The Iowa Department of Natural Resources proposed a reorganization of water-supply rule chapters, rescinding existing chapters and adopting a consolidated chapter intended to streamline administrative language.

Carmelie Stone, water supply engineering section supervisor at DNR, said the proposed Chapter 40 would replace prior chapters and include definitions and rules for the Public Water Supply Program (including Safe Drinking Water Act implementation), private wells, water-use allocation, certification programs, lab certification, and related loan and construction-permitting programs.

Marty Braster, co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Iowa section of the American Waterworks Association, told the committee the association represents more than 500 water utilities and professionals and requested the DNR "maintain the full rule language and definitions in chapters 40 to 43." He said removing rule text and replacing it with references to the Code of Federal Regulations and the Iowa Code would force users to consult multiple sources to get the same information and would reduce usability.

Representative Sexton and other committee members asked the department to consider stakeholders' concerns before finalizing the rules. Tamara McIntosh, general counsel for DNR, said the department was following Executive Order 10's directive "to not repeat language that is in statute" and that was the reason for consolidating and using references when language is duplicated in federal or state code.

Why it matters: the consolidation affects how utilities and regulated parties find and interpret program rules; the AWWA said practicability and clarity warrant retaining full in-code language even where duplication exists.

DNR said it would take comments into consideration and could consult the governor's office on the directive's application.