CEDAR FALLS - Recreation is alive on the Cedar River - even if the water may not be well.

A canoe trail is planned that will span the Cedar River from one end of the county to the other. Waterloo is adding a bladder to its dam to raise river levels for boaters. Anglers pursue catfish, walleye, bass or carp.

But the Cedar River in most of the metro area is not classified as recreational water by Iowa Department of Natural Resources safety standards. It won't stay that way.

Changes in the way the DNR classifies the Cedar River will mean Cedar Falls and Waterloo will be required to disinfect wastewater discharge. The goal is to keep potentially hazardous bacteria at low levels.

Neither city has disinfected its discharge in the past because their wastewater permits did not require it.

Courtney Cswercko is a senior permit writer with the DNR's wastewater permit staff. She said about half of Iowa's larger cities have disinfected wastewater for years because they discharge into rivers classified for recreation.

The section of the river including discharges from both Waterloo and Cedar Falls wastewater treatment plants is classified by the DNR as type B. That designation tries to ensure the river's health for aquatic life.

But both cities have been upgraded to a type A designation for recreational use. That upgrade comes with an additional requirement to monitor and control bacteria. Neither city, however, must comply with the rules until new national pollutant discharge elimination system permits are issued.

Cedar Falls is currently without a permit, which expired in February 2006. Waterloo's five-year permit will expire in September. The DNR hasn't been issuing permits until the re-classified rivers are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Cswercko said Waterloo and Cedar Falls will have plenty of company as they try to comply with the new rules: 40 percent of wastewater facilities in the state have expired permits.

Many municipalities around the state will be upgraded and need to look at meeting additional regulations.

"It's very hard to have a river running through any decent size city that will not be designated A," Cswercko said.

She added the Cedar River through Cedar Falls and Waterloo will be classified as A1, the highest designation. The A1 status indicates the stream is suitable for full immersion activities such as swimming, boating and canoeing.

Disinfecting wastewater usually involves one of three methods: ultraviolet, chlorination or ozone.

Bruce Sorensen, director of Cedar Falls Public Works, said the city will look at disinfecting options.

"We assumed it would be upgraded in classification. We've known it for a period of time," Sorensen said.

He hasn't yet priced the various options. City officials are leaning toward ultraviolet disinfection because it is safest. The city will evaluate whether its discharge water is too turbulent for effective UV treatment. Cost will also play a factor.

Tim Shea is superintendent of the Waterloo Waste Management Services Department. He said the city will wait until it gets a new permit before making any decision.

"We won't do anything until it comes within our permit classification. It's a capital expense to do it," Shea said. "It's something that has been federally mandated without grants to do it, as usual."

Like Cedar Falls, Waterloo hasn't yet determined what the disinfection process will cost. Shea said if it is mandated, Waterloo will add disinfection and such a program could be put together quickly.

Cswercko said fast response is required.

"When we reissue a permit, we put in a compliance schedule and we demand the shortest reasonable amount of time," Cswercko said.

She noted a reasonable time period is usually not more than a couple of years.

Contact Jon Ericson at (319) 291-1461 or jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com.