Water Quality - Permits

Welcome to the Permits Section

We issue legally binding permits for the discharge of pollutants to state waters, including surface waters and some groundwater.

Our job is to ensure that the discharge permits we issue protect the beneficial uses of those waters (domestic water supply, aquatic life, agriculture, recreation, and wetlands.)

Clean water permitting sectors (permits by category)

Our clean water permit sectors page provides information about commerce and industry, construction, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4), domestic sewage systems, biosolids, pesticides, reclaimed water, pretreatment, and contacts.

• Clean water active permit list (as of 4/1/2025).

Here is a quick overview of how permits work in Colorado.

• Senate Bill 89-181 governs the protection of groundwater quality and discharges to groundwater among several implementing state agencies.
• The discharge of dredge and fill materials into state waters is excluded from the definition of discharge pollutants and is regulated by a different program.
• The Environmental Agriculture Program regulates the discharge of pollutants to state waters and other items related to animal feeding operations.

Links to Permitting Resources and References

• Permitting resources and references are available along the left-hand navigation bar (or at the bottom of the page on the mobile version).
• Water and COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions - Answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and water supplies.
• Documents electronic library - Public access to permit documents.
• Permit Extract of all information (as of 4/1/2025).
• Most requested forms - Includes annual reports, change of contacts, transfers, modifications, operator in responsible charge report, supplements, termination application, and withdrawal forms.
• CEOS - Colorado Environmental Online Services - This portal is used to obtain coverage under the COR400000 construction stormwater general permit and the general permits for dewatering and well development.
• Information about your clean water bill and permit fees
• NetDMR, electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) information
• ARC GIS map of waterbody segments
  • Enter longitude first (include -), then space, then latitude (e.g., -104.123456 39.123456).
  • If the response is "no information available," refresh the map.
  • Water Body ID explanation of stream segment eight character description 

Permit records search

Search current permit records using the WQCD Permits Record Search map. 

Stakeholder Participation

• Water quality control division quarterly clean water webinars.
  Stakeholder page for quarterly webinars for its CDPS permittees and the public.
• Engage with the Water Quality Control Division.

Basin schedule for individual permits

Individual process water permits to surface water are renewed under a basin schedule. Each year, the Water Quality Control Commission holds a basin hearing in June, which becomes effective in December. The Permits Section starts renewing permits in the basin the year after the Commission hearing.

The division does not currently have the resources to renew all permits every time it works in a basin. The division uses this criteria to prioritize individual permit renewals. When the division is working in a basin, it regularly shares its progress during the quarterly Clean Water webinars.