Title 25, Public Health and Environment

(1) (a) The mobile home water quality grant program is created to provide grants to park owners, nonprofit entities, and local governments to address water quality issues and wastewater problems in mobile home parks. (b) Grant recipients may use the money received through the gra…

(1) The mobile home park water quality fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money credited to the fund in accordance with section 25-8-1007 (3), money credited to the fund pursuant to section 6-1-112 (3), and any other money that the general assembly may ap…

(1) The division has authority to test and require remediation of park finished water, regardless of the type of water source, and enforce this part 10. (2) The division shall, as necessary, issue a cease-and-desist order for a violation of this part 10 in accordance with section…

This part 10 does not affect or supersede the protections granted to park residents pursuant to other statutes, including article 12 of title 38. If a court determines that a provision of this part 10 conflicts with a provision of article 12 of title 38, the court shall apply the…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Colorado Water Quality Control Act". Source: L. 81: Entire article R&RE, p. 1310, § 1, effective July 1. ANNOTATION Law reviews. For note, "A Survey of Colorado Water Law", see 47 Den. L.J. 226 (1970). For article, "1974 Land U…

(1) In order to foster the health, welfare, and safety of the inhabitants of the state of Colorado and to facilitate the enjoyment and use of the scenic and natural resources of the state, it is declared to be the policy of this state to prevent injury to beneficial uses made of …

As used in this article 8, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Agricultural chemical" means any of the following: (a) A pesticide as defined in section 35-10-103, C.R.S.; or (b) A commercial fertilizer as defined in section 35-12-103, C.R.S. (1.1) "Agricultural management…

(1) No provision of this article shall be interpreted so as to supersede, abrogate, or impair rights to divert water and apply water to beneficial uses in accordance with the provisions of sections 5 and 6 of article XVI of the constitution of the state of Colorado, compacts ente…

(1) (a) Regional wastewater management plans which include plans known for purposes of the federal act as "208 plans" may be developed by designated planning agencies or by the state for nondesignated areas or for statewide purposes. (b) Before submitting a proposed plan or amend…

(1) Nothing in this section applies to or affects any other section in this article 8. (2) Nothing in this section requires the department of public health and environment to perform inspections. (3) Nothing in this section requires the commission or the department of public heal…

[Editor's note: This section is effective August 12, 2027.] The short title of this part 11 is the "Plastic Pellet-free Waters Act". Source: L. 2026: Entire part added, (SB 26-016), ch. 30, p. 135, § 2, effective August 12, 2027.

[Editor's note: This section is effective August 12, 2027.] As used in this part 11, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Discharge" means the introduction or addition of preproduction plastic materials into state waters, wastewater, storm water runoff, or other runoff. (2…

[Editor's note: This section is effective August 12, 2027.] A person shall not discharge plastic pellets or other preproduction plastic materials from a facility in the state. Source: L. 2026: Entire part added, (SB 26-016), ch. 30, p. 136, § 2, effective August 12, 2027.

(1) (a) (I) There is created in the department of public health and environment a water quality control commission, which is a type 1 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105, and which exercises its powers and performs its duties and functions under the department of public health…

(1) The commission shall develop and maintain a comprehensive and effective program for prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution and for water quality protection throughout the entire state and, to ensure provision of continuously safe drinking water by public water …

(1) The commission may classify state waters. (2) The types of classes shall be determined by regulations and may be based upon or intended to indicate or describe any relevant characteristic, such as: (a) The existing extent of pollution or the maximum extent of pollution to be …

(1) Water quality standards shall be promulgated by the commission by regulations which describe water characteristics or the extent of specifically identified pollutants for state waters. (2) Water quality standards may be promulgated with respect to any measurable characteristi…

(1) The commission may promulgate control regulations for the following purposes: (a) To describe prohibitions, standards, concentrations, and effluent limitations on the extent of specifically identified pollutants, including, but not limited to, those mentioned in section 25-8-…

(1) Legislative declaration. (a) The general assembly finds that: (I) On May 25, 2023, the United States supreme court issued an opinion in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 598 U.S. 651 (2023), that interpreted the types of water resources that are considered to be "wa…

(1) Subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (2) of this section, a water utility, an institution of higher education in Colorado, or a public or private entity that a water utility or an institution of higher education in Colorado contracts with to conduct graywater res…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person may install graywater treatment works and use graywater in accordance with section 25-8-205 (1)(g) and rules adopted pursuant to section 25-8-205 (1)(g). (2) (a) A board of county commissioners or governing body o…

(1) Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby declares that the public policy of this state is to protect state waters and the environment from impairment or degradation due to the improper use of agricultural chemicals while allowing for their proper and correct use, …

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Category 1 standard" means a water quality standard for reclaimed domestic wastewater: (I) Requiring, at a minimum, that the water has received secondary treatment with disinfection; and (II) For which, at t…

