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IDEM > e-Services > NetDMR > NetDMR FAQs NetDMR FAQs

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NetDMR FAQs

Will facilities be required to use NetDMR?

At this time IDEM does not require facilities to use NetDMR. However, U.S. EPA is currently in the process of proposing rules that would make electronic reporting mandatory for DMR submittal for some facilities as early as January 2014.

Is my facility eligible to use NetDMR?

Any facility with an Individual or General NPDES Permit, that is currently required to submit paper DMRs and the associated MMRs/MROs to Indiana can apply to submit electronic DMRs.

At the NetDMR test or live website the user can check to make sure their NPDES permit ID is valid for NetDMR submittal by clicking on the "Checking your Permit ID" hyperlink, entering their NPDES number and then clicking on the "CheckPermitID" button. If the resulting answer says the permit number is not valid, make sure that the permit ID was entered correctly. Contact netdmr@idem.in.gov if you have questions.

What are the NetDMR web addresses for the test and live sites?

What are the benefits of NetDMR?

  • Reduces paperwork burden
  • Assists with DMR data quality by automatically checking for certain violations prior to submission to the U.S. EPA database.
  • Improves timeliness and accessibility of DMR data
  • Provides instant confirmation of submission
  • Allows for fast revisions of DMR data that can be submitted electronically
  • Allows the attachment of IDEM approved supplemental documents

What Security information will I need to manage in NetDMR?

  • User Name
  • Password
  • Security Questions

Make sure you remember the email address you are using for NetDMR, your NetDMR User Name and Password for logging onto NetDMR and also the answers to the five security questions: they are case sensitive. You will need this information not only to logon to NetDMR but also to submit DMRs for processing, so please record this information in a secure location.

Your password will need to be changed every 90 days. After this time has expired, you will be required to create a new password. You will not need to create a new account, you will just be asked to create a new password by entering the current password and then choosing a new password.

What if I forget my Password or Login ID?

On the initial login screen there is an option that once clicked will send an automated email to IDEM requesting the password or Login ID. (You will be asked to answer one of your security questions to receive the information via your email address.) Alternatively, you may contact the individuals listed on the NetDMR webpage via phone or email.

Do Indiana state forms (MMRs/MROs) still need to be submitted?

Yes. The corresponding state forms still need to be submitted as per permit requirements. The MMR/MRO forms are available on the IDEM Forms page. Upon completion these state (MMR/MRO) forms can be printed, signed and scanned as PDF attachments.

In the NetDMR system, the MMRs or MROs will be submitted as PDF attachments to the corresponding NetDMR.

How do I convert the MMRs/MROs to PDF reports in order to attach them to the NetDMR?

Ideally, the best time to convert the (Excel) MMR/MRO to a PDF document is after the MMR/MRO has been completed, printed and signed/dated. It can then be scanned and saved as a PDF document. If your scanner cannot save as a PDF document, you can scan your signed document as an image file and use a free PDF conversion software to convert the image file to PDF.

Does it matter what I name the attached corresponding MMR/MRO PDF copies?

Yes.  Please name the attachment with a name in the following format, PermitID_OutfallNumber_DocumentType_ Year_Month, and do not use a space in the name.

Acceptable Examples:

  • IN0038873_001A_MRO_2012_01 (For State MRO)
  • IN0001759_001A_MMR_2012_01 (For State MMR)
  • IN0038873_001A_NCR_2012_01 (For NonCompliance Report)
  • IN0023183_008C_CSO_2012_01 (For State CSO DMR)
  • IN0023183_005AB_Letter_2012_01 (For Violation Explanation)

Unacceptable Examples:

  • IN0012345 001A 01-12 (unacceptable because there are two spaces in the name and no document type)
  • Joes Barbecue 002B 01 2012 (unacceptable because there are three spaces in the name, no document type and no permit ID)

Can I submit other documents besides the MMR/MRO with the NetDMR?

Yes. NetDMR will allow up to 20 MB of attachments per submittal. Any explanation of permit noncompliance (including permit limit exceedences, missed samples or reduced frequency of analysis) should be saved as a pdf document and attached to the NetDMR. Faxed Noncompliance Reports should also be attached to the electronic NetDMR submittal.

Note: IDEM is not responsible for responding to any documents attached to the NetDMR.

Can I submit CSO data via NetDMR?

Yes. The monthly summary data from the Indiana state CSO DMR form can be entered into the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) NetDMR. CSO Communities will also need to submit the CSO DMR Indiana State Form as a pdf attachment to their NetDMR submission of the CSO data.

Can I submit WETT (biomonitoring/toxicity testing) via NetDMR?

No. The laboratory report/results of the Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing (WETT), required by certain permits, must first be submitted to IDEM for confirmation of the laboratory sampling analyses. Following the confirmation, IDEM personnel will enter the WETT results into the U.S. EPA database.

