Disinfectant Residual Reporting in Drinking Water

On this page:

• Complete and Submit the DLQOR
• Measuring the Disinfectant Residual
• Minimum and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels
• Consumer Notification
• Assistance and Tools for PWS

All public water systems (PWS) must collect drinking water samples to measure and record the level of chlorine or chloramines, also called disinfectant residuals, in their distribution system to ensure required residual levels are maintained. 

You must:

• Designate sites in your monitoring plan
• Complete the DLQOR
  • Community and nontransient noncommunity public water systems (PWS) that use only purchased water or groundwater must submit the DLQOR to TCEQ every quarter.
  • Transient noncommunity systems do not have to submit the DLQOR
• Keep a copy of the form and residuals for their records
• Submit a record of residuals and DLQORs if TCEQ requests it 

If your PWS uses chloramines, you must complete chloramine effectiveness sampling.

Complete and Submit the DLQOR

DLQOR Form TCEQ-20067 (Revision 2.0, 09/2026) - Use this form to submit data to TCEQ using one of the methods below. TCEQ cannot accept the form by fax or e-mail. Submit your data early to ensure it is received by the due date.

• Electronic Environmental Reporting (E2)
• Mail to the address on the form

Table 1 Deadline to submit the DLQOR

Find information about completing the DLQOR at Monitoring, Analyzing, and Reporting of Free Chlorine and Chloramines (RG-407). 

If you have questions, contact DLQOR program staff at DBP@tceq.texas.gov or 512-239-1062.

Enable Javascript in the PDF Form

To complete the PDF version of the form on your computer, you must enable JavaScript so the form can automatically calculate several data fields.

1. Save the form to your computer

2. Click Options in the yellow banner at the top of the document.

3. Click "Enable JavaScript for this document always."

4. Continue to use the form you saved and you will not have to enable it again.

Measuring the Disinfectant Residual

Disinfectant residuals collected in the distribution system must be measured to a minimum accuracy of plus or minus 0.1 mg/L using a colorimeter, spectrophotometer, or color comparator test kit. All test kits must conform to TCEQ and Environmental Protection Agency analytical procedures. 

Find disinfectant residual test kits at Hach, Fisher Scientific, LaMotte Company . If you have questions about test kits you must ask the manufacturer. 

Optional Worksheets

Use the worksheets to record individual disinfectant residual results for your PWS. Do not submit these records to TCEQ unless requested.

Table 2 Worksheets to use based on sampling requirements

Minimum and Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels

PWS in Texas are required to maintain a minimum level of disinfectant to kill microbes that can cause acute diarrhea, nausea, or other life-threatening illnesses. In addition, PWS must adhere to requirements for maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs). Compliance for the MRDL is based on a running annual average of all samples collected in the distribution system. If that average exceeds the MRDL, a PWS must notify customers as soon as possible but no later than 30 days.

Table 3 Minimum and maximum residual disinfectant levels.

Consumer Notification

Public Notice Language for Drinking Water Compliance - If your PWS has an MRDL, monitoring and reporting, or treatment technique violation, you can find required language and certificate of delivery documents by contaminant to use for public notification.

Consumer Confidence Reports - Community water systems must provide the minimum, maximum, and average levels of chlorine or chloramine in their Consumer Confidence Report. A community water system supplies water to the same population year-round.

Assistance and Tools for Public Water Systems

Temporary Free-Chlorine Conversion - Information about a temporary switch from chloramine to free chlorine.

TCEQ Drinking Water Viewer - Information TCEQ has for your PWS including chemical results, bacteriological results, sample schedules, violations, and contact information. This database is free and open to the public.

Technical Guidance for Public Water System Operators and Engineers - Information about submitting plans, treatment options, and requesting exceptions to design or capacity rules.

Financial, Managerial, and Technical Assistance - TCEQ offers FREE financial, managerial, and technical (FMT) assistance to help PWS comply with regulations. Contact FMT for help with issues such as, but not limited to, preventing operational problems, training about how to comply with rule requirements and performing capacity assessments.