Wastewater and NPDES Rules
General Information about Iowa's Wastewater and NPDES Rules
The Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) contains several chapters regulating the direct discharge of wastewater to waters of the state. The chapters containing most of the wastewater permit regulations (including individual, general, and storm water NPDES permits, operation permits, and wastewater construction permits) are as follows:
To access the rules regarding NPDES permits for Animal Feeding Operations (Chapter 65), please see the Animal Feeding Operations main page. To access the rules regarding onsite (private) wastewater systems (Chapters 68, 69, and 93), please see the Private Septic Systems page.
The chapters above are regularly updated through the state's rulemaking process. Rulemaking for NPDES permits is a continuous process. Please refer to the Current NPDES Rulemaking Actions section below for more information on any proposed rule changes.
When a change to the wastewater rules is proposed, it is presented to the Iowa DNR Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) for approval as a Notice of Intended Action. If approved by the EPC, it is published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin (IAB) as a Notice of Intended Action (NOIA). Once the NOIA is published, the rule is discussed at the next legislative Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) meeting. After a public comment period in which hearings are held and comments are accepted, the proposed rule is presented to the EPC for approval as a Final Rule. If a final rule is approved by the EPC, after consideration of public comments, it is published in the Administrative Bulletin as a Final Rule. The final rule will be presented to the ARRC after it is published and before it becomes effective.
Occasionally, rules can be filed without notice, meaning that there is no public comment period. When a rule is filed without notice, it is presented to the EPC, published in the IAB, and presented to the ARRC as a final rule.
For more information regarding the wastewater rules, please contact Adam Schnieders at 515-281-7409 or adam.schnieders@dnr.iowa.gov.
Current NPDES Rulemaking Actions
Wetlands Permitting:
The NPDES Section is proceeding with rulemaking for Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code regarding wetlands permitting. For more information on the rulemaking associated with wetlands permitting (401 Certification), please see the Wetlands Permitting page.
Disadvantaged Community Rules:
The pre-rulemaking process to implement Iowa Code 455B.199A as modified by Senate File 407 (SF407) has begun. SF407, which addresses disadvantaged community status in relation to wastewater regulations, was signed on April 28, 2011. The code section and the senate file establish criteria that DNR must use to determine if ratepayers or a community will experience substantial and widespread economic and social impact and qualify as disadvantaged as a result of complying with wastewater regulations.
An open meeting to discuss proposed rules was held on November 16, 2011. Six regional Unsewered Community Open Meetings to discuss unsewered community issues, including the proposed disadvantaged community rule, were held around the state in January 2012.
Links to proposed Disadvantaged Community rule information:
Materials from Disadvantaged Community Open Meeting, 11/16/11 Contains presentation from 11/16/11 meeting and information on the proposed rules.
Disadvantaged Community Rulemaking - One Page description (1/9/12) Contains a short description of the proposed rules.
It is anticipated that the proposed disadvantaged community rules will be ready for review by the Environmental Protection Commission in May or June of 2012. When the proposed rules are ready for EPC review, they will be posted on this website.
For more information regarding the status of the disadvantaged community rulemaking, please contact Courtney Cswercko at courtney.cswercko@dnr.iowa.gov.
For more information on wastewater treatment options in rural communities and a frequently asked questions document concerning SF407 and disadvantaged communities, please see the Rural Community Sewers page.
Reissuance of Storm water General Permits 1, 2, and 3:
For more information on the reissuance of NPDES General Permits Nos. 1, 2, and 3 for storm water discharges, see the Storm Water main page.
Commercial Septic Tank and Private Sewage Disposal System Rules:
The NPDES section is proceeding with rulemaking for Chapters 68 and 69 of the Iowa Administrative Code regarding septic tanks and private sewage disposal (onsite) systems.
Five public hearings on the proposed changes will be held at the following dates and times:
April 12, 2012, 3:00 - 5:00pm Wallace Bldg., Conf. Rm 5E, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319
April 16, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00pm Iowa DNR Field Office 4, 1401 Sunnyside Ln., Atlantic, IA
April 17, 2012, 4:00 - 6:00pm Independence Public Library, 805 1st St. E, Independence, IA
April 18, 2012, 4:00 – 6:00pm Fairfield Public Library, 104 W. Adams, Fairfield, IA
April 19, 2012, 4:00 – 6:00pm Storm Lake Public Library, 609 Cayuga St., Storm Lake, IA
At the hearings, persons may present their views orally or in writing. All persons will be asked to give their names and addresses for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of the proposed rules. Any person who intends to attend the public hearings and has special requirements (such as mobility or hearing impairments) should contact DNR to advise of specific needs.
Written suggestions or comments on the proposed rules can be submitted through May 1, 2012. Such material should be submitted to:
Daniel Olson, NPDES Section, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
502 East 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034
Fax:(515) 281-8895
E-mail:Daniel.olson@dnr.iowa.gov
Persons who have questions may contact Daniel Olson by E-mail or at (515) 281-8263. To view the Notice of Intended Action for Chapters 68 and 69, please refer to the Private Septic Systems page.