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Category 1 standard" means a water quality standard for reclaimed domestic wastewater: (I) Requiring, at a minimum, that the water has received secondary treatment with disinfection; and (II) For which, at t…

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Category 1 standard" means a water quality standard for reclaimed domestic wastewater: (I) Requiring, at a minimum, that the water has received secondary treatment with disinfection; and (II) For which, at t…

(1) All acts, hearings, orders, rules, regulations, and standards adopted by the water pollution control commission as constituted and empowered by the laws of this state prior to July 6, 1973, which were valid prior to said date, shall be deemed and held to be legal and valid in…

(1) The commission, upon petition or upon its own motion, shall review, pursuant to section 24-4-103, C.R.S., any classification, standard, designation, or regulation adopted pursuant to sections 25-8-203, 25-8-204, and 25-8-209 for consistency with this subsection (1) and consis…

In addition to all other powers of the commission, the commission, pursuant to section 24-4-103 (6), C.R.S., shall have the authority to conduct emergency rule-making for the purpose of adopting an interim standard to apply for a specified period of time in place of an existing w…

(1) The commission may adopt the following water quality designations: (a) Outstanding waters; (b) Use-protected waters. (2) The commission shall promulgate criteria governing the designations provided in subsection (1) of this section. Such criteria shall be consistent with the …

(1) (a) On or before October 31, 2025, the commission shall establish the following fees by rule: (I) Drinking water fees assessed on public water systems pursuant to section 25-1.5-209 (1), as that section existed prior to its repeal on July 1, 2026; (II) Commerce and industry s…

(1) The department of public health and environment shall administer and enforce the water quality control programs adopted by the commission. (2) In furtherance of such responsibility of the department, the executive director shall maintain within the division a separate water q…

(1) The division shall: (a) Carry out the enforcement provisions of this article, including the seeking of criminal prosecution of violations and such other judicial relief as may be appropriate; (b) Administer the permit system as provided in part 5 of this article; (c) Monitor …

(1) The division shall take such samplings as may be necessary to enable it to determine the quality of every reasonably accessible segment of state waters, wherever practical. In sampling such waters the division shall give consideration to characteristics such as those listed i…

(1) The owner or operator of any facility, process, or activity from which a discharge of pollutants is made into state waters or into any municipal domestic wastewater treatment works shall, according to standard procedures and methods prescribed by the division: (a) Establish a…

(1) (a) On or before October 1 of each year, the division through the executive director shall report to the commission on the effectiveness of this article 8 and shall include in such report any recommendations the division may have with respect to any regulatory or legislative …

(1) The division has the power, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter and inspect at any reasonable time and in a reasonable manner any property, premise, or place for the purpose of investigating any actual, suspected, or potential source of water pollution, or ascer…

Whenever the division determines, after investigation, that any person is discharging or causing to be discharged or is about to discharge into any state waters, directly or indirectly, any pollutant which in the opinion of the division constitutes a clear, present, and immediate…

(1) In addition to the authority specified elsewhere in this article 8, the division has the power to: (a) Conduct or cause to be conducted studies, research, and demonstrations with respect to water pollution and the control, abatement, or prevention thereof, as requested by the…

(1) The division may develop education programs for use by state and local governmental entities. (2) The educational programs developed in accordance with subsection (1) of this section shall be designed to inform the public about storm water quality problems resulting from: (a)…

(1) (a) The general assembly finds and determines that green infrastructure may provide significant benefits to water and wastewater providers and water users in Colorado by: (I) Supporting cost-effective, holistic solutions for the attainment of water quality standards; (II) In …

(1) The commission or the division may hold public hearings, which shall be held pursuant to and in conformity with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., and with this article. (2) The commission may adopt such rules and regulations governing procedures and hearings before the commissio…

(1) Prior to the classification of state waters and promulgating any water quality standard or any control regulation authorized in this article, the commission shall conduct a public hearing thereon as provided in section 24-4-103, C.R.S. Notice of any such hearing shall conform…

During the time permitted for seeking judicial review of any final order or determination of the commission or division, any party directly affected by such order or determination may apply to the commission or division, as appropriate, for a hearing or rehearing with respect to,…

(1) Any final rule, order, or determination by the division or the commission, including but not limited to classification of state waters, approval of areawide waste treatment management plans, water quality standards, site approvals, permits, control regulations, enforcement or…

(1) If samples of water or water pollutants are taken for analysis, the person believed to be responsible for any suspected violation or who is or will be subject to any remedial action shall be notified immediately of the collection of the samples and a representative portion of…

If a permittee requests a hearing pursuant to section 24-4-105, C.R.S., challenging final action by the division in regard to any terms and conditions of a renewal permit, said permit shall become effective in its entirety unless a stay is granted pursuant to this section. The di…