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Water Quality Rulemaking

General Information

Executive Order 10 - Background

Executive Order 10 (EO10) signed by the Governor on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded. The EO10 process for both the review of existing rules and the reauthorization of retained rules includes public engagement throughout the process. Opportunities for public input and information for public review during the Water Quality Bureau's implementation of EO10 will be posted on this webpage as they become available.

EO10 - Water Quality Bureau (WQB) Introductory Presentation

Asistencia lingüística gratuita (Free Language Assistance)

Si habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, los servicios de asistencia lingüística están disponibles de forma gratuita. Llame al (515) 725-8200.

If you speak a non-English language, we offer you language assistance services free of charge. Call (515) 725-8200.

WQB Rulemaking Schedule and News

Anticipated Rulemaking Schedule

Except for Chapter 9, the Regulatory Analyses for the EO10 rule revisions were published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin (IAB) on September 9, 2024. The Notices of Intended Action were published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin (IAB) on January 1, 2025. The new rules and rescissions are expected to become effective in Spring of 2025.

Notice of Intended Action Public Hearings

Please see the rule groups below for the notice of intended action (NOIA) public hearing dates, times, and meeting links.

Newsletters

Meeting invitations and materials will be posted on this webpage and announced through the Water Quality Bureau electronic newsletters. Please use the links below to sign up for one or more of the newsletters.

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WQB Rules Grouped by Topic

The WQB currently manages 31 rule chapters, all of which are in 567 (Environmental Protection Commission) of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC). For ease of review, the Bureau’s chapters have been placed into nine groups by topic. Each group and its corresponding chapters are listed below. To view the current and proposed rule documents, EO10 materials, and staff contacts for each group, please use the links below.

Quick Links to Groups with Posted Rules:

Group 1 - Chapter 9
Group 2 - Chapters 38, 39, 49, & 82
Group 3 - Chapters 40, 41, 42, & 43
Group 4 - Chapters 50 to 55
Groups 5 and 6 - Chapters 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 67, and the IWFDS
Group 7 - Chapters 68 and 69
Group 8- Chapters 81 and 83, Operator Certification and Laboratory Certification
Group 9 - Chapters 90 to 93 & 44, Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF

Group 1 - Delegation of Construction Permitting Authority, Chapter 9

Short Summary: Group 1 contains Chapter 9, which was DNR’s delegation of construction permitting authority to Local Systems. The rule provided a framework for the water supply and wastewater extension delegated authority program from Iowa Code 455B.183. However, in practice, the rule effectively mirrored the Code. Since there is no reason to have the language in two places, we rescinded this chapter. The rescinded version of Chapter 9 was effective on June 19, 2024.

Chapter 9 Rule Documents:

9, Effective 6/19/2024 9, New Guidance Document (6/9/2023) 9 NOIA (12/27/2023)

Group 2 - Wells, Chapters 38, 39, 49, and 82

Short Summary: Group 2 contains Private Water Well Construction Permits (38), Requirements for Properly Plugging Abandoned Wells (39), Nonpublic Water Supply Wells (49), and Well Contractor Certification (82). We are proposing to revise Chapters 39 and 82, and combine Chapters 38 and 49 in to one new Chapter 49.

NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheet: Well Rules EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapters 38, 39, 49, and 82

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 39 Documents (Plugging Abandoned Wells):
39 NOIA (1/8/2025) 39 Current Rule 39 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 82 Documents (Well Contractor Certification):
82 NOIA (1/8/2025) 82 Current Rule 82 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 49 Documents (38 and 49 Combined Rule):
49 (& 38) NOIA (1/8/2025) 38 Current Rule
49 Current Rule 		49 & 38 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Contact email: Erik Day, erik.day@dnr.iowa.gov

Group 3 - Drinking Water, Chapters 40, 41, 42, and 43

Short Summary: Group 3 contains the drinking water chapters regarding definitions and forms (40), water supplies (41), public notice, public education, consumer confidence reports, reporting, and record maintenance (42), and water supply design and operation (43). We are proposing to revise chapters 41 and 43, and combine chapters 40 and 42 into one new Chapter 40.

NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheet: Drinking Water Rules EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapters 40 to 43

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 40 Documents (40 and 42 Combined Rule):
40, 42 NOIA (1/8/2025) 40 Current Rule
42 Current Rule 		40 Proposed Changes (Chpt. 40 only) (9/4/2024)
42 Proposed Changes (with Chpt. 40) (9/4/2024)

  • Chapter 41 Documents:
41 NOIA (1/8/2025) 41 Current Rule 41 Proposed Changes (7/27/2024)

  • Chapter 43 Documents:
43 NOIA (1/8/2025) 43 Current Rule 43 Proposed Changes (7/28/2024)

Comment Emails and Contact: Carmily Stone, carmily.stone@dnr.iowa.gov

Group 4 - Water Allocation and Use, Chapters 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, and 55

Short Summary: Group 4 contains the Water Allocation and Use chapters regarding definitions and forms (50), water permits or registration (51), water withdrawal, diversion, and storage (52), protected water sources (53), water use permit restrictions and well interference compensation, and aquifer storage and recovery (55). We are proposing to combine Chapters 50, 51, and 52 in to one new Chapter 50 and to revise chapter 53, 54, and 55. 

NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheet: Water Allocation and Use EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapters 50 through 55

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 50 Documents (50, 51, and 52 Combined Rule):
50 (& 51, 52) NOIA (1/8/2025) 50 Current Rule
51 Current Rule
52 Current Rule 		50 (& 51, 52) Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 53 Documents (Protected Water Sources):
53 NOIA (1/8/2025) 53 Current Rule 53 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 54 Documents (Water Use Permit Restrictions and Well Interference Compensation):
54 NOIA (1/8/2025) 54 Current Rule 54 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 55 Documents (Aquifer Storage and Recovery):
55 NOIA (1/8/2025) 55 Current Rule 55 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Comment Emails and Contacts: Chad Fields, chad.fields@dnr.iowa.gov, Heidi Cline, heidi.cline@dnr.iowa.gov

Groups 5 and 6 - Wastewater Construction and Operation Permits and Sludge, Chapters 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 67

Short Summary: Group 5 contains the wastewater chapters regarding definitions and forms (60), effluent and pretreatment standards (62) and wastewater monitoring and reporting requirements (63). Group 6 contains the wastewater construction and operating permit requirements and the rule-referenced Iowa Wastewater Facilities Design Standards (IWFDS) (64), pesticide applications (66), and the land application of sewage sludge (67). We are proposing to revise chapter 67, and to combine chapters 60, 64, and 66 into one new Chapter 60.

NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheets:

Wastewater Rules (60-69) EO10 Fact Sheet Iowa Wastewater Facilities Design Standards (IWFDS) EO10 Fact Sheet

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 60 Documents:
60 (& 64, 66) NOIA (1/8/2025) 60 Current Rule
64 Current Rule
66 Current Rule 		60 & 64 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 62 Documents:
62 NOIA (1/8/2025) 62 Current Rule 62 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 63 Documents:
63 NOIA (1/8/2025) 63 Current Rule 63 Proposed Changes (9/4/2024)

  • IWFDS Documents:
Current Wastewater Engineering Design Standards IWFDS Clean (11/5/2024) IWFDS Proposed Changes (11/5/2024)

  • Chapter 67 Documents:
67 NOIA (1/8/2025) 67 Current Rule 67 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Comment Email: npdes.mail@dnr.iowa.gov.

Contacts: Chapters 60, 62, 63, 64, and 66 - Courtney Cswercko, courtney.cswercko@dnr.iowa.gov and Eric Wiklund, eric.wilklund@dnr.iowa.gov; IWFDS and Chapter 67 - Satya Chennupati, satya.chennupati@dnr.iowa.gov

Group 7 - Septic Pumping and Onsite Wastewater, Chapters 68 and 69

Short Summary: Group 7 contains the chapters regarding commercial septic tank cleaners (68) and private sewage disposal systems (69). We are proposing revisions to both chapters.

NOIA Hearings: The NOIA hearings for Chapters 68 and 69 will be held together with the other wastewater chapters. Please see the hearing information in Group 6 above.

Fact Sheet: Wastewater (Septic and Onsite Rules) EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapters 60 to 69

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 68 Documents:
68 NOIA (1/8/2025) 68 Current Rule 68 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

  • Chapter 69 Documents:
69 NOIA (1/8/2025) 69 Current Rule 69 Proposed Changes (7/29/2024)

Comment Email: npdes.mail@dnr.iowa.gov.

Contacts: Cory Frank, cory.frank@dnr.iowa.gov and Eric Wiklund, eric.wilklund@dnr.iowa.gov

Group 8 - Operator and Laboratory Certification, Chapters 81 and 83

Short Summary: Group 8 contains the chapters regarding water and wastewater operator certification (81) and laboratory certification (83). We are proposing revisions to both chapters.

Operator Certification, Chapter 81

Chapter 81 NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheet: Operator Certification EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapter 81

  • Chapter 81 Rule Documents:
81 NOIA (1/8/2025) 81 Current Rule 81 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Contact Email: Laurie Sharp, laurie.sharp@dnr.iowa.gov

Laboratory Certification, Chapter 83

Chapter 83 NOIA Hearings:

  • Chapter 83 Documents:
83 NOIA (1/8/2025) 83 Current Rule Chapter 83 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Contact Email: Kathy Lee, kathy.lee@dnr.iowa.gov

Group 9 - Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), Chapters 90, 91, 92, 93, and 44

Short Summary: Group 9 contains chapters regarding the Scope of Title - Definitions - Forms (90), Criteria for Ranking Projects for the CWSRF (91), Clean Water State Revolving Fund(92), Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Programs(93), and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (44). We are proposing to revise chapter 44 and to combine Chapters 90 through 93 in to one chapter, a new Chapter 90.

NOIA Hearings:

Fact Sheets: Please see the following fact sheets for a high-level overview of the proposed changes to the SRF chapters.

DWSRF EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapter 44 CWSRF EO10 Fact Sheet, Chapters 90-93

Rule Documents - Regulatory Analyses, current rules, and proposed changes:

  • Chapter 90 Documents (90-93 Combined Rule):
90 (& 91, 92, 93) NOIA (1/8/2025) 90 Current Rule
91 Current Rule
92 Current Rule
93 Current Rule 		90-93 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)
  • Chapter 44 Documents:
44 NOIA (1/8/2025) 44 Current Rule 44 Proposed Changes (1/8/2025)

Comment Email: SRF-pc@dnr.iowa.gov

Contacts: Chapters 90 - 93: Theresa Enright, thresea.enright@dnr.iowa.gov, Chapter 44: Tara Naber, tara.naber@dnr.iowa.gov