Water Quality Laws and Rules:
Proposed Rule Changes

The following table gives information and links for water quality rules which are currently under revision. The official publication for announcing such changes is the Utah State Bulletin, published on the 1st and 15th of each month by the Office of Administrative Rules (OAR) and available on their Website.

Changes are proposed for the following rules. You are invited to comment on them by Email directly to the respective contact person, or by postal service to:

John Mackey, Director
Division of Water Quality
PO Box 144870
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4870

Proposed Changes

The Subject is linked to the OAR Form and the proposed text.

SubjectPublication PageContact Person (Email)Public HearingComments Close
(Amendment) R317-4 Onsite Wastewater Systems56Robert Beers (rbeers@utah.gov)None6/15/2023
(Amendment) R317-101-3  Application and Project Initiation Procedures64Harry Campbell (hcampbell@utah.gov)None5/31/2023

Completed Actions

The Subject is linked to the OAR Form and the proposed text.

2023

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
Amendment) November 1, 2022 Amendments to R317-2R317-2Jake Vander Laan (jvander@utah.gov)
01/25/2023

2022

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLs. Jordan River Watershed E. coli TMDL
R317-1Sandy Wingert (swingert@utah.gov)12/15/2022

2021

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLs. Spring Creek (Heber), Draft Spring Creek (Heber) TMDL R317-1Jodi Gardberg (jgardberg@utah.gov)12/15/2021
(Change in Proposed Rule) R317-8 (Section R317-8-10 regarding CAFOs) R317-8Donald Hall (dghall@utah.gov)4/15/2021
(Amendment) Sections R317-8-1, 3, 4 & 11 Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES), containing updates to Storm Water rule R317-8Lisa Stevens (lstevens@utah.gov)4/15/2021
(Amendment) Sections R317-8-1 & 10 Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES), containing updates to CAFO rule R317-8Donald Hall (dghall@utah.gov)filed Change in Proposed Rule 3/1/2021

2020

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-2 Standards of Quality for Waters of the State: including Colorado River Salinity Standards; segments of Jordan River designated use; and Kanab Creek TDSR317-2Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov)12/3/2020
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLs for Fremont River E.coliR317-1Jodi Gardberg (jgardberg@utah.gov)10/30/2020
(Amendment) R317-1-3 Requirements for Waste DischargesR317-1-3Jen Robinson (jenrobinson@utah.gov)08/27/2020
(Amendment) R317-8-6 Review Procedures R317-8-6Jeff Studenka (jstudenka@utah.gov)04/01/2020
(Repeal and Reenact) R317-401 Graywater SystemsR317-401Robert Beers (rbeers@utah.gov)03/26/2020
(Five-Year Review) R317-4 Onsite Wastewater Systems R317-4Robert Beers (rbeers@utah.gov)filed 01/13/2020

2019

Subject Rule Number Contact Person (Email) Action Taken (Effective Date)
Site-specific ammonia and TDS criteria, Headwater numeric nutrient criteria

 R317-2 and R317-1-1 Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov) 07/01/2019

2018

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-2 Standards of Quality for Waters of the State Supplementary Water Quality Standards Revisions Supporting DocumentationR317-2Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov)07/02/2018
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLsR317-1-7Amy Dickey (adickey@utah.gov)05/24/2018
(Amendment) R317-10-10 ExaminationR317-10-10Judy Etherington (jetherington@utah.gov)1/24/2018

2017

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-8 Penalty Criteria for Civil Settlement NegotiationsR317-1-8Harry Campbell (hcampbell@utah.gov)1/1/2018
(Change in Proposed Rule) R317-1 Definitions and General Requirements, with new Section R317-1-10 Independent Scientific ReviewR317-1Erica Gaddis (egaddis@utah.gov)3/27/2017
(Amendment) R317-1 Definitions and General Requirements, with new Section R317-1-10 Independent Scientific ReviewR317-1Erica Gaddis (egaddis@utah.gov)Filed Change in Proposed Rule 2/1/2017
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLs, Incorporate new TMDL for Nine Mile Creek for temperatureR317-1-7Lucy Parham (lparham@utah.gov)1/30/2017

