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2022 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards

Information about the 2022 revision of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and how they are approved, and links to previous versions of the standards including supporting documents.


TCEQ Adopted Revisions to Standards

On September 7, 2022, the commissioners adopted revisions to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, as codified by rule in Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, (30 TAC), Chapter 307. The 2022 Standards became effective as a state rule on September 29, 2022.

TCEQ submitted the 2022 Standards revisions and supporting documentation to EPA for review and approval on November 7, 2022. EPA must approve the 2022 Standards before TCEQ may use them for federal permitting programs and other Clean Water Act (CWA) purposes.

Standards Acted on or Under Review

EPA is still reviewing portions of the 2000, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 Standards. See what EPA has approved, disapproved, or is still reviewing for the three most recent revision cycles in the following documents:

If a portion of the Standards is disapproved or still under review by EPA, the language in the last EPA-approved revision remains in effect for CWA purposes. During EPA’s review of the 2022 Standards, we will use standards established in other years based on the permitting program.

  • Federally delegated programs, such as the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) program, will continue to use portions of the 1997, 2000, 2010, 2014, and 2018 Standards.
  • Non-federal programs will use the 2022 Standards unless specifically disapproved by the EPA.

The 2022 Standards: Background Information

The commissioners approved staff’s recommendation to propose the 2022 Standards rule package for public comment on March 9, 2022. TCEQ published the request for comments in the Texas Register on March 25, 2022. The formal comment period ended on May 2, 2022.

TCEQ held a public hearing in Austin on May 2, 2022, which was held in a hybrid virtual and in-person format, to receive oral and written comments on the rule package. Three attendees provided oral comments at the public hearing.

EPA Review of the 2022 Water Quality Standards

On November 7, 2022, TCEQ submitted a package in support of the adopted revisions to the 2022 Standards to EPA. EPA has completed two action letters, which are linked below. However, these letters do not address all outstanding portions of the rule requiring EPA review. Major sections still under consideration by EPA include revisions to Table 1 (regarding toxic criteria for the protection of aquatic life) and Table 2 (regarding toxic criteria for the protection of human health) in §307.6; the addition of a geometric mean criterion for Enterococci for high saline inland waters with primary contact recreation 2 in §307.7; and several revised site-specific criteria in Appendix D. A highlighted version of the 2022 Standards rule language is also provided below to clearly demonstrate which sections of the standards the EPA has acted on pursuant to the action letter.

Disclaimer: The user-friendly rule documents that TCEQ makes available on this site are not a substitute for the official rules as approved and filed with the Office of the Secretary of State. See full disclaimer. Email the Secretary of State’s office to request official copies of final TCEQ rules.

The 2022 Standards and Associated Documents

Disclaimer: The rules available on this site are not a substitute for the official rules as approved and filed with the Office of the Secretary of State. See full disclaimer. Email the Secretary of State’s office to request official copies of final TCEQ rules.

Contact the Standards Group

For more information about the Water Quality Standards (30 TAC Chapter 307), please email standards@tceq.texas.gov or call the Water Quality Planning Division at 512-239-6682.

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