TCEQ Water Conservation Programs
- Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans
- Requirements and Submittal Deadline
- Submissions to Texas Water Development Board
- Water Conservation Plan Forms
- Implementation Reports
- Water-saving Plumbing Fixture Program
Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans
An entity applying for a new water right or an amendment to an existing water right must prepare and implement a water conservation/drought contingency plan, and submit that plan with the application. Title 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 295.9. To be administratively complete, the plan must meet all minimum requirements contained in TAC, Chapter 288.
The TCEQ is required to determine whether requested appropriations of state water are reasonable and necessary for the proposed use(s), and that water right applicants will conserve and avoid wasting water. This determination is made through reviewing the applicant's water conservation plan and is considered in the decision to approve or deny a water right application. TAC Chapter 297.50.
In addition to water right applicants, the following entities are required to develop, implement and submit water conservation plans that meet the requirements:
- Municipal, industrial/mining and other non-agricultural water right holders of 1,000 acre-feet of water per year or more.
- Agricultural water right holders of 10,000 acre-feet of water per year or more. In addition, all wholesale and retail public water suppliers and irrigation districts are required to develop drought contingency plans.
Guidance and Methodology for Reporting on Water Conservation and Water Use (PDF).
Senate Bill 181, passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature in 2011, requires that: "Not later than January 1, 2013, the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, in consultation with the Water Conservation Advisory Council, shall develop a uniform, consistent methodology and guidance for calculating water use and conservation." This guidance and methodology document has been prepared to meet the requirements and is provided to retail water providers and certain other water use sectors as a guide for preparation of water use reports, water conservation plans, and reports on water conservation efforts.
Water Conservation Best Management Practices Guide (PDF)
The Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Report 362 was completed by the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force in November 2004. Report 362 is the Water Conservation Best Management Practices (BMP) Guide. The BMP Guide is a voluntary list of management practices that water users may implement in addition to the required components of Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 288.
The Best Management Practices Guide broken out by sector, including Agriculture, Commercial and Institutional, Industrial, Municipal and Wholesale along with any new or revised BMPs can be found at the following link on the Texas Water Development Board’s website. http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/conservation/bmps/index.asp
Requirements and Submittal Deadline
The amended Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Chapter 288 became effective on December 6, 2012.
The next revision of water conservation plans for municipal, industrial, and other non-irrigation uses must be submitted to the TCEQ no later than May 1, 2014, and every five years after that date to coincide with the regional water planning process. The Chapter 288 Rules require specific, quantified five and ten year targets for water savings to be included in all water conservation plans. In addition to the revised water conservation plans, water conservation Implementation Reports must be submitted to the TCEQ no later than May 1, 2014. Any revised plans must be submitted to the TCEQ within 90 days of adoption and must also include implementation reports.
Those water conservation plans that are required to be submitted to the TCEQ should be mailed to the Resource Protection Team at the TCEQ address indicated below:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Resource Protection Team, MC-160, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas, 78711-3087.
Submissions to Texas Water Development Board
For retail public water suppliers providing water service to 3,300 or more connections, a water conservation plan meeting the minimum requirements of Subchapter A of Chapter 288 and using appropriate best management practices must be developed, implemented, and submitted to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) no later than May 1, 2014, and every five years after that date to coincide with the regional water planning process.
Each entity that is required to submit a water conservation plan to the TCEQ shall submit a copy of the plan to the TWDB no later than May 1, 2014. Each entity that is required to submit a water conservation plan to the TWDB or the TCEQ, shall file a report no later than May 1, every year to the TWDB on the entity's progress in implementing the plan.
The water conservation plans required to be submitted to the TWDB should be mailed to the address indicated below:
Texas Water Development Board, 1700 North Congress Avenue, P.O. Box 13231, Austin, Texas, 78711-3231.
Please contact Ethan Ham at 512/463-4292 or by email to ethan.ham@twdb.state.tx.us for additional information (TWDB Conservation Link).
Water Conservation Plan Forms
Water Conservation Plan forms for the following entity types are available below. You can receive a print copy of a form by calling 512/239-4691 or by email to wras@tceq.texas.gov. (Help with Downloading Files.)
Municipal Use
- Utility Profile and Water Conservation Plan Requirements for Municipal Water Use by Public water Suppliers (TCEQ-10218) PDF
Wholesale Public Water Suppliers
- Profile and Water Conservation Plan Requirements for Wholesale Public Water Suppliers (TCEQ-20162) Word or PDF
Industrial/Mining Use
Agricultural Uses
- Agriculture Water Conservation Plan-Non-Irrigation (TCEQ-10541) Word or PDF
- System Inventory and Water Conservation Plan for Individually-Operated Irrigation System(TCEQ-10238) Word or PDF
- System Inventory and Water Conservation Plan for Agricultural Water Suppliers Providing Water to More Than One User (TCEQ-10244) Word or PDF
Implementation Reports
In addition to a water conservation plan, municipal, industrial/mining and other non-agricultural water right holders of 1,000 acre-feet of water per year or more and agricultural water right holders of 10,000 acre-feet of water per year or more must submit an implementation report no later than May 1, 2014 and every five years after that date.
Water Conservation Implementation Report for Non Public Water Suppliers (TCEQ-20645) Word
Water Conservation Implementation Report for Public Water Suppliers (TCEQ-20646) Word
Water-Saving Plumbing Fixture Program
This program was created by the Texas Legislature on Jan. 1, 1992 to promote water conservation. Manufacturers of plumbing fixtures sold in Texas must comply with the Environmental Performance Standards for Plumbing Fixtures, which requires all plumbing fixtures such as showerheads, toilets and faucets sold in Texas to conform with specific water use efficiency standards. Because more water is used in the bathroom than any other place in the home, water-efficient plumbing fixtures play an integral role in reducing water consumption, wastewater production, and consumers' water bills.
