Construction Permits

Public Water Supply Construction Permits

Treatment and Treatment Plants: Taroon V. Bidar, P. E., Senior Environmental Engineer
Telephone: 515-725-0278      E-mail: Taroon.Bidar@dnr.iowa.gov

Corrosion Control, Chemical Feed, & Operations: Bob Campbell, P. E., Senior Environmental Engineer
Telephone: 515-725-0222      E-mail: Bob.Campbell@dnr.iowa.gov

Distribution System: Gabe Lee, P.E., Senior Environmental Engineer
Telephone:  515-725-2990     E-mail: Gabe.Lee@dnr.iowa.gov

NOTE:  Until further notice, we are unable to receive hardcopy applications through postal mail or other delivery services. However, the permits are still being issued. Construction permit applications, plans, specifications, and other engineering documents submitted with electronic signatures are acceptable and original signatures are not required, until further notice. 

• New applications: Submit all new water supply construction permit applications, including plans and specifications, to this email address (note the hyphen): watersupply-engineering@dnr.iowa.gov. Email attachment size is limited to 25 MB. Use zip files or other options to submit attachments greater than 25 MB and communicate that in your email submittal. Mail the construction permit fee and Schedule 1c as indicated below. 
• Projects with previously assigned project manager: Email all documents directly to the project manager if you are already working with them on a project: engineering reports, construction permit applications including plans and specifications, addenda, and change orders. If you’re unsure of the project manager, ask taroon.bidar@dnr.iowa.gov or gabe.lee@dnr.iowa.gov. 

Mail the Water Supply construction permit fees and Schedule-1c to the Wallace Building address: 

Iowa DNR, Attn: WS Engineering Section, 502 E 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034.

Contact Taroon Bidar if you have questions on electronic submittal at taroon.bidar@dnr.iowa.gov.

Construction Standards for Public Water Supplies

The construction standards for a project at a public water supply are the Ten States Standards as adopted through 2012, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards as adopted through 2016, and 567 of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) subrules 43.3(7) to 43.3(9). To the extent of any conflict between the Ten States Standards and the American Water Works Association Standards and IAC 567--43.3(7) to 567--43.3(9), the Ten States Standards, IAC 567--43.3(2), and IAC 567--43.3(7) to 43.3(9) shall prevail.

Permit Description

A public water supply construction permit must be obtained from the Iowa DNR prior to the construction or modification of any source, treatment, storage, or distribution system of a public water supply system. To obtain a construction permit, the following must be submitted to the Iowa DNR Water Supply Engineering Section: the project's plans and specifications, the applicable construction permit application schedules, and the appropriate permit fee. A fact sheet is available to assist in determining when a construction permit must be obtained: DNR Water Supply Construction Permitting Fact Sheet.

Construction Permit Database

The Water/Wastewater Information System and Records Database, called W/Wisard, is an online database that provides public access to information related to past and ongoing water supply and wastewater construction projects. Project searches can be conducted utilizing a number of criteria, such as projects for a specific facility. Use this button to access the construction permit database:

W/Wisard - Water/Wastewater Information System and Records Database

What to Submit?

All applications for a construction permit must include the following three items:

• Schedule 1a (General Information)
• Schedule 1c (Fee Calculation)
• Applicable fee

In addition, the other forms (Schedules 2a through 16d) are required based upon the nature of the project ( e.g., water mains, well construction, chemical feed, etc.).  The Water Supply Service Agreement form is required for all projects where the applicant is someone other than the supplier of the water.

Once the project is completed, the Notification of Completion of Construction form or postcard that is supplied with the permit must be submitted to indicate the project was completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.

Construction Permit Application Forms and Schedules

The construction permit application forms and schedules are shown in the following table, in both .doc and .pdf format.

Name	Form Number	*.doc	*.pdf
Water Supply Service Agreement	542-3121
Schedule 1a, General Information	542-3178
Schedule 1b, Minor Water Main Construction Permit	542-3151
Schedule 1c, Fee Calculation	542-3179
Schedule 2a, Water Mains - General	542-3030
Schedule 2b, Water Mains - Specifications	542-3031
Schedule 2c, Notification of Minor Water Main Construction	542-3152
Schedule 3a, Water System's Preliminary Data	542-3032
Schedule 3b, Source Information	542-3029
Schedule 3c, Water Quality Data	542-3028
Schedule 4, Site Approval	542-3078
Schedule 5a, Well Construction	542-3027
Schedule 5b, Well Appurtenances	542-3026
Schedule 5c, Well Profile	542-3077
Schedule 5d, Surface Water Supply	542-3139
Schedule 6a, Distribution Water Storage Facilities	542-3140
Schedule 7, Schematic Flow Diagram	542-3142
Schedule 8, Aeration	542-3143
Schedule 9, Clarification	542-3144
Schedule 10, Suspended Solids Contact	542-3145
Schedule 11, Ion Exchange	542-3146
Schedule 12, Filters	542-3147
Schedule 13a, Chemical Addition	542-3241
Schedule 13b, Dry Chemical Addition	542-3130
Schedule 13c, Gas Chlorination	542-3131
Schedule 13d, Fluoridation	542-3132
Schedule 13e, Sampling and Testing	542-3133
Schedule 14, Pumping Station	542-3134
Schedule 15, Process Water Storage Facilities	542-3135
Schedule 16a, Wastewater General	542-3136
Schedule 16b, Waste Treatment Ponds	542-3137
Schedule 16c, Filtration and Mechanical	542-3138
Schedule 16d, Discharge to Sewer	542-3103
Notification of Completion of Construction	542-3019
Petition for Waiver	542-1258

PWS test and observation wells guidance

The reference document that contains a defined procedure and checklist which can be used to help understand and meet the compliance requirements for the installation of public water supply test and observation wells is available.  This procedure and checklist is entitled the   Test well and observation well guidance and procedures for drilling projects related to public water supplies.

LUST sites and water main construction guidance

This document provides guidance on constructing water mains in areas of leaking underground storage tank (LUST) sites: Lust sites and water main construction guidance.

Minor water main construction permitting process

This document contains a visual of the minor water main construction permitting process: Minor water main permitting process schematic.

Emergency well construction fact sheet

This fact sheet explains the emergency well construction permitting process: Emergency well construction fact sheet.

New well testing

This document lists the requirements for analytical testing of new wells: New well testing.

Drinking water state revolving loan fund

Further information on Iowa's drinking water state revolving loan fund is available on the Iowa DWSRF webpage, including the water supply construction manual.

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