Public Drinking Water

Hot Topics in Drinking Water

• PWS Immediate Notification Form
  In accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code Subsection 341.033(i)(6), non-industrial PWS must immediately notify TCEQ of an unplanned condition that has caused a public water supply outage or the public water supply to issue a do-not-use advisory, do-not-consume advisory, or boil water notice. To report these events, use the PWS Immediate Notification Form.
• Texas Drinking Water Watch (DWW)
  Use this searchable database of analytical results, schedules and violations to learn more about the quality of your drinking water and your public water system's compliance with state and federal regulations. For assistance with navigation and terms used in Drinking Water Watch go to Instructions for Drinking Water Watch.
• Drinking Water Advisory Work Group (DWAWG)
  Meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes from past meetings of this open-participation group, which meets quarterly to discuss compliance with state and federal drinking-water regulations and improving customer service.
• Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Facilities
  TCEQ is offering a free statewide program to help eligible participants conduct voluntary sampling and analysis for lead in drinking water at their schools and child care facilities.
• Financial, Managerial and Technical Assistance
  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.

Consumer Issues and Safety Measures

• After the Flood: Is Your Water Safe to Drink?
  After a flood, drinking water sources may be contaminated—be safe before you drink the water.
• Cross Connection Control 
  Cross-connection control information for public water systems and their customers, including public meetings for cross-connection issues.
• Drinking Water Quality and Consumer Concerns
  Measures that ensure that water produced and distributed by a public water system is safe to drink. Is your water supply contaminated? Identify the problem. Find out if it could affect your health. Learn more about notices or reports from your supplier.
• How to Find A Licensed Water System Operator
  How to use our database to find out whether a water system operator's certification is up to date, including current continuing education credits.
• Public Drinking Water Program: Annual Compliance Reports

  The TCEQ's annual report on public water systems' violations of national primary drinking water regulations.

  • 2014 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2015 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2016 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2017 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2018 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2019 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2020 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2021 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2022 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2023 Annual Compliance Report

Owning or Operating a Public Water System

• Assessing and Protecting Water Sources
  Support for public water systems to identify and implement measures that will protect their sources of water from contamination.
• Consumer Confidence Report
  Background, guidance, and instructions for community public water systems to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report.
• Establishing a New Water System
  Requirements that new water systems must meet before construction may begin.
• Lead and Copper Program for Drinking Water 
  The list of systems scheduled to sample this year, forms for sampling, how to find a laboratory, and all other questions concerning Lead and Copper tap water sampling and Water Quality Parameter sampling.
• Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
  The Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) amend the Lead and Copper Rule. All community and non-transient non-community public water systems are required to comply with the LCRR starting October 16, 2024. On this page, find information related to the rule including provisions for service line inventories and testing in schools and child care facilities.
• Monitoring Plans for Public Water Systems & Laboratory Approval 
  An all-encompassing template that water systems can utilize and maintain in accordance with 30 Title, Texas Administrative Code 290.121(a) . 
• Operating a Public Water System
  Your source of water and all the equipment and pipes between it and the customer's meter—how to operate it to ensure the protection of public health.
• Operator Notice Form
  Use this form to provide the TCEQ with a list of all operators and operating companies that the PWS uses. If you are working off the initial version of this form you are NOT required to use the updated form. The notice shall contain the name, contact information, work status, license number, and license class of each operator and the name and registration number of each operating company.
• Homeland Security for PWS
  Preparing your public water system for cybersecurity incidents, natural disasters, and system security issues.
• PWS Rules and Regulations
  Find the principal rules and related guidance for operators of public water systems in Texas.
• Revised Total Coliform Rule 
  The federal Revised Total Coliform Rule protects public health by reducing potential pathways for fecal contamination into public drinking water distribution systems. 
• Templates for Public Notices and Boil Water Notices
  Public notice and certificate of delivery templates. Mandatory wording certifying that you’ve notified customers about violations your system may have incurred. Also, mandatory language for issuing and rescinding a boil water notice.
• Water Districts
  Information about creating, funding, or managing a water district in Texas. 

Laboratory Information

• Electronic Reporting
  Public water systems and laboratories may submit Disinfectant Level Quarterly Operating Reports (DLQOR) and Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) data online using E2.
• Laboratory Approval
  Public water systems and laboratories are required to obtain approval to conduct certain analyses including field measurements of disinfectant, pH and temperature.  Completion of a Drinking Water Lab Approval form is required as part of each PWS's Monitoring Plan.
• Laboratory Accreditation
  Laboratories that submit data to the TCEQ Water Supply Division for use in determining compliance must adhere to the PWSSP QAPP and be accredited under TNI.
• Public Water System Supervision Program
  This page includes links to TCEQ's Public Water Supply Supervision Program's Quality Assurance Project Plan which includes important information for laboratories submitting analytical results to TCEQ for use in compliance. Public Water Systems can verify if the laboratories they use adhere to PWSSP requirements.
• Texas Drinking Water Public Laboratories 
TCEQ has developed a laboratories map and laboratory map table of the NELAP accredited drinking water public laboratories across the state of Texas. This map shows Texas drinking water public laboratories that offer testing for microbial total coliforms, lead and copper, and/or water quality parameters. When using the map, match the number to the PWS Laboratory Map Table to find more information about the lab, such as what they test. Always call laboratories to confirm their address, sample drop off hours, and prices.
• Texas Drinking Water Public Laboratories Map
• PWS Laboratory Map Table in PDF
• PWS Laboratory Map Table in Excel