Reviewing and Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards
Summary of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards review and revision process to meet the requirements for Texas streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other water bodies.
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Texas Surface Water Quality Standards Review Process
The process to review the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307) (TSWQS) includes the public and occurs three years after the last commission-approved revision or previous review (40 Code of Federal Regulations §131.20). The review process includes a preliminary written comment period where stakeholders can submit new information or request changes to the TSWQS. The comments are reviewed by TCEQ to determine if a revision of the TSWQS is necessary.
Back to topTexas Surface Water Quality Standards Revision Process
When needed, revisions to the TSWQS address new information about pollutants, additional data about water quality conditions in specific water bodies, and new state and federal regulatory requirements. During the revision process, updates to the TSWQS are discussed with stakeholders. A formal public comment period is conducted through the Texas Register and a public hearing is conducted. Final revisions are proposed to the TCEQ Commissioners for adoption. Once adopted, the TSWQS are submitted to EPA for review and approval.
Stakeholders in the review and revision process include TCEQ, EPA, the public, other governmental agencies, industries, municipalities, environmental groups, and others. Much of the coordination is done through the Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group. TCEQ revised the TSWQS in 1967, 1973, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
2027 Revision to the TSWQS
The preliminary comment period closed at 5:00 p.m. on July 23, 2024.
TCEQ published a notice in the June 21, 2024 issue of the Texas Register requesting preliminary written comments on the TSWQS, which were adopted in 2022. This request for written comments was in preparation of the three-year review of the TSWQS. The review resulted in a need to revise the TSWQS.
The current timeline for revising the 2027 Standards is as follows:
- Hold stakeholder workgroup meeting: March 27, 2025
- Proposal Agenda: To be determined
- Beginning of Public Comment Period: To be determined
- Public Hearing and Close of Comment Period: To be determined
- Adoption Agenda: To be determined
For more information regarding upcoming work group meetings, please visit the Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group webpage.
Contact the Water Quality Standards Program
For further information about the TSWQS, please email standards@tceq.texas.gov, call the Water Quality Planning Division at 512-239-6682, or send mail to TCEQ, MC-234, PO Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. For further information on the Implementation Procedures, please email ipcommnt@tceq.texas.gov or call the Water Quality Division at 512-239-4372.