Water Quality General Permits

State-wide permits authorizing the discharge of wastewater and/or stormwater. Obtain information about pending renewals and amendments (including those currently accepting comments from the public), recently issued general permits, and a complete list of general permits.

The discharge of wastewater and certain types of stormwater into or adjacent to water in the state must be authorized by an individual permit or a general permit. Seeking the ability to discharge under a general permit is less time-consuming and usually requires fewer resources.

Updates on renewal or amendment of general permits are provided at Water Quality Advisory Workgroup meetings. Meetings occur quarterly and are open to the public. For more information, please visit the WQAWG webpage.

On this page:

Open Public Comment Period
Recently Issued
Pending General Permit Actions
Available Water Quality General Permits

Open Public Comment Period

HOTUPDATEConventional Water Treatment Plant General Permit (TXG640000)

Proposal to renew and update the Conventional Water Treatment Plant General Permit No. TXG640000, which authorizes the discharge of wastewater generated as a result of convention water treatment at water treatment facilities. The renewal will replace the current permit when it expires on October 12, 2025.

TCEQ published notice of the proposed general permit in the Texas Register and the Houston Chronicle. The comment period will close on April 7, 2025.

A hybrid public meeting is schedule to be held at TCEQ, Bldg F, Rm 2210, at 9:30am on April 7, 2025. Please email Outreach@tceq.texas.gov with “TXG640000” in the subject line to register and request a virtual meeting invitation. Include your title and contact information in the request.

Recently Issued

HOTUPDATEHydrostatic Test Water General Permit (TXG670000)

HOTUPDATE Quarries in Certain Water Quality Protection Areas General Permit (TXG500000)

NEWOil and Gas Outer Continental Shelf General Permit (WQG280000)

NEWOil and Gas Extraction TPDES General Permit (TXG310000)

Pending General Permit Actions

Multi-Sector General Permit (TXR050000)

Amendment without Renewal

Proposal to amend the Multi-Sector General Permit No. TXR050000, which authorizes discharges of stormwater from certain industrial activities. The permit would retain its current expiration date of July 16, 2026.

TCEQ published notice of the proposed general permit in the Texas Register and the Houston Chronicle. The comment period closed on November 12, 2024. Adoption is proposed at the Commissioner’s Agenda on May 1, 2025.

Renewal

Proposal to renew the Multi-Sector General Permit No. TXR050000, which authorizes discharges of stormwater from certain industrial activities. The renewal will replace the current permit when it expires on July 16, 2026.

Evaporation Pond General Permit (WQG100000)

Proposal to renew and amend the Evaporation Pond General Permit No. WQG100000, which authorizes disposal of wastewater from industrial or water treatment facilities by evaporation adjacent to water in the state. The renewal will replace the current permit when it expires on September 15, 2025.

TCEQ published notice of the proposed general permit in the Texas Register and the Houston Chronicle. The comment period closed on March 10, 2025. Adoption is proposed at the Commissioner’s Agenda on August 6, 2025.

Aquaculture General Permit (TXG130000)

Proposal to renew and amend the Aquaculture General Permit No. TXG130000, which authorizes discharges from an aquaculture facility or a related aquaculture activity. The renewal will replace the current permit when it expires on April 18, 2026.

Pesticide General Permit (TXG870000)

Proposal to renew and amend the Pesticide General Permit No. TXG870000, which authorizes discharges from pesticides for the control of mosquitoes and other insects, vegetation and algae, animal pests, area-wide pests, and forest-canopy pests. The renewal will replace the current permit when it expires on November 2, 2026.

Available Water Quality General Permits:

Stormwater

TXR040000: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. Authorizes discharges of stormwater from certain MS4s.

TXR150000: Construction General Permit. Authorizes discharges of stormwater from construction activities.

TXR050000: Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). Authorizes discharges of stormwater from certain industrial activities.

Oil and Gas

TXG310000: Extraction General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastewater associated with oil and gas extraction activities into water in the state from onshore stripper well facilities located east of the 98th meridian, coastal facilities, and territorial seas facilities.

WQG280000: Outer Continental Shelf General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastes associated with oil and gas extraction activities into the Gulf of America from facilities located in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Wastewater

TXG500000: Quarries in Certain Water Quality Protection Areas General Permit. Authorizes discharges from certain quarries located in water quality protection areas in the John Graves Scenic Riverway and Coke Stevenson Scenic Riverway.

TXG110000: Concrete Batch Plant General Permit. Authorizes discharges from ready-mixed concrete plants, concrete products plants, and their associated facilities.

TXG130000: Aquaculture General Permit. Authorizes discharges from aquaculture facilities and certain related activities.

TXG340000: Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastewater from petroleum bulk stations and terminals.

TXG530000: Harris County On-site Wastewater General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastewater from on-site treatment systems connected to single family residences located in Harris County.

TXG640000: Conventional Water Treatment Plant (WTP) General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastewater from convention water treatment.

TXG670000: Hydrostatic Test Water General Permit. Authorizes discharges of wastewater from hydrostatic testing of vessels (pipelines, tanks, and other containers).

TXG830000: Petroleum Contaminated Water General Permit. Authorizes discharges of water contaminated by petroleum substances.

TXG870000: Pesticides General Permit (PGP). Authorizes discharges of pesticides for the control of mosquitoes and other insects, vegetation and algae, animal pests, area-wide pests, and forest-canopy pests.

TXG920000: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) General Permit. Authorizes discharges of manure, litter, and wastewater from CAFOs.

WQG100000: Evaporation Pond General Permit. Authorizes disposal of wastewater generated by industrial or water treatment facilities by evaporation from surface impoundments.

WQG200000: Livestock Manure Compost General Permit. Authorizes the disposal of wastewater generated from livestock manure compost operations by evaporation or irrigation.