Discussion of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Permit Program, Thirteen Years’ Experience in Iowa (2000-2013)

In March 1998, Iowa’s Governor signed House File 2292. The bill required the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to initiate a permit program for persons to inject, store, and recover treated water from aquifers for potable use. Rules were written in consultation with an advisory committee consisting of 10 representatives of professional/technical organizations, water utilities, and industry groups. The rules include the clarification of legal rights and obligations affecting ASR permit holders, the technical definition of the affected area within the aquifer, and provisions for “limited registration” for aquifer pre-testing before a 20-year ASR permit is issued. The rules were adopted in September of 1999. Engineering/hydrogeological criteria for the Department’s ASR project application review will be discussed. Four separate permits, covering six injection sites, have been issued in the ensuing years; Iowa’s policy experience with these types of wells will be discussed. Additional discussion will cover incorporating these “atypical” wells into the Department’s water allocation database.