Water Quality Bureau Rulemaking

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Water Quality
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General Information - Executive Order 10

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on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded.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 rule chapters and the reauthorization of rule chapters that will be retained includes public engagement with the opportunity for meaningful input throughout the process. 

EO10 - Water Quality Bureau (WQB)

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.

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WQB EO10 Rulemaking Schedule

Rulemaking Schedule and General Chapter Information

The WQB managed 31 rule chapters, all of which are in 567 (Environmental Protection Commission) of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC). For ease of review, the chapters were placed into groups by topic. The EO10 documents and current rules for each group are listed below.

The Regulatory Analyses for the EO10 rule revisions for all of the WQB chapters except Chapter 9 were published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin (IAB) on 9/4/2024, and the Notices of Intended Action (NOIAs) were published in the Bulletin on 1/8/2025. Two public hearings were held for each of the chapters in January and February of 2025. 

The final rules for Chapters 39, 49, 82, 50, 53, 54, 55, 60, 62, 63, 67, 68, 81, 83, and 90 were presented to the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) at their meeting in April. The new rules and rescissions for these chapters were published in the IAB on May 14, 2025 and became effective on June 18, 2025. 

The final rules for Chapters 40, 41, and 43 were presented to the EPC at their meeting in June. The new rules and rescissions for these chapters were published in the IAB on July 9, 2025 and became effective on June 18, 2025. 

The final rule for Chapter 69 is not yet effective. Please see the section below for more information. 

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The Water Quality Bureau electronic newsletters contain updates and information related to the rules. Please use the links below to sign up for one or both of the newsletters.

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Delegation of Construction Permitting Authority, Chapter 9

This group contains Chapter 9, which was the department’s delegation of construction permitting authority to local systems. The rule was intended to provide a framework for the water supply and wastewater extension delegated authority program in Iowa Code 455B.183. However, in practice, the rule effectively mirrored the Code. Since there was no reason to have the language in two places, we rescinded this chapter, effective June 19, 2024.

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Wells, Chapters 38, 39, 49, & 82

This group contains the chapters regarding private water well construction permits (38), properly plugging abandoned wells (39), nonpublic water supply wells (49), and well contractor certification (82). Chapters 39 and 82 were revised and Chapters 38 and 49 were combined in to one new Chapter 49. New Chapters 39, 49, and 82 became effective on June 18, 2025.

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Drinking Water, Chapters 40, 41, 42, & 43

This group contains the drinking water chapters regarding definitions and forms (40), water supplies (41), public notice, education, reports, and records (42), and water supply design and operation (43). Chapters 41 and 43 were revised and Chapters 40 and 42 were combined in to a new Chapter 40. New Chapters 40, 41, and 43 became effective on August 13, 2025.

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Water Allocation & Use, Chapters 50 to 55

This group contains the 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). Chapters 50, 51, and 52 were combined in to a new Chapter 50 and Chapters 53, 54, and 55 were revised. New Chapters 50, 53, 54, and 55 became effective on June 18, 2025.

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Wastewater Rules, Chapters 60 to 68

This group contains chapters regarding wastewater definitions and forms (60), effluent and pretreatment standards (62), monitoring and reporting (63), wastewater construction, NPDES, and operating permits and the rule-referenced Iowa Wastewater Facilities Design Standards (64), pesticide applications (66), land application of sewage sludge (67), and commercial septic tank cleaners (68). Chapters 60, 64, and 66 were combined into a new Chapter 60 and Chapters 62, 63, 67, and 68 were revised. New Chapters 60, 62, 63, 67, 68, and the IWFDS became effective on June 18, 2025.

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Private Sewage Disposal Systems, Chapter 69

This group contains the chapter regarding private sewage disposal systems (69). Revisions to Chapter 69 were proposed along with the other wastewater chapters (listed above). The final rule for Chapter 69 was presented to the EPC at their meeting in July and was published as an adopted and final rule in the IAB on August 6, 2025.  However, the revised version of Chapter 69 was delayed until the adjournment of the 2026 Legislative Session of the General Assembly by the Administrative Rules Review Committee at its meeting on September 8, 2025. 

Email: Direct comments and questions regarding Chapter 69 to npdes.mail@dnr.iowa.gov

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Operator & Laboratory Certification, Chapters 81 & 83

This group contains the chapters regarding water and wastewater operator certification (81) and laboratory certification (83). Both chapters were revised. New Chapters 81 and 83 became effective on June 18, 2025.

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Clean Water & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), Chapters 90 to 93 & 44

This group contains the chapters regarding the Clean Water SRF, including definitions and forms (90), project ranking criteria (91), the loan fund (92), and non-point source pollution control set-asides (93), and the chapter regarding the Drinking Water SRF (44). Chapters 90 to 93  were combined in to a new Chapter 90 and Chapter 44 was revised. New Chapters 44 and 90 became effective on June 18, 2025.

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