• An engineering report may be required by DEQ for a new treatment facility, major modifications of the existing system, to address an open enforcement order, or if required by a funding agency. An engineering report should be approved prior to the submission of plans and specifications.
• If an engineering report is not required, a technical memorandum to include relevant calculations, and/or an engineering report form (Form 626-WER, 656-SER, or 627-WRER) should be submitted with the plans and specifications.
• Following an administrative review for completeness, the DEQ Plan Review Engineer will have 45 days to review the engineering report. Following the review of the report, DEQ will either send a Notice of Deficiencies (NOD) letter requesting revisions/clarifying information or DEQ will send an engineering report approval letter.
  • If an NOD is sent, the consulting engineer will have 180 days to provide a revised report or clarifying information.
  • If an approval letter is sent, the applicant may continue to Step 2, submission of plans and specifications.
• The DEQ review and NOD cycle will continue until all deficiencies are addressed.

• Submit all required documents (see “Construction Permitting Application Forms” below), review fees, and any other relevant information for DEQ’s review. Applications will not begin technical review by a DEQ Plan Review Engineer until all required documents have been submitted.
  • Note: DEQ requires a minimum of two sets of plans and specifications (a third set is optional). Upon approval, the first copy will be retained for DEQ records, the second copy will be mailed to the applicant, and the third copy (if provided) will be mailed to the consulting engineer of record.
  • Note: A municipality or rural water/sewer district may request a copy of their standard specifications be kept on file with DEQ for the review of future permit applications. If a municipality or rural water/sewer district would like to pursue this option, please contact Rocky Chen at 405-702-8100 or email him at Rocky.Chen@deq.ok.gov.
• Following an administrative review for completeness, DEQ will have 30 days to review water/sewer line applications and 45 days to review any treatment or water well applications.
• DEQ will then either send a Notice of Deficiencies (NOD) letter requesting revisions/clarifying information or DEQ will approve the application.
• If an NOD is sent, the consulting engineer will have 180 days to provide revisions and/or the requested information.
  • Note: The resubmission should contain a letter to address the NOD, including the location of the revisions and permit application number, and provide complete sets of any revised documents (e.g. if Plan Sheet 4 is revised, two bound sets of all plan sheets should be provided).
• Upon resubmission, DEQ will have 30/45 days to review. The DEQ review and NOD cycle will continue until all deficiencies are addressed. Please plan for at least one review and NOD cycle prior to approval.

• Once DEQ approves the application, a DEQ construction permit will be emailed to the applicant. The DEQ approved plans and specifications will be returned by mail or electronically, depending on the original submission format.
• The applicant may begin construction only after the DEQ signed permit and DEQ approved plans/specifications are in-hand.
  • Note: DEQ may have altered the plans with a redline to meet one or more minimum construction standards.
• Once the construction permit has been issued, the permittee must start construction within one year. If this is not achievable, the permittee may request an extension of one year by providing DEQ a written request and an acceptable reason why construction could not begin (e.g. lack of funding, issues obtaining right-of-way easements, etc.).

• Email ConstructionPermitting@deq.ok.gov and request an FTP user account to submit projects electronically.  
• The FTP program DEQ is using for the e-submittals is FileZilla. Download “FileZilla Client” at https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client.
• Watch FileZilla tutorial video and/or read the usage instructions at https://wiki.filezilla-project.org/Documentation.
• If necessary, view the “Common Errors/Issues” tab below.

Note: Usernames and passwords for the FTP server are generated and maintained by DEQ. If you forget your password or you would like to request a different password, please email DEQ at ConstructionPermitting@deq.ok.gov. 

Note: One FTP server account (username and password) will be created for each engineering firm, not for each individual engineer. DEQ does not recommend sharing this information with anyone outside the engineering firm.  

• Upload all necessary documents to the FTP server under one folder.  
• Send an email to ConstructionPermitting@deq.ok.gov. At this time, email notification is vital as it is currently the only way DEQ is notified when a project is submitted for review. Your email to Construction Permitting must contain the following information:  
  • Applicant (Facility/Municipality/Entity) 
  • Facility ID (S-# or PWSID #) 
  • Email address for applicant 
  • Phone number for applicant
  • Engineer of record 
  • Engineer’s email address
  • List of documents submitted 
  • FTP server folder name (electronic location of submitted documents) 
  • Method of fee payment intended once a permit number is assigned
• At this time, the plan review fee for e-submittals cannot be paid along with submission of the application until DEQ has generated an application number. Once the application is received and processed, DEQ will inform the applicant and consulting engineer of the application number, at which time the application fee payment will be required.