2016

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-3 Requirements for Waste DischargesR317-1-3John Mackey (jmackey@utah.gov)2/25/2016
(Amendment) Rule R317-4 Onsite Wastewater SystemsR317-4John Mackey (jmackey@utah.gov)1/1/2016

2015

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Change in Proposed Rule) Subsection R317-2-7.1.c and Section R317-2-14, Table 2.14.1 revised in response to comments received during the comment periodR317-2Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov)11/30/2015
(Amendment) Rule R317-2, Standards of Quality for Waters of the State, specifically Subsection R317-2-7.1 and Section R317-2-14 Tables 2.14.1, 2.14.2, and 2.14.3bR317-2Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov)Filed Change in Proposed Rule
09/28/2015
(Amendment) Rule R317-101, Utah Wastewater Project Assistance ProgramR317-101John Cook ( jpcook@utah.gov)09/24/2015
(Amendment) Subsection R317-10-8. Utah Wastewater Operator Certification Council.R317-10-8Judy Etherington (jetherington@utah.gov)04/29/2015

2014

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(2nd Change in Proposed Rule) Section R317-1-3. Requirements for Waste Discharges. New technology-based limits for controlling nutrient pollution.R317-1-3uwqcomments@utah.gov01/01/2015
(Change in Proposed Rule) Section R317-1-3. Requirements for Waste Discharges. New technology-based limits for controlling nutrient pollution.R317-1-3uwqcomments@utah.govFiled 2nd Change in Proposed Rule on 09/30/2014
(Amendment) Section R317-1-3. Requirements for Waste Discharges. New technology-based limits for controlling nutrient pollution. Background, Studies, Comments, and Responses.R317-1-3uwqcomments@utah.govFiled Change in Proposed Rule 09/2/2014
(Amendment) Rule R317-10. Certification of Wastewater Works Operators.R317-10Judy Etherington08/27/2014
(Repeal and Reenact) Rule R317-12. General Requirements: Tax Exemption for Water Pollution Control Equipment.R317-12John Cook08/27/2014
(Amendment) Section R317-1-7. TMDLs. Incorporate Completed TMDL studies for Rockport Reservoir and Echo Reservoir.R317-1-7Carl Adams08/01/2014
(Amendment) Rule R317-550. Rules for Waste Disposal By Liquid Scavenger Operations.R317-550Judy Etherington07/30/2014
(Amendment) Numeric Criteria, Standards of Quality for Waters of the State, R317-2-14. Proposed Site-Specific Standard for Total Dissolved Solids, Blue Creek, Box Elder County, Utah (6 MB).R317-2-14Chris Bittner (cbittner@utah.gov)07/02/14
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-1-7. TMDLs.R317-1-7Michael Allred03/27/2014
(Repeal and Reenact) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-5, Large Underground Wastewater Disposal (LUWD) Systems.R317-5David Snyder03/26/2014

2013

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-6-6. Implementation.R317-6Dan Hall10/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-401. Graywater Systems.R317-401Dave WhamE09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-12. General Requirements: Tax Exemption for Water Pollution Control Equipment.R317-12Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-7. Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program.R317-7Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-6. Ground Water Quality Protection.R317-6Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-5. Large Underground Wastewater Disposal SystemsR317-5Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-3. Design Requirements for Wastewater Collection, Treatment and Disposal Systems.R317-3Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-1. Definitions and General Requirements.R317-1Dave Wham09/24/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-11.
Certification Required to Design, Inspect and Maintain Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems, or Conduct Soil Evaluations or Percolation Tests for Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems		R317-11Judy Etherington09/01/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-2. Standards of Quality for Waters of the State. Filed Change in Proposed Rule for publication on 7/15/2013 with no additional comments being requestedR317-2Chris Bittner08/19/2013
(New Rule) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-15.R317-15William Damery08/19/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, Section R317-1-1. Definitions
Filed Change in Proposed Rule for publication on 7/15/2013 with no additional comments being requested		R317-1-1Chris Bittner08/19/2013
(Repeal and Reenact) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-4. Onsite Wastewater Systems.R317-4David Snyder09/01/2013
(Amendment) Environmental Quality, Water Quality, R317-8. Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES).R317-8Don Hall07/01/2013
Environmental Quality, Administration R305-7 Administrative Procedures (New Rule) and Repeal of R305-6.R305-7 and Repeal of R305-6Laura LockhartFiled Change in Proposed Rule; Effective 01/31/2013

