Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards
Summary of the process the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards are revised to meet the requirements for Texas streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other water bodies.
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Texas Surface Water Quality Standards Revision Process
The process to revise the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307) (TSWQS) includes the public and usually occurs every three years. Revisions address new information about pollutants, additional data about water quality conditions in specific water bodies, and new state and federal regulatory requirements.
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, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Back to top2026 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 for review and revision as needed of the TSWQS.
The current timeline for revising the 2026 Standards is as follows:
- Hold stakeholder workgroup meetings: March 27, 2025
- Proposal Agenda: November 19, 2025
- Beginning of Public Comment Period: November 23, 2025
- Public Hearing and Close of Comment Period: January 8, 2026
- Adoption Agenda: May 6, 2026
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.