Current Permits Available for Viewing Online

Permitting

Facilities that produce, treat, dispose of, or otherwise discharge waste water may need permits from the Division of Water Quality. The Environmental Protection Agency has delegated authority to Utah to administer its own water quality regulatory programs which EPA still runs in many other states. Permits needed may include:

Groundwater Permits
Indirect Discharges (to Municipal Sanitary Sewers)
Operating Permits
Program Contacts
Storm Water Permits
Surface Water Discharge Permits
Underground Injection Control Permits
Wastewater Construction Permits

Process

Contact the Division of Water Quality for information on permits needed and submit completed application forms. The Division issues a draft permit, seeks public comment in area newspapers, holds necessary public hearings and issues final permits.

Fees

Range from $270 to $10,800, depending upon type, size and complexity of proposed facility.

Time Required

Time needed for construction permits varies from 60 days to six months; 180 days for ground water permits and between 30 and 180 days for underground injection control permits.

Term

Most permits are valid for five years with the exception of construction permits which do not expire.

Surface Water Discharge Permits

Discharging waste water to surface waters, including storm drains, or water well drilling activities, requires a permit prior to beginning operations. Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) Permits are required for all industrial, municipal and federal facilities, except those on Indian lands. Get more detailed information on development of Permit Limits.

Current UPDES permits are available online.

Wastewater Facility Construction Permits

Facilities treating wastewater may need construction permits unless they discharge into a municipal sanitary sewer system.

Indirect Discharges (to Municipal Sanitary Sewers)

A State permit is needed to discharge into sewers if the municipality or sewer district does not have a state approved pre-treatment program or authority to issue its own permits.

Storm Water Permits

Storm water discharge permits are required for certain construction projects, industrial facilities, and municipal separate storm sewer systems. Get more storm water information.

Groundwater Permits Needed

Any facility that discharges or may discharge pollutants to ground water needs a permit. Major agricultural, municipal, and industrial dischargers are regulated. Get more groundwater permit information.

Recently issued, amended, or modified Groundwater Discharge Permits are available online.

Underground Injection Control Permits

Regulations are designed to ensure contaminants do not escape from wells into aquifers. Wells used to inject fluids associated with the production of oil and natural gas or fluids used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery are regulated by the Division of Oil,Gas and Mining. All others are regulated by the Division of Water Quality. Most injection wells are authorized by rule and do not need individual permits, but must submit notification. The Division of Water Quality sets minimum construction, operating, monitoring, reporting, financial responsibility, closure, and record keeping requirements for all permitted injection operations. Get more details on the UIC Program.

Recently issued, amended, or modified UIC permits are available online.

Operating Permits

Legislation was passed in 2008 which authorized Operating Permits to be developed for all wastewater treatment systems, whether surface or underground, that are not operating under one of the other types of permits. Information about each type of operating permit is available, including the lists of systems with those permits. Get more operating permit information.

Program Contacts

Groundwater and Underground Injection
Robert Herbert (801-536-4350)
Ground Water Protection Section Manager

Stormwater Construction Permits
Contacts and Information

Surface Water Discharge Permits
Jeff Studenka (801-536-4395)
UPDES IES Section Manager
John Kennington, P.E. (801-536-4380)
UPDES Engineering Section Manager

Wastewater Facility Construction Permits or Operating Permits
Ed Macauley, P.E. (801-536-4340)
Engineering Section Manager

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