Note: In accordance with OAC 252:4-7-7, OAC 252:656-3-2(a), and OAC 252:626-3-2(a), DEQ will not start the technical review for an application until the application is determined to be administratively complete, which includes all required documents and fees are provided and accounted for. Please review the E-submittal Fees and Payments tab below for application fee payment.

Note: The FTP server is intended for file transfer only, not for file storage. Two weeks after a construction permit is issued and the consulting engineer is notified, all project files such as DEQ approved plans, specifications, or permits, will be removed from the FTP server and will only be accessible by a records request through DEQ Central Records. Upon notification, DEQ recommends removing the project files from the FTP server and storing within the engineering firm’s records.  

At this time, the application review fee for e-submittals cannot be paid along with submission of the application until DEQ has generated an application number. Once the application is received and processed, DEQ will inform the applicant and consulting engineer of the application number, at which time the fee payment will be required. In accordance with OAC 252:4-7-7, OAC 252:656-3-2(a), and OAC 252:626-3-2(a), the application packet will not be routed to the engineering staff for technical review until the application packet is administratively complete, which includes payment of the application fee. The current fee schedule can be found under the Construction Permit Application Forms Tab below.

Construction application fee payments can be processed using:

• Credit/debit card or direct transfer payments can be made by contacting DEQ’s Revenue Management Section at 405-702-1130. Please have the application number or invoice ready during the call. The payor should receive an emailed receipt of payment. To prevent any unnecessary delays, please forward the payment receipt to ConstructionPermitting@deq.ok.gov to ensure the payment is credited to the correct application.
• Checks can be mailed to DEQ at the following mailing address:

Attn: Michelle Dinh
Construction Permitting Section
Water Quality Division, DEQ
P.O. Box 1677
OKC, OK 73101-1677

A variance is a deviation for the construction permitting standards as granted by DEQ. The most commonly referenced construction permitting standards are listed in the Construction Permitting Standards tab below.

The policy of DEQ is to encourage better water and wastewater treatment methods and equipment, including the use of new technology. DEQ may approve processes or equipment not specifically covered by the construction permitting standards, provided the permittee requests a variance and the consulting engineer includes sufficient justification to support the request. Generally speaking, the justification should demonstrate the proposed design will provide equal or better protection to public and environmental health compared to the protection which would be provided by the standard.

A variance can be requested when a proposed process or equipment is not specifically covered by the construction permitting standards.

A variance may be granted if the data and justification of the proposal demonstrates the process or equipment will meet or exceed the protection to public and environmental health when compared to the protection which would be provided by the standard.

The Variance Committee meets biweekly and consists of six members:

• The Assistant Division Director of the Water Quality Division
• The Chief Engineer of the Water Quality Division
• Three Water Quality Group Managers, which include:
  • Municipal Wastewater Group
  • Industrial Wastewater Group
  • Public Water Supply Group
• The Engineering Manager of the Construction Permitting Section

To apply for a variance, contact the Construction Permitting Engineer of the project area. A link to the Construction Permitting District Map can be found at the bottom of this page.

Submit a variance request letter along with the engineering report or permit application. The letter should be signed by the permittee and on official letterhead of the facility requesting the variance. DEQ does not accept variances requested by the consulting engineer or entities other than the applicant.

Include all relevant information supporting the subject of the variance request. The consulting engineer shall justify the requested variance by submitting data showing the proposed processes or equipment will equal or exceed the performance of processes or equipment known to perform the same function according to the standards. Relevant information can include the following.

• Monitoring observations including test results and engineering evaluations, and data from existing installations that demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed processes or equipment
• A detailed description of the test methods
• Other information as requested by DEQ. The DEQ may require that pilot studies and appropriate testing be conducted and evaluations be made under the supervision of a competent process engineer other than one employed by the manufacturer or developer

Variance Committee meetings are internal only and occur biweekly to discuss any submitted requests for variances. The Construction Permitting Engineer will present the variance request along with the justification submitted by the consulting engineer. Once the Variance Committee reviews all the relevant information concerning the subject of the variance request, the members will then discuss the proposal and make a decision on whether the variance in question will be granted.

Once a decision has been made, the Construction Permitting Engineer will write a response letter. This letter will be mailed out to the permittee and the consulting engineer.

If additional information is required by the Variance Committee, the Construction Permitting Engineer will contact the consulting engineer to request this information.

If a variance has been approved, the final approval will be included in the construction permit.