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N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Water Quality - Rules: Codes and Statutes

Water Quality

NC ADMINISTRATIVE CODES & STATUTES

What Is On This Web Page?

This site contains the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) rules used by the Division of Water Quality (DWQ). At the bottom of this page is a document containing many of North Carolina's water quality related General Statutes and links to federal regulations.  All documents on this page are provided by DWQ for the ease and convenience of locating relevant regulations in one place.  Please note that you must have PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader (free download) in order to open most of the documents located on this page.  The NC Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) is responsible for maintaining the official NCAC: search OAH Administrative codes, view OAH reports, or contact OAH rules staff.   The NC General Assembly is responsible for maintaining the official General Statutes.
 

FREQUENTLY REQUESTED DOCUMENTS

 

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES

 

FEDERAL REGULATIONS

 

UPDATES: HOW CAN I STAY INFORMED?

  1. Subscribe to the DWQrules Listserv to receive emails  concerning rule-making announcements by simply sending a blank email to DENR.DWQ.DWQrules-join@lists.ncmail.net. You may also visit the listserv archive.
  2. Visit the DWQ Public Event Calendar for upcoming public events. 

 

North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC)
TITLE 15A - ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

(UA) = Undergoing Amendments

 

CHAPTER 1: Departmental Rules

SUBCHAPTER 1AGENERAL ORGANIZATIONMar 1 1990

SUBCHAPTER 1B

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Mar 1 1990

SUBCHAPTER 1CCONFORMITY WITH NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACTJuly 19 2005

CHAPTER 2: Environmental Management

SUBCHAPTER 2AORGANIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Mar 1 1993
SUBCHAPTER 2BSURFACE WATER AND WETLAND STANDARDS (RED BOOK)May 1 2007
  SECTION .0100Procedures for Assignment of Water Quality StandardsMay 1 2007
  SECTION .0200Classifications and Water Quality Standards UAMay 1 2007
  SECTION .0225Updated ORW Rule Dec 10 2010
  SECTION .0240Nutrient Offset Payment RuleSep 1 2010
  SECTION .0262 - .0311Jordan Lake Rules (see Jordan Lake webpage for more info)Aug 11 2009
  SECTION .0274Nutrient Offset Payment Rates RuleSep 1 2010
  SECTION .0300Applicable to Surface Waters of NCMay 1 2007
  SECTION .0301 UA

Assignment of Stream Classifications

Classifications: General

Aug 1 1995

RIVER BASIN REPORTS

For details and explanations about specific classifications, please visit the Classifications webpage.

Download Streams PDF = Download STREAMS file (PDF),  Download Rules PDF = Download RULE file (PDF)

SECTION .0302   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFHIWASSEEAug 1 2002
SECTION .0303   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFLITTLE TENNESSEE 
Jul 1 2009
SECTION .0303   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFSAVANNAH 
Jul 1 2009
SECTION .0304   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFFRENCH BROAD Dec 1 2011
SECTION .0305   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFWATAUGANov 1 2007
SECTION .0306   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFBROADMar 1 2007
SECTION .0307   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFNEW (UA)Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0308   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFCATAWBASep 1 2010
SECTION .0309   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFYADKIN-PEE DEENov 1 2007
SECTION .0310   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFLUMBERNov 1 2007
SECTION .0311   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFCAPE FEARSep 1 2009
SECTION .0312   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFWHITE OAKJul 1 2011
SECTION .0313   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFROANOKE (UA)

Nov 1 2007

SECTION .0314   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFCHOWANAug 1 1985
SECTION .0315   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFNEUSEJan 15 2011
SECTION .0316   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFTAR-PAMLICONov 1 2007
SECTION .0317   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDFPASQUOTANKNov 1 2007
  SECTION .0400Effluent LimitationsJul 1 1988
  SECTION .0500Surface Water Monitoring: Reporting

