NPDES Pesticides General Permit (GP #7)

In accordance with Federal Requirements in the Clean Water Act, the NPDES section developed a general permit for the application of pesticides to Waters of the United States (WOUS).  Coverage under this permit is required for pesticide applications that result in residue discharges to WOUS.  Applicable pesticide applications include those for control of mosquitoes and other aquatic nuisance insects, control of weeds, algae, bacteria, fungi and fish parasites, control of aquatic nuisance animals, and forest canopy pest control.

Pesticides General Permit

The first Pesticide General Permit for Point Source Discharges to Waters of the United States from the Application of Pesticides (General Permit #7, or GP7) become effective March 30, 2011.  The PGP was reissued on May 18, 2016.  The current permit is effective until May 17, 2021. 

Please note, Notices of Intent (NOIs) are not required for coverage under the reissued PGP.

Please see the links below for more information concerning the PGP and the water bodies referenced in the permit.

Final General Permit #7 and Additional Information				PDF Link
Pesticides General Permit #7
Pesticides General Permit Rationale
Waterbody Reference Tables for Pesticides General Permit				PDF Link
Iowa Waterbodies Designated for Drinking Water Use (Class C)
Outstanding Iowa Waters (OIW)

Discharge to Class C Waters

If you will be discharging to a Class C water, please contact DNR Water Supply to obtain the General Permit #7 Class C Waters Form.  The Water Supply contacts are:

  For more information on the PGP, please contact:

For more information on EPA's NPDES permit for pesticides, please see EPA's NPDES Pesticides Applications page.