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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

Classification Schedules Updated Weekly

(UA) = Undergoing Amendments

 

CHAPTER 1: Departmental Rules
SUBCHAPTER 1A GENERAL ORGANIZATION Mar 1 1990

SUBCHAPTER 1B

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Mar 1 1990
SUBCHAPTER 1C CONFORMITY WITH NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT July 19 2005

CHAPTER 2: Environmental Management
SUBCHAPTER 2A ORGANIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Mar 1 1993
SUBCHAPTER 2B SURFACE WATER AND WETLAND STANDARDS (RED BOOK) May 1 2007
  SECTION .0100 Procedures for Assignment of Water Quality Standards May 1 2007
  SECTION .0200 Classifications and Water Quality Standards UA May 1 2007
  SECTION .0225 Updated ORW Rule  Dec 10 2010
  SECTION .0240 Nutrient Offset Payment Rule Sep 1 2010
  SECTION .0262 - .0311 Jordan Lake Rules (see Jordan Lake webpage for more info) Aug 11 2009
  SECTION .0274 Nutrient Offset Payment Rates Rule Sep 1 2010
  SECTION .0300 Applicable to Surface Waters of NC May 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 PDF HIWASSEE Aug 1 2002
SECTION .0303   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF LITTLE TENNESSEE 
 Jul 1 2009
SECTION .0303   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF SAVANNAH 
 Jul 1 2009
SECTION .0304   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF FRENCH BROAD  Dec 1 2011
SECTION .0305   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF WATAUGA Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0306   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF BROAD Mar 1 2007
SECTION .0307   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF NEW (UA) Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0308   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF CATAWBA Sep 1 2010
SECTION .0309   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF YADKIN-PEE DEE Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0310   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF LUMBER Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0311   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF CAPE FEAR Sep 1 2009
SECTION .0312   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF WHITE OAK Jul 1 2011
SECTION .0313   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF ROANOKE (UA)

Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0314   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF CHOWAN Aug 1 1985
SECTION .0315   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF NEUSE Jan 15 2011
SECTION .0316   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF TAR-PAMLICO Nov 1 2007
SECTION .0317   Download Streams PDF    Download Rules PDF PASQUOTANK Nov 1 2007
  SECTION .0400 Effluent Limitations Jul 1 1988
  SECTION .0500 Surface Water Monitoring: Reporting

Aug 2 1993
  SECTION .0600 Water Quality Management Plans  

  SECTION .0601-.0609

 Goose Creek Watershed (Yadkin Pee-Dee River Basin)

Feb 1 2009
SUBCHAPTER 2C WELL 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 2F CONSTRUCTION LOANS Aug 1 1990
SUBCHAPTER 2H PROCEDURES 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 .0200 Repealed and Recodified to Subchapter 2T (see below)  
 SECTION .0400 Coastal Waste Treatment Disposal Jan 1 1988
  SECTION .0500 Water Quality Certification Oct 1 1996
  SECTION .0800 Laboratory Certification Aug 1 2002
  SECTION .0900 Local Pretreatment Programs Nov 1 1994

  SECTION .1000

Stormwater Management

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

Dec 1 1995
  SECTION .1020 Universal Stormwater Management Program Jan 1 2007
  SECTION .1100 Biological Laboratory Certification Oct 1 1993
  SECTION .1200 Special Orders Aug 3 1992
  SECTION .1300 (UA) Discharges to Isolated Wetlands and Isolated Waters

Apr 1 2003
SUBCHAPTER 2I HEARINGS  
  SECTION .0100 Scope: Definitions: Delegations July 1 1988
  SECTION .0200 Rule Making Hearings: Notice : Procedures Notice Repealed March 1, 1988 Procedures Eff.July 1 1988
  SECTION .0300 Administrative Hearings July 1 1988
  SECTION .0400 Special Hearings July 1 1988
  SECTION .0500 Petitions for Rulemaking Apr 1 2003
  SECTION .0600 Declaratory Rulings Aug 1 2004
SUBCHAPTER 2J CIVIL PENALTIES Jan 1 1991
SUBCHAPTER 2L GROUNDWATER CLASSIFICATIONS STANDARDS (TAN BOOK) Jan 1 2010
  SECTION .0100 General Considerations Dec 1 2005
  SECTION .0200 (UA) Classifications and Groundwater Quality Standards Apr 1 2005
  SECTION .0300 Assignment of Underground Water Classifications Aug 1 1989
SUBCHAPTER 2M NC WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUND Nov 2 1992
SUBCHAPTER 2T WASTE NOT DISCHARGED TO SURFACE WATER see above frequently requested documents
  SECTION .0100 General Requirements  
  SECTION .0200 Wastewater Pump and Haul Systems  
  SECTION .0300 Sewer Extensions  
  SECTION .0400 System-Wide Collection System Permitting  
  SECTION .0500 Wastewater Irrigation Systems  
  SECTION .0600 Single-Family Residence Wastewater Irrigation Systems  
  SECTION .0700 High Rate Infiltration Systems  
 SECTION .0800 Other Non-Discharge Wastewater Systems  
  SECTION .0900 Reclaimed Water Systems Repealed June 18, 2011
  SECTION .1000 Closed-Loop Recycle Systems  
  SECTION .1100 Residuals Management  
  SECTION .1200 Coal Combustion Products Management  
  SECTION .1300 Animal Waste Management Systems  
  SECTION .1400 Manure Hauler Operations  
  SECTION .1500 Soil Remediation  

  SECTION .1600

Groundwater Remediation Systems

 
SUBCHAPTER 2U Reclaimed Waters June 18, 2011

CHAPTER 8: Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission
SUBCHAPTER 8G AUTHORITY : ORGANIZATION : STRUCTURE : DEFINITIONS  (Water Pollution Control System Operators Rules) Dec 1 2006

CHAPTER 27: Well Contractor Certification

 May 1 2008

 
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