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 (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 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 307), which were adopted in 2022. This request for written comments was in preparation for review and revision as needed of the TSWQS and IPs.
The TSWQS establish instream water quality requirements for Texas streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and other water bodies. TCEQ is directed to establish water quality standards in the Texas Water Code, Section 26.023. The federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(c), requires that states publicly review and revise their water quality standards as needed every three years. Revisions are made to: (1) incorporate new information on potential pollutants, (2) include additional data about water quality conditions in specific water bodies, (3) address new state and federal regulatory requirements, and (4) accommodate public concerns and public goals for water quality in the state.
The TCEQ will review and consider preliminary comments during the development of draft proposals for revisions of the TSWQS. Written responses to these preliminary comments will not be provided. Any proposed revisions, whether resulting from these comments or not, will be subject to a formal public hearing and a public comment period prior to adoption.
A copy of the 2022 version of the TSWQS is available on the Office of the State Secretary’s website .
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.