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.

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

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.

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.