2012

Subject Rule Number Contact Person (Email) Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-7. TMDLs. Incorporate by reference the completed and approved Jordan River TMDL Water Quality Study – Phase 1. R317-1-7 Dave Wham 09/26/2012
(Amendment) R317-11. Certification Required to Design, Inspect and Maintain Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems, or Conduct Percolation and Soil Tests for Underground Wastewater Disposal Systems

  • Response to Comments Received
 R317-11 Judy Etherington 06/27/2012
(New Rule) R317-801. Utah Sewer Management Program (USMP) R317-801 John Kennington 06/21/2012
(Amendment): R317-2 Standards of Quality for Waters of the State

  • Original Filing
  • Supporting Documentation
 R317-2 Chris Bittner 04/01/2012
(Amendment): Rule R317-8. Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) (Pesticide Application Permitting) R317-8 John Kennington 01/25/2012
(Amendment): R317-2 Standards of Quality for Waters of the State

  • Supporting Documentation
 R317-2 Chris Bittner Published Change in Proposed Rule 02/15/2012

2011

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-10 Certification of Wastewater Works OperatorsR317-10Judy Etherington10/26/2011
(Repeal and Reenact): R317-9 Administrative ProceduresR317-9Dave Wham08/29/2011
(Proposed Rule) R317-801 Utah Sewer Management Program (USMP)R317-301John KenningtonNot Adopted
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLsR317-1-7Dave Wham04/13/2011

2010

Subject Rule Number Contact Person (Email) Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment) R317-1-7 TMDLs R317-1-7 Dave Wham 11/19/2010
(Change in Proposed Rule): R317-2. Standards of Quality for Waters of the State
Supporting Documents

  • Comments and Responses for DWQ Proposed Change in Rule for R317-1 and R317-2, February 2010 (8.27 MB file)
  • A summary of proposed changes and rationale is available here. Additional supporting information discussed at the 10/29/2009 Water Quality Standards Workgroup Meeting is available here.
  • Draft Report: Development of an Assessment Framework for the Impounded Wetlands of Great Salt Lake.
  • Hearing held 01/11/2010
    • Agenda
    • Recording of the Hearing (15.5MB, .wma)
 R317-2 Christopher Bittner 04/01/2010
(Change in Proposed Rule): R317-1-1. Definitions R317-1-1 Christopher Bittner 04/01/2010
(Amendment): R317-2. Standards of Quality for Waters of the State R317-2 Christopher Bittner Published “Change in Proposed Rule” 02/15/2010
(Amendment): R317-1-1. Definitions R317-1-1 Christopher Bittner Published “Change in Proposed Rule” 02/15/2010

2009

SubjectRule NumberContact Person (Email)Action Taken (Effective Date)
(Amendment): R317-5. Large Underground Wastewater Disposal SystemsR317-5David Snyder04/07/2009
(Amendment): R317-3-1. Technical and Procedural RequirementsR317-3-1Paul Krauth04/07/2009
(Amendment): R317-1-9. Electronic Submissions and Electronic SignaturesR317-1-9Matt Garn06/11/2009
(Amendment): R317-8. Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination SystemR317-8Matt Garn04/07/2009
(Amendments): R317-2, Standards of Quality for Waters of the StateR317-2William Moellmer01/12/2009