Wastewater Facility Construction Permits

About

A wastewater construction permit is necessary to ensure the facilities are planned, engineered and designed to comply with state wastewater design standards, rules and meet effluent limits for the construction or modification of any wastewater disposal system or a public sewer.

Code Citation IAC 567 – 60.4 & 64.2; Iowa Code 455B.183

Who Applies Anyone planning to construct, install or modify any wastewater disposal system or public sewer is required to obtain a permit unless exempted by the DNR. Privately owned, industrial pre-treatment facilities that discharge to another treatment plant are exempted.

When To Apply Applications for a construction permit must be submitted to the DNR at least 120 days before the construction begins. Several projects require submission of a Facility Plan/Engineering report for review and approval prior to submitting construction permit applications to the Department. New or expanded treatment facilities must go through an Antidegradation Alternatives Analysis review and approval to select the least degrading alternative prior to submitting a Facility Plan. Contact DNR Toll-Free Technical Assistance Hotline at 855.256.9287 for additional assistance or refer to the DNR website listed below.

Initial Requirements For projects that require planning/Facility Plan submission and Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan funded projects, a Work Record Request should be completed and submitted to the DNR email at [email protected]. Some cities have been provided delegated authority to issue construction permits for minor sanitary sewers only through delegation authority issued by DNR in writing.

Duration Construction must start within 1 year from permit issuance or the permit is no longer valid. Within thirty days after completion of construction, the permit holder shall submit a certification by a licensed Professional Engineer that the project was completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.

Processing Time Thirty to 60 days from the date of receipt of a complete construction permit application for plans and specifications. If financial loan assistance through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) is used, processing time may take up to 90 days to perform additional program reviews to comply with federal requirements.

Fee Structure Construction Permit: one-time fee of $100 per application. The Wastewater Engineering Section now accepts electronic payments for Wastewater Construction Permit application fees on the Iowa DNR Payment System.

• Permittees and applicants can use the updated Iowa DNR Payment System effective July 1, 2023.
• No separate invoice form will be needed for the electronic payments as the information will be entered online.
• Payments can be made with a credit card or electronic check.
• All payments will include a $1.50 processing fee.
• Credit card payments will include an additional 2.5% processing fee.
• The Payment System accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

To pay a construction permit application fee, proceed to the Iowa DNR Payment System and choose “Pay Wastewater Construction Permit Fee” or use the direct link to the Wastewater Construction Fee Form webpage.

For more information or questions on construction permit application fees, please contact Rose Sanchez at (515) 725-8430 or Rose.Sanchez@dnr.iowa.gov, or Donna Gomm at (515) 725-8427 or Donna.Gomm@dnr.iowa.gov.

 Renewal Requirements There is no provision for renewal of construction permits. A new permit application must be submitted for every new construction project.

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Additional Information Anyone planning to construct, install or modify any wastewater disposal system or public sewer is required to obtain a permit unless exempted by the DNR. Privately owned, industrial pre-treatment facilities that discharge to another treatment plant are exempted. Contact the DNR staff at the Toll-Free Technical Assistance Hotline at 855.256.9287 for additional assistance. Wastewater Engineering Construction Permitting Process Manual and Permit forms are available on the DNR website listed on this page. Project applications can now be submitted electronically to the assigned DNR project manager or to the dedicated mailbox at [email protected].