# Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.01: Purpose

> Wisconsin · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_01

## Section

- **Citation:** Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.01
- **Heading:** Purpose
- **Jurisdiction:** Wisconsin
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Wisconsin Administrative Code / NR / Chapter NR 102 / § NR 102.01

## Text

Purpose.
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish, in conjunction with chs. NR 103 to 105 , water quality standards for surface waters of the state pursuant to s. 281.15 , Stats. This chapter describes the designated use categories for such waters and the water quality criteria necessary to support these uses. This chapter , chs. NR 103 to 105 , and ch. NR 119 constitute the water quality standards for the surface waters of Wisconsin.
(2) The long-range goal of Wisconsin water quality standards is to protect the use of water resources for all lawful purposes. Water quality standards shall protect the public interest, which includes the protection of public health and welfare and the present and prospective uses of all waters of the state for public and private water supplies, propagation of fish and other aquatic life and wild and domestic animals, domestic and recreational purposes, and agricultural, commercial, industrial, and other legitimate uses. In all cases where the potential uses are in conflict, water quality standards shall protect the general public interest.
(3) Water quality standards serve as a basis for developing and implementing control strategies to achieve legislative policies and goals. Water quality standards are the basis for deriving water quality based effluent limitations and the limitations shall be determined to attain and maintain uses and criteria, unless more stringent effluent limitations are established to protect downstream waters. Water quality standards also serve as a basis for decisions in other regulatory, permitting or funding activities that impact water quality.

## Nearby sections

- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.01 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_01.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.02 Applicability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_02.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.03 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_03.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.04 Categories of surface water uses and criteria](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_04.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.05 Application of standards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_05.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.06 Phosphorus](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_06.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.07 Assessing phosphorus concentration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_07.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.10 Outstanding resource waters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_10.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.11 Exceptional resource waters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_11.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.12 Great Lakes system](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_12.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.13 Fish and aquatic life waters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_13.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.14 Taste and odor criteria](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_14.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.20 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_20.md)
- [Wis. Admin. Code NR § 102.22 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_22.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WI_ADC_NR_102_01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.