Surface Water Rights and Availability

HOT Starting in January 2021, annual Water Use Reports (WURs) can be submitted electronically via SUNSS Surface Water Rights Data (SWRD) for non-Watermaster areas. To enter data for a WUR, the user will need to provide a Form Identification Code that is specific for each WUR. The Form ID can be found on the WUR forms that are mailed to Water Right holders in early January. Find more information at Submitting Your Annual Water Use Report. Please send an e-mail to WUR@tceq.texas.gov for assistance.

 HOT Water Right applications should be submitted in two parts: an electronic copy should be submitted directly to WRPT@tceq.texas.gov, and one hard copy should be submitted to the TCEQ Central Office, Mail Code 160 with the required payment. If the files are too large to be submitted via e-mail, TCEQ's FTP may be utilized. Please visit the FTP help site for more information on how to transfer. If you need to submit a Water Right application via FTP, please send an e-mail to WRPT@tceq.texas.gov for further direction on how to transfer these files to staff.

Change of Ownership requests may be submitted directly to WRCOO@tceq.texas.gov. If your files are too large to be submitted via e-mail, TCEQ's FTP may be utilized. Please visit the FTP help site for more information on how to transfer. If you need to submit a Change of Ownership via FTP, please send an e-mail to WRCOO@tceq.texas.gov for further direction on how to transfer these files to staff.

HOT TCEQ Water Rights Viewer - The TCEQ Water Rights Viewer includes information about water rights authorizations and other water related information. A user can find information about the location of authorized water rights points, a copy of the water right and the Adjudication Final Determination, current ownership of the water right, recent water use data, and TCEQ’s adopted environmental flow standards.

Water Rights: Permits, Change of Ownerships, and Water Supply Contracts

• Am I Regulated? Water Rights in Texas
• Applying for a Water Right or to Change Ownership
• Pending Water Rights Applications
• Water Supply Contracts

Water Rights: Water Use Reports and Data

• Submitting Your Annual Water Use Report
• Water Rights and Water Use Data

Water Rights: Technical Resources

• Water Availability Models: Directions and GIS Files
• Water Right Permits: Conservation Plans
• Water Right Permits: Drought Contingency Plans
• Environmental Flows: Balancing Water Needs
• Instream Uses and Your Water Right Application
• Plumbing Fixtures: Water Saving Standards

Rules and Regulations

• Water Rights: Procedural (Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 295)
• Water Rights: Substantive (30 TAC 297)
• Water Rights Statutes  (Title 2, Texas Water Code, Chapter 11 and Chapter 18)

Watermasters

Water use is regulated by watermaster programs in some areas.

• Brazos River
• Concho River
• Rio Grande
• South Texas

TCEQ Regional Offices

Contact a local TCEQ office to submit a complaint or to request temporary use of state water.

Assistance for Small Business and Local Government

Resources specifically tailored to help small business and local governments comply with environmental regulations.