Aug 2 1993

  SECTION .0600Water Quality Management Plans 

  SECTION .0601-.0609

Goose Creek Watershed (Yadkin Pee-Dee River Basin)

Feb 1 2009

SUBCHAPTER 2CWELL CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
  SECTION .0100
Criteria and Standards Applicable to Water Supply and Certain Other Wells
 		Oct 1 2009
 
  SECTION .0200
Criteria and Standards Applicable to Injection Wells
Feb 1 1997
SUBCHAPTER 2FCONSTRUCTION LOANSAug 1 1990
SUBCHAPTER 2HPROCEDURES FOR PERMITS: APPROVALS 
  SECTION .0100

Point Source Discharges to the Surface Waters

See also Senate Bill 1566 Session Law 2006-246

Sep 1 2006

  SECTION .0200Repealed and Recodified to Subchapter 2T (see below) 
 SECTION .0400Coastal Waste Treatment DisposalJan 1 1988
  SECTION .0500Water Quality CertificationOct 1 1996
  SECTION .0800Laboratory CertificationAug 1 2002
  SECTION .0900Local Pretreatment ProgramsNov 1 1994

  SECTION .1000

Stormwater Management

Also see Senate Bill 1566 Session Law 2006-246 and Senate Bill 1967

Dec 1 1995

  SECTION .1020Universal Stormwater Management ProgramJan 1 2007
  SECTION .1100Biological Laboratory CertificationOct 1 1993
  SECTION .1200Special OrdersAug 3 1992
  SECTION .1300 (UA)Discharges to Isolated Wetlands and Isolated Waters

Apr 1 2003

SUBCHAPTER 2IHEARINGS 
  SECTION .0100Scope: Definitions: DelegationsJuly 1 1988
  SECTION .0200Rule Making Hearings: Notice : ProceduresNotice Repealed March 1, 1988 Procedures Eff.July 1 1988
  SECTION .0300Administrative HearingsJuly 1 1988
  SECTION .0400Special HearingsJuly 1 1988
  SECTION .0500Petitions for RulemakingApr 1 2003
  SECTION .0600Declaratory RulingsAug 1 2004
SUBCHAPTER 2JCIVIL PENALTIESJan 1 1991
SUBCHAPTER 2LGROUNDWATER CLASSIFICATIONS STANDARDS (TAN BOOK)April 1, 2013
  SECTION .0100General ConsiderationsDec 1 2005
  SECTION .0200 Classifications and Groundwater Quality StandardsApr 1 2013
  SECTION .0300Assignment of Underground Water ClassificationsAug 1 1989
SUBCHAPTER 2MNC WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUNDNov 2 1992
SUBCHAPTER 2TWASTE NOT DISCHARGED TO SURFACE WATER see above frequently requested documents
  SECTION .0100General Requirements 
  SECTION .0200Wastewater Pump and Haul Systems 
  SECTION .0300Sewer Extensions 
  SECTION .0400System-Wide Collection System Permitting 
  SECTION .0500Wastewater Irrigation Systems 
  SECTION .0600Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation Systems 
  SECTION .0700High Rate Infiltration Systems 
 SECTION .0800Other Non-Discharge Wastewater Systems 
  SECTION .0900Reclaimed Water SystemsRepealed June 18, 2011
  SECTION .1000Closed-Loop Recycle Systems 
  SECTION .1100Residuals Management 
  SECTION .1200Coal Combustion Products Management 
  SECTION .1300Animal Waste Management Systems  
  SECTION .1400Manure Hauler Operations 
  SECTION .1500Soil Remediation 

  SECTION .1600

Groundwater Remediation Systems

 

SUBCHAPTER 2UReclaimed WatersJune 18, 2011

CHAPTER 8: Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission

SUBCHAPTER 8GAUTHORITY : ORGANIZATION : STRUCTURE : DEFINITIONS  (Water Pollution Control System Operators Rules)Dec 1 2006
  

 
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