Water Quality Bureau Rulemaking

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Water Quality
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General Information on WQB Rules:

The Water Quality Bureau (WQB) currently manages 21 rule Chapters. These chapters are in 567 (Environmental Protection Commission) of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC). The WQB rule chapters are available on the IAC webpage under “Environmental Protection Commission(567)” at:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativeRules/agencies

Rulemaking actions for the WQB rules are published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin, which is available at:  https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/administrativeRules/bulletinSupplementListings

List of WQB Rule Chapters

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Current WQB Rulemaking

The WQB is not currently engaged in rulemaking.  When rulemaking is initiated, the rule documents and any meeting information will be posted here.

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WQB Newsletters

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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Keep Informed with Email Updates

Sign up for Drinking Water Updates

Stay informed with the latest news by signing up for news releases or adjusting your subscriber preferences whenever you like.

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Sign up for Wastewater Updates

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EO10 Rulemaking

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on January 10, 2023, requires all state agencies to identify which administrative rule chapters will be retained or rescinded.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 WQB rule chapters went through rulemaking for EO10 in 2024 and 2025. More information on the EO10 rulemaking for the individual chapters is listed below.

  • The final EO10 rules and rescissions for Chapters 38, 39, 44, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 60, 62, 63, 67, 68, 81, 82, 83, 90, 91, 92, and 93 were published in the IAB on May 14, 2025 and became effective on June 18, 2025.
    • Wells, 38, 39, 49, and 82: Chapters 39 and 82 were revised. Chapters 38 and 49 were revised and combined in to a new Chapter 49 (Chapter 38 was rescinded).
    • Water Allocation & Use, 50 to 55: Chapters 50, 51, and 52 were revised and combined in to a new Chapter 50 (Chapters 51 and 52 were rescinded). Chapters 53, 54, and 55 were revised.
    • Wastewater, 60, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67, and 68: Chapters 60, 64, and 66 were revised and combined into a new Chapter 60 (Chapters 64 and 66 were rescinded). Chapters 62, 63, 67, and 68 were revised. The Iowa Wastewater Facilities Design Standards (IWFDS), referenced by rule in Chapter 60, were also revised.
    • Operator and Laboratory Certification, 81 and 83: Both chapters were revised.
    • Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), 90 to 93 and 44: Chapters 90 to 93 were revised and combined in to a new Chapter 90 (Chapters 91, 92 and 93 were rescinded). Chapter 44 was revised.
  • The final rules and rescissions for the Drinking Water Chapters, 40, 41, 42, and 43, were published in the IAB on July 9, 2025 and became effective on August 13, 2025. Chapters 40 and 42 were revised and combined in to a new Chapter 40 (Chapter 42 was rescinded). Chapters 41 and 43 were revised.
  • The final rule for Chapter 69 is not yet effective. Please see the section below for more information.
  • Chapter 9 was the department’s delegation of construction permitting authority to local systems. The rule effectively mirrored the Code, and the chapter was rescinded effective June 19, 2024.
  • Chapter 61 was not revised during the EO10 process.
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EO10 for Private Sewage Disposal Systems, Chapter 69

Revisions to Chapter 69 for EO10 were proposed in 2025 along with the revisions to the other wastewater chapters. The final rule for Chapter 69 was presented to the Environmental Protection Commission 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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