100 ml. For
swimming advisory and permitting purposes, E. coli shall not exceed a monthly geometric
mean of 126/100 ml based upon a minimum of not less than five (5) samples collected over a
period of not more than thirty (30) days. For swimming advisory and permitting purposes, no
sample shall exceed a 75% one-sided confidence level of 235/100 ml in lakes and high use
waterbodies and the 90% one-sided confidence level of 406/100 ml in all other Primary Body
Contact Recreation beneficial use areas. These values are based upon all samples collected
over the recreation period. For purposes of sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the federal Clean
Water Act as amended, beneficial use support status shall be assessed using only the geometric
mean criterion of 126/100 milliliters compared to the geometric mean of all samples collected
over the recreation period.
(2) Enterococci: The Enterococci geometric mean criterion is 33/100 ml. For swimming
advisory and permitting purposes, Enterococci shall not exceed a monthly geometric mean of
33/100 ml based upon a minimum of not less than five (5) samples collected over a period of
not more than thirty (30) days. For swimming advisory and permitting purposes, no sample
shall exceed a 75% one-sided confidence level of 61/100 ml in lakes and high use waterbodies
and the 90% one-sided confidence level of 108/100 ml in all other Primary Body Contact
Recreation beneficial use areas. These values are based upon all samples collected over the
recreation period. For purposes of sections 303(d) and 305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act
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as amended, beneficial use support status shall be assessed using only the geometric mean
criterion of 33/100 milliliters compared to the geometric mean of all samples collected over
the recreation period.