Are there certain documents I should not submit as a NetDMR attachment?

Yes. Please do not submit laboratory analyses reports unless specified by IDEM representative. Also, to-date, the following documents should NOT be submitted as NetDMR attachments, but should be mailed or faxed as per permit instructions:

  • 24 hour Bypass Reports
  • Flow meter calibration Results
  • Whole Effluent Toxicity Tests (WETT)
  • Schedule of compliance status reports
  • Pretreatment reports
  • Responses to IDEM Violation Letters, Enforcement Actions, or Inspection Reports
  • Any permit change or modification notifications

Do I still need to keep at least 3 years of paper copies of NetDMRs and MMRs/MROs on site?

Yes, as required by your current permit.

How do I report "No Discharge" data or reasons no sampling was conducted, in NetDMR?

NetDMR will provide a list of NODI (no data indicated) codes from which you can choose, when there is no NPDES data to report. Some of these codes will eventually generate a violation in the EPA database while others will not. For example if an outfall had no discharge for the monitoring period the NetDMR user can enter "No Discharge" (NODI code "C") for that outfall's entire DMR and it will not generate a violation in the EPA database.

NODI codes that are commonly used include:

  • C: No Discharge (usually for a whole DMR outfall)
  • G: Equipment Failure
  • E: Analysis not Conducted
  • X: Parameter not reported
  • 9: Conditional Monitoring – Not Required this monitoring period

Whenever a NODI code is used instead of measurement data, the NetDMR submitter should place a comment in the comment section of the NetDMR to explain why no data was entered. For example, if no flow was measured due to a flow meter problem, the user could use NODI "G" on the parameter line and then explain on the comment box that the flow meter was being fixed after lightning hit.

As with measured data, the NetDMR user will be responsible for the correct reporting and use of the No Data Indicated (NODI) codes when no data is reported.

Instead of completing each individual blank of the NetDMR for my facility's required DMR data each monitoring period, can I simply import my data into NetDMR, using an approved format?

Yes. Upon completion of the NetDMR registration and receipt of approval to use NetDMR, you may contact Rose McDaniel (rmcdanie at idem.in.gov) or IDEM NetDMR (netdmr at idem.in.gov) to request the import format information. The corresponding state MMR/MRO (in pdf form) and noncompliance report (if applicable, and as a PDF document) will still need to be attached to the NetDMR import submittal.

What items should I check when submitting electronic DMR data in NetDMR:

Please complete all the blanks for all parameters listed on the NetDMR screen. All NPDES permitted monitoring requirements should contain monitoring results or one of the no discharge codes to explain the reason a monitoring result is not reported.

The NetDMR system currently still allows users to sign and electronically submit DMR documents that have blank required fields without automatically notifying the user. Therefore it is important that the signatory authority review the DMR both before and after submittal to verify that all required information has been successfully submitted. NetDMR will notify you when you enter a monitoring result that exceeds your permit limit, but it will not notify you when you are submitting a DMR that contains a blank or partially completed parameter. Upon NetDMR submittal, the NetDMR data is immediately imported into the U.S. EPA database.

The U.S. EPA database will flag the limit violations and missing data after the NetDMR is submitted, which will be visible at the ECHO (Environmental Compliance History Online) website within 2 months of the NetDMR submittal. The reporting violation and permit noncompliance status in the EPA database will continue until the non-reported information is received by NetDMR.

Am I allowed to use different Reporting Units than those in my permit?

Do not change the reporting units displayed on the NetDMR screen, per parameter, even though NetDMR will allow you to do so. The reporting units displayed are the units required by your NPDES permit. In Indiana, a formal permit modification can be requested for these type of changes.

How do I Report Monitoring Results Below the Level of Detection?

As a general rule, monitoring results below the level of detection (LOD) are required, by Indiana's Administrative Code 327 IAC 5-2-15, to be reported as less than the value of the LOD. For example, if a substance is not detected at a concentration of one (1.0) milligram per liter, the value must be reported on the NetDMR as < 1.0 mg/l. There are a very limited number of exceptions to this rule, but these exceptions and method of reporting are described in the NPDES permit that regulates the discharge.

How do I report E. Coli when my NPDES permitted facility collects at least 10 days worth of E. coli samples per month?

For facilities that collect at least 10 days worth of E. coli samples per month, for each 10 E. coli daily values collected, one value exceeding 235 may be excluded when determining your Daily Maximum (Daily Max) to be reported on the NetDMR screen. All daily values must be used to determine the Monthly Geometric Mean.

When counting the number of daily values collected in a month, count the number of days E. coli is sampled. If more than one E. coli sample is collected on the same day, the result of all the samples during that day must be averaged and the resulting average is the value for that day.

If fewer than 10 days worth of E.Coli samples are collected per month, do not exclude any of the values when reporting Daily Maximum and calculating/reporting Monthly Geometric Mean.

How do I report Monthly Average on a DMR form when I only take one sample?

