Title 25, Public Health and Environment
0 chapters · 1,375 sections in this title.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-102 Legislative declaration
3.5K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-103 Definitions
10.5K chars
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 ar…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-104 Interpretation and construction of water quality provisions
3.2K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-105 Regional wastewater management plans - amendments
6.0K chars
(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 amendme…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-106 Study - organizational placement of water quality control programs. (Repealed)
0.6K chars
C.R.S. 25-8-106Statutes current through Chapter 65 of the 2026 Regular Session, effective as of April 20, 2026. The text of this section is not final. It will not be final until compared to, and updated from, the text provided by the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-107 Cross-connection control services - backflow prevention devices - requirements - definitions
4.5K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-201 Water quality control commission created
4.7K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-202 Duties of commission - rules
10.7K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-203 Classification of state waters
1.8K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-204 Water quality standards
4.6K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205 Control regulations
63.4K chars
(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-…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.1 State waters protection - applicability - program to regulate the discharge of dredged or fill material - duties of commission and division - applicability and scope of section - legislative declaration - definitions - rules - repeal
137.1K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.3 Exemption from control regulations for graywater research - definition - repeal
5.5K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.4 Statewide authorization of graywater use - local government notice required to opt out
4.8K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.5 Pollution from agricultural chemicals - rules
35.0K chars
(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, …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.7 Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - food crops - definitions - rules
14.8K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.8 Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - toilet flushing - definitions - rules
18.1K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-205.9 Control regulations for reuse of reclaimed domestic wastewater - industrial hemp - definitions - rules
13.6K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-206 Prior acts validated
1.9K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-207 Review of classifications and standards
1.7K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-208 Emergency rule-making
0.6K chars
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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-209 Water quality designations - rules
12.1K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-210 Fees established administratively - rules - shareholding requirement - phase-in period - clean water cash fund - creation - repeal
23.4K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-301 Administration of water quality control programs
1.3K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-302 Duties of division
1.6K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-303 Monitoring
1.4K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-304 Monitoring, recording, and reporting
0.7K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-305 Annual report - repeal
7.6K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-306 Authority to enter and inspect premises and records
1.4K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-307 Emergencies
0.8K chars
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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-308 Additional authority and duties of division - penalties
2.9K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-309 Study of classification and standard issues. (Repealed)
0.1K chars
Source: L. 2002: Entire section added, p. 1656, � 1, effective June 7. L. 2005: Entire section repealed, p. 284, � 26, effective August 8.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-310 Education program - storm water
8.6K chars
(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)…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-311 Water quality green infrastructure - feasibility studies - pilot projects - division collaboration with universities - legislative declaration - definitions - reports - gifts, grants, or donations - repeal
18.6K chars
(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 …
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-401 Authority and procedures for hearings
5.9K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-402 Procedures to be followed in classifying state waters and setting standards and control regulations
1.7K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-403 Administrative reconsideration
1.2K chars
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,…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-404 Judicial review
3.4K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-405 Samples - secret processes
1.5K chars
(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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-406 Administrative stays - renewal permits
1.0K chars
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…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-501 Permits required for discharge of pollutants - administration
78.3K chars
(1) No person shall discharge any pollutant into any state water from a point source without first having obtained a permit from the division for such discharge, and no person shall discharge into a ditch or man-made conveyance for the purpose of evading the requirement to obtain…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-501.1 Permit required for point source water pollution control - definitions - housed commercial swine feeding operations - legislative declaration
11.5K chars
(1) The people of the state of Colorado hereby find, determine, and declare that the advent of large housed commercial swine feeding operations in Colorado has presented new challenges to ensuring that the quality of the state’s environment is preserved and protected. As distingu…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-502 Application - fees - funds created - public participation - rules - definitions - repeal
122.5K chars
(1) For the purposes of this section: (a) “Animal feeding operation” or “CAFO” means a lot or facility, other than an aquatic animal production facility, where: (I) Animals, other than aquatic animals, have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a tot…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-503 Permits - when required and when prohibited - variances - definition
9.8K chars
(1) (a) The division shall issue a permit in accordance with regulations promulgated under this article when the division has determined that the provisions of this article and the federal act and regulations thereunder have been met with respect to both the application and propo…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-503.5 General permits - process for changing permit requirements
6.0K chars
(1) With respect to a general permit listed in section 25-8-502 (1)(b)(I)(G), when proposing new or amended permit requirements for dischargers to meet, to obtain, or to maintain authorization for discharges under the permit, the division shall: (a) Prepare a statement of basis a…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-503.7 Use of qualified and independent contractors - powers and duties of the division - fees - definitions
5.7K chars
(1) On and after May 1, 2026, an applicant and the division may mutually agree to use a qualified and independent nongovernmental contractor under the direction of the division to provide the division with technical assistance in completing the permit action if: (a) An applicatio…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-503.8 Documents, information, and data utilized in developing permits
0.6K chars
Upon a permittee’s request, the division shall make available to the permittee all documents, data, and information the division relied upon in developing the permittee’s permit modification or permit, including any model, tool, or tabular worksheet and any formulas, macros, meta…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-504 Agricultural wastes
2.6K chars
(1) Neither the commission nor the division shall require any permit for any flow or return flow of irrigation water into state waters except as may be required by the federal act or regulations. The provisions of any permit that are so required shall not be any more stringent th…
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-505 Permit conditions concerning publicly owned wastewater treatment works
0.3K chars
The division is authorized to impose, as conditions in permits for the discharge of pollutants from publicly owned wastewater treatment works, appropriate measures to establish and ensure compliance by industrial users with any system of user charges or industrial cost recovery.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-8-506 Nuclear and radioactive wastes. (Repealed)
0.5K chars
Source: L. 81: Entire section amended, p. 1340, � 1, effective July 1. L. 98: (2) amended, p. 1336, � 52, effective June 1. L. 2005: (4)(b) repealed, p. 284, � 27, effective August 8. L. 2023: Entire section repealed, (SB 23-274), ch. 216, p. 1116, � 7, effective May 17. Editor's…