Free Financial, Managerial, and Technical Assistance for Public Water and Wastewater Systems
Through a contract with skilled professionals, we offer free financial, managerial, and technical (FMT) assistance to help public water and wastewater systems comply with regulations. We can also help you prevent and address operational problems, deliver technical trainings, and perform consolidation or capacity assessments.
Why is the TCEQ offering free help?
It is important for your public water and wastewater systems to remain financially, managerially, and technically sound so that you can provide clean and safe drinking water and wastewater services.
Our professional contractors can provide help tailored to your specific needs. The program’s purpose is to help water or wastewater systems remain in compliance with regulations that protect human health and the environment.
For a quick look at what we can do here is our Financial, Managerial, and Technical Assistance Brochure (GI-449)
On-site Assistance
We can provide free, one-on-one, on-site support and education on a wide variety of topics to improve your public drinking water and wastewater systems. If your system is experiencing operational difficulties, this could help you avoid regulatory compliance violations. You may request assistance for any number of the tasks you need to accomplish.
The TCEQ can help your system with these tasks. Assignment Task List
See the “How to Request Assistance or Contact Us” tab at the bottom of the page for instructions on how to request FMT assistance.
Lead Service Line Inventory Help
Under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR), all community and non-transient non-community public water systems are required to submit lead service line inventories to TCEQ no later than October 16, 2024.
If you would like help preparing or submitting your Service Line Inventory form and training on LCRR requirements, please contact us to schedule your free assistance. Visit TCEQ’s LCRR webpage to learn more about the rule and to download TCEQ’s Service Line Inventory form (TCEQ-20943).
Consolidation Assessment
If your system is struggling, the TCEQ can help you consider if consolidation with a neighboring system could solve long-running problems. We offer this assessment for officials or owners of systems who are considering getting out of the water or wastewater business.
We can assign a contractor to look at the feasibility of two or more systems working together, possibly to the point of a merger. If we determine that consolidation is feasible and recommended, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) can assist you and the other parties throughout the process to completion.
Technical Training Workshops
The Texas Optimization Program (TOP) developed a series of trainings called Directed Assistance Modules (DAM). The TCEQ contractors have been trained to deliver a number of these workshop trainings and they cover a variety of technical topics. Student materials for these technical training workshops are posted below, but we encourage all interested public water system staff to contact us for free on-site, instructor-led training.
See a full list of DAMs on the DAM Workshop List.
Delivered by FMT Contractors
- DAM 8: Creating a Nitrification Action Plan for Public Water Systems Using Chloramines
- DAM 11: How to Perform a Revised Total Coliform Rule Level 1 Assessment
- DAM 5: Process Control for Public Water Systems Using Chloramines
- DAM 12: Establishing and Managing an Effective Cross-Connection Control Program
Delivered by TOP Program Staff
Delivered by FMT Contractors
- DAM 4:Chloramine Disinfection and Disinfection Byproduct Control
- DAM 3: Completing the Surface Water Monthly Operational Report (SWMOR) Using the Automated Reporting Form
- DAM 3-Alt: Completing the SWMOR-Alt for Alternative Technologies
- DAM 1: Developing Performance Goals and a Monitoring Strategy
- DAM 2A: Establishing Appropriate Chemical Feed Rates
- DAM 2B: Establishing Appropriate Chemical Feed Rates Using Representative Jar Testing
- DAM 6: Filter Assessment for a Conventional Surface Water Treatment Plant
Delivered by TOP Program Staff
Capacity Assessment
This assessment, required if you’re applying for certain types of funding from the Texas Water Development Board, outlines your system’s strengths and identifies areas in need of improvement.
Our contractor will meet with your system’s staff to evaluate the financial, managerial, and technical capabilities of your system. Additional assistance is available following this assessment to address any improvements you would like to make at your system. These can be to meet or maintain regulatory compliance or to provide additional training to your staff.
Funding Help
We can help you locate and apply for funding, review business plans, or assist with Capital Improvement Plans. For one-on-one help, please contact us to schedule the assistance visit.
Additional Funding Resources
- Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee
- Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund
How to Request Assistance or Contact Us
If you operate a water or wastewater system and would like to arrange for free assistance, please email us at the address below and provide the following information:
- The name of the water or wastewater system(s) that needs assistance;
- If known, the system’s seven-digit PWS ID (for drinking water systems) or ten-digit water quality permit number (for wastewater systems);
- Your name, number, and email address; and
- A description of what type of assistance is needed.
If you have any questions, please contact our staff:
Phone: (512) 239-4691
E-mail: FMT@tceq.texas.gov
Get Help from the Public Utility Commission
Additional financial and managerial assistance is available to water and wastewater utilities through the Public Utility Commission. Please visit the PUC website , call (512) 936-7405, or email duo@puc.texas.gov.