Iowa Waste Reduction Center

Storm Water Discharge Permits

Storm water runoff is carried by the storm water system (gutters, storm drains and ditches) to local waterways, and is a major source of pollutants. This runoff can significantly contribute to localized violations of water quality standards for specific pollutants during storms. While much of the storm-generated pollution is runoff from private homes, lawns and streets; runoff from industrial or manufacturing activity and construction sites are also a major sources of pollution.

Runoff from private homeowners is not typically covered under any type of program or permit, however, runoff from industrial, manufacturing and construction activities does fall under both federal EPA and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) rules. 

IDNR requires certain dischargers to obtain storm water discharge permits   Generally speaking, there are four classes of activities that must be covered by storm water permits.  These are:   

• Various industrial or commercial activity is required to obtain a General Permit #1 or if the situation warrants an Individual Permit. 
• Construction activity that disturbs one or more acres or is part of a larger project that disturbs one or more acres in total is required to obtain a General Permit #2.
• Facilities such as asphalt plants, concrete batch plants, quarries, sand and gravel pits and rock crushers are covered under General Permit #3.
• Many city storm sewer systems in larger communities or those near larger communities are required to have permits for their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

The following answers are to questions we frequently receive concerning storm water permitting in Iowa.

1. Does my construction project require a storm water discharge permit?

YES – any construction activity that disturbs one or more acres or is part of a larger project that disturbs one or more acres in total is required to obtain a General Permit #2. 

2. Do I need a storm water discharge permit for my business? 

YES – if your business has an SIC (Standard Industrial Code) specified in the storm water regulations and/or your business falls into one of the following categories.

• Any facility already regulated by another Clean Water Act limitation or permit;
• Facilities which have SIC 24 (except 2434), 26 (except 265 and 267), 28 (except 283 and 285), 29, 311, 32 (except 323), 33, 3441, and 373  (SIC code is a four digit number for classifying establishments by type of economic activity - SIC code is reported on income tax, IRS form 1120). 
• Mineral industry with SIC 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14;

• All permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs);
• Landfills, land application sites, and open dumps which receive industrial wastes from the previously specified industrial activities;
• Facilities involved in the recycling of materials, including metal scrap yards, battery reclaimers, salvage yards, and automobile junkyards, also including those classified as SIC 5015 and SIC 5093;
• Steam electric powered generating facilities including coal handling sites;
• Transportation facilities classified as SIC 40, 41, 42 (except 4221, 4222, 4223, 4224 and 4225), 43, 44, 45, and 5171 that also perform vehicle maintenance, equipment cleaning operations, or airplane deicing operations. 
• All publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) with a design flow rate larger than one million gallons per day.
• SIC 20, 21, 22, 23, 2434, 25, 265, 267, 27, 28, 285;
• SIC 30, 31 (except 311), 34 (except 3441), 35, 36, 37 (except 373), 38, 39, and 323;
• SIC 4221, 4222, 4223, 4224 and 4225.

3. Who do I contact if I'm still not sure my facility falls into one of the covered categories and where can I get help in complying?

As the applicant, you have the responsibility to determine if you are covered by the regulations and required to file for either an individual or general storm water permit.

The IWRC can help you determine if you are covered, how to comply, how to complete application forms and how to develop a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).  Contact the IWRC at http://www.iowaenviroassist.org or by phone at 800-422-3109. 

You can also contact the IDNR for copies of forms and assistance at http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/StormWater.aspx.

4.  What should be included in a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan or SWPPP?  Does the SWPPP need to be ‘approved’ by anyone, such as the IDNR or a Professional Engineer?  Who can develop the SWPPP?

The SWPPP shall include and/or address at a minimum, the following issues:

• Description of potential pollutant sources;
• Storm water management controls;
• Visual inspections;
• Special requirements for facilities discharging in cities of 100,000 or more;
• Consistency with other plans;
• Requirements for facilities subject to SARA Title III Section 313 requirements;
• Salt storage;
• Water monitoring plan;
• Non-storm water discharges.

The SWPPP does not need to be ‘approved’ by the IDNR, nor does it require approval or development by a Professional Engineer.  Your SWPPP can be developed by a team put together by you and can be implemented by facility employees as long as the contents of the SWPPP meet the site-specific needs and conditions of your facility.  The SWPPP must address all the applicable issues listed previously.  Once you have developed the SWPPP, a responsible official will be required to sign a Certification Statement – this is a mandatory requirement and states that to the best of your knowledge the information contained in the plan is accurate and achievable.

5.  Are there monitoring and reporting requirements and is there a permit fee? 

Monitoring requirements are delineated for specific facilities as follows:

• Those that fall under Section 313 of SARA Title III;
• Primary metal industries;
• Land disposal units/incinerators;
• Wood treatment;
• Coal pile runoff;
• Airports;
• Animal handling/meat packing;
• Battery reclaimers;
• Coal fired steam electric facilities; and additional facilities. 

Specific monitoring and reporting instructions are found in the General Permit.  Permitees that are subject to monitoring requirements are NOT required to submit monitoring results to the IDNR, however, monitoring results must be retained and be available to the IDNR upon request.

Applicable fees must accompany the permit application forms.  Fees are based on the following:

            1 year              $175.00

            3 years             $350.00

            4 years             $525.00

            5 years             $700.00

Contact the IWRC at 800-422-3109 for free assistance with your storm water permitting needs.  Additional information is also available on our web site at:

http://iowaenviroassist.org/default/index.cfm/regulatory-summaries/