If your NPDES permit requires you to sample one time during the monitoring period (monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual) and no other samples are collected for that parameter/monitoring period, the single sample result needs to be reported for both of the Monthly Average and weekly Maximum/Daily Maximum for that parameter, if both are required.

How should "Total, flow (82220)" be calculated and why should it be reported?

The value reported for Total Flow (82220) should be the total flow discharged from the outfall (Permitted Feature) for the entire DMR monitoring period (usually monthly) and reported in million gallons per month. Even though your NPDES permit may only require a flow monitoring frequency of twice per month, to accurately report the Total Flow (82220) value, and comply with the certification statement required under 327 IAC 5-2-22 (3)(d) Signatories to permit applications and reports, you will need to monitor flows discharged from outfalls during the entire month.

For example, if your monitoring frequency is twice per month for parameter 50050, "Flow in Conduit or Thu Treatment Plant" and the sample type is instantaneous but your facility discharges 20 days during the month, you are required to measure flow during all of the 20 days when a discharge occurs and use these measurements in the calculation to arrive at the monthly total flow value that is reported in million gallons per month for the Total Flow (82220) parameter.

The need for this Total Flow value each month/quarter, while not specifically addressed in your NPDES permit, can be required as per 327 IAC 5-1-3 Department request for data, since IDEM may request additional information, when necessary, to carry out the implementation of the NPDES program. Total Flow parameter (82220) on the NetDMR screen is used to determine the flow related portion (Daily Average Actual) of the annual NPDES Permit Fee.

How do I locate my NetDMR for Quarterly, Semiannual, and Annual reporting?

Typically, Quarterly reporting can be found on the last month of a calendar quarter (March, June, September, December); Semiannual reporting can be found on the last month of a six-month calendar period (June, December) and Annual reporting can be found on the last month of the calendar year, December. There are some exceptions. Please contact IDEM NetDMR (netdmr at idem.in.gov) if you have questions about this.

Can I submit a revised NetDMR?

Yes, by opening the submitted NetDMR for a particular monitoring period, the NetDMR user can pull up the originally submitted DMR, make changes and submit as a Revised NetDMR. Be sure to attach the corresponding MMR/MRO if changes were also made on it.

How do I request signature authority in NetDMR?

A request for the signatory role will require submission of a subscriber agreement within the live/production side of NetDMR. The applicant must agree to its terms and conditions and then print, sign, and mail the form to IDEM before the NetDMR application can be fully accessed.

Note: Until the first signatory role is approved for a permit, no other roles can be requested for the permit (this is true for bot NetDMR test and NetDMR live).

Do I need to notify someone or submit anything when there is a change in signatory authority?

The new signatory will need to create a new account in NetDMR and submit a new Subscriber Agreement and check the "Continuation with New Authorization" box under the "requests" choice. Also, the new Signatory should send an email to IDEM NetDMR (netdmr at idem.in.gov) to let IDEM know. Upon completion of the registration process and approval from IDEM, the new signatory will be able to electronically sign the NetDMR.

How do I view or extract the NetDMR data to print it?

These are the steps to view and print a NetDMR Copy of Record (COR) or submission:

Either download the copy of record from NetDMR or move the Copy of Record (COR) from your confirmation email. It will be a zip file containing the submitted monitoring results, attachments, an electronic signature and a submission receipt. The file will be named something similar to “NetDMR_COR_21473.zip”.

You may want to create a folder on your desktop to move or copy the COR zip file to. To create a folder (right click on an area of your desktop and select “New”=>”Folder”, change the name to NetDMR).

Download from NetDMR or move or copy the NetDMR COR “NetDMR_COR_21473” into your new folder. Once the COR file has been placed into the new folder double click the folder to open the folder and view the files inside. Right click on the COR file and select “Extract All”. Depending on the number of attachments you should now see several files. The file with the name “dmrSubmission.xml” contains your DMR monitoring results. The other files will be your MRO or MMR along with an electronic signature and a submission receipt.

To view your DMR submission, right click on the file “dmrSubmission.xml” and select “open”. Your web browser will open and display what appears to be a copy of the NetDMR data entry screen with all of your monitoring results for the permitted feature (outfall) for the month. From here you can print the copy of record to your local printer or save it as a pdf file. It is best to orient the NetDMR page to “Landscape” (instead of “Portrait”) so that the font will not be too small, prior to printing it.

Computer System Requirements

NetDMR is a web based system and requires Internet and a web browser for a facility to gain access. NetDMR requires the following:

  • Internet Access Requirements: High-speed access to the Internet, such as DSL, cable-modem, T1, or partial T1
  • Hardware Requirements: Minimum Pentium III processor and 128 megabytes of RAM
  • Browser Minimum Requirements: Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6.X or Firefox 2.X, with Cookies and Javascript enabled
  • Screen Resolution Requirements: 1024 x 768

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