Water Quality: Rivers, Lakes, and Estuaries

Featured Fact Sheets and Information

• HOT Flood Fact Sheet: Surface Water Quality Concerns

  This fact sheet provides information about different types of floods and how floods effect surface water quality, potential health risks associated with floods, and resources available to assist the public, wastewater plants, and public water systems.

Developing Surface Water Quality Standards

• Surface Water Quality Standards
  Establishes explicit goals for the water quality of streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries throughout the state.
• Procedures for Implementing Water Quality Standards in Permitting
  Explains how water quality standards are applied to permitted wastewater dischargers.

Monitoring and Assessing Surface Water Quality

• Surface Water Quality Monitoring
  Coordinating the collection of physical, chemical, and biological samples from more than 1,800 sites and continuous-monitoring stations in selected watersheds throughout the state.
• Clean Rivers Program
  Regional water authorities working with the TCEQ for clean water and science-based decisions.
• Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality
  Describes the status of Texas’ natural waters based on historical data.

Protecting and Restoring Surface Water Quality

• Watershed Action Planning
  Coordinating, documenting, and tracking the actions necessary to protect and improve the quality of the state’s streams, lakes, and estuaries.
• Targeting Limits: Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program
  Improving impaired surface waters by reducing pollution.
• Pollution from Runoff: Nonpoint Source Program
  Implementing activities that prevent or abate pollution caused by the runoff of small amounts of pollutants from a large number of sources.
• Galveston Bay Estuary Program
  Balancing economic and human needs with available natural resources in the Galveston Bay watershed.
• Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program
  Improving the health of the bay system through a voluntary partnership with industry, bay users, local governments, and others.
• Clean Water Certification for Boat Sewage
  Texas has requirements for marine sanitation devices and boat pump-out stations. See how to obtain or renew certification, what the rules are, and how to report suspected illegal discharges. Add a sentence to this paragraph.

Data and Maps

• Surface Water Quality Data Viewer
  Use this viewer to locate monitoring stations and download water quality data.
• Surface Water Segment Viewer
  Use this viewer to locate water bodies in Texas.
• Clean Rivers Program Data Tool
  Extract data from the TCEQ’s Surface Water Quality Information System (SWQMIS).
• Managing Surface Water Quality Data
  Guidance and forms for submitting or requesting water quality data from SWQMIS.
• Hydrography Data and Maps
  Map-based data viewers. GIS data for classified segments and other hydrology layers.

Statewide Plans

• Watershed Action Planning
  Coordinating, documenting, and tracking strategies that protect and restore water quality
• Water Quality Management Plan
  Planning documents designed to provide long-range planning and technical data for water quality management activities required under the Texas Water Code and the federal Clean Water Act.
• Continuing Planning Process for Water Quality
  TCEQ’s management and technical procedures to control, manage, and abate water pollution in Texas.