Do all waters in Iowa get the same level of protection?
Antidegradation rules have four levels of protection from new sources of pollution … Tier 1 is the basic level which applies to all surface waters (rivers, streams and lakes). It requires that permit applicants, who wish to discharge new sources of pollution, demonstrate that the new pollution will not harm any existing usesfor example, fishing or swimming. Tier 2 level of protection applies to surface waters where the water quality is better than the minimum water quality standard. New pollution will only be allowed if an Iowa DNR review shows that the lowering of water quality is necessary (there are no reasonable alternatives to the new discharge) and the service or industry discharging the pollution is important for economic and social development (for example provides public services and/or jobs). Tier 2 and Tier 3 maintain and protect outstanding state and national resource waters and prohibits all new pollution except in very limited circumstances.