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Public Drinking Water

Ensuring that water produced and distributed by a public water system is safe to drink. Consumer confidence reports, monitoring, notification, and approval requirements.

Hot Topics in Drinking Water

  • 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.
  • RG - 634 Direct Potable Reuse for Public Water Systems
    This guidance manual explains how direct potable reuse is regulated in Texas and what is required for a public water system to receive approval for a DPR project.

Consumer Issues and Safety Measures

Owning or Operating a Public Water System

  • 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.

  • 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. 
  • 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)  
  • Determining Connections and Populations Served for Public Water Systems
    This guidance is intended to clarify practical application of “connections” and “population served” (i.e. people served) as they pertain to public water systems to ensure uniform determination.
  • 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.
  • Regulatory Assessment Fee
    Investor-owned utilities, water districts, water supply corporations, and certain counties are required to collect the Regulatory Assessment Fee (RAF) from retail water and wastewater customers and remit the amount to be collected to the TCEQ.
  • Water Districts
    Information about creating, funding, or managing a water district in Texas.
  • Establishing a New Water System
    Requirements that new water systems must meet before construction may begin.
  • 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.
  • Preparing for Disaster
    What to do to prepare your public water system before a natural disaster strikes.
  • EPA's Drinking-Water Enforcement Response Policy
    An approach for enforcement targeting under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
  • 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.
  • PWS Rules and Regulations
    Find the principal rules and related guidance for operators of public water systems in Texas.
  • 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. 

Laboratory Information

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.

     

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