Water Quality: Rivers, Lakes, and Estuaries

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.
• River Basins: 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.

Data and Maps

• Surface Water Quality Data Viewer
  Use this viewer to locate monitoring stations and download water quality data.
• Clean Rivers Program Data Tool
  Extract data from the TCEQ’s Surface Water Quality Information System (SWQMIS).
• SWQMIS Parameter Search
  A query tool for finding physical, chemical, and biological data available in 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.