Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group
This open-participation group meets periodically to advise the TCEQ about future revisions to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and methods for implementing the revised TSWQS in permits
On this page:
2027 Revisions to the TSWQS
For information regarding the 2027 revisions to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (TSWQS), please visit the webpage Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
About the Work Group
The Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group (SWQSAWG) provides guidance on options available for revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (30 TAC Chapter 307) and the Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, RG-194 (Implementation Procedures).
The work group provides guidance on various related topics, including nutrient criteria development and application, changes to toxic criteria per EPA criteria updates, implementation of EPA’s guidance on recreational indicators and uses, and site-specific criteria changes to classified and unclassified water bodies.
Back to topParticipating in the SWQSAWG
Section 5.107 of the Texas Water Code requires that the SWQSAWG is comprised of a balanced group of members. The Work Group has representatives from water associations, agricultural industry, engineering firms, environmental organizations, consumer groups, and government organizations.
The meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in changes to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards is welcome to attend.
Subscribe to receive emails regarding the SWQSAWG. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Meeting Announcements
TCEQ has scheduled the next half-day work group meeting to begin at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The meeting will take place at the Austin campus of the TCEQ, Building B, Room 201A. Participants may also attend virtually through Microsoft Teams via a link, which will be provided in a later email. Microphones and cameras will not be available for the live event, and the only way virtual attendees can communicate with the presenters or other attendees will be via the Q&A panel.
The purpose of this work group meeting is to inform the public of revisions currently being considered by TCEQ staff for the 2027 revision of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (TSWQS) (30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 307) and to provide an opportunity for public input. Topics to be discussed at the meeting include:
- Narrative salinity criteria for bays and estuaries,
- Additional toxic criteria revisions for the protection of human health (Table 2 of the TSWQS), and
- Additional site-specific criteria based on recently completed recreational and aquatic life use-attainability studies.
The agenda, handouts, and spreadsheet of inputs for human health criteria calculations (Table 2) will be available approximately two weeks in advance of the meeting on the Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group webpage. Copies of the handouts will also be available at the meeting.
To ensure that everyone can participate, please let us know no later than two weeks prior to the meeting date if you anticipate needing either translation services or special accommodation due to a disability.
Subscribe to the SWQSAWG email news group.
Records of Meetings Associated with Previous Standards and Implementation Procedures Revision Cycles
Please see records of previous meetings on the SWQSAWG Documents and Handouts page.
Contact the Water Quality Standards Program
For further information on the TSWQS, please email standards@tceq.texas.gov, call the Water Quality Planning Division at 512-239-6682, or mail TCEQ, MC-234, PO Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087.
For further information on the Implementation Procedures, please contact ipcommnt@tceq.texas.gov, or call the Water Quality Division, at 512-239-4372.
If you have any questions concerning the workgroup or need special accommodations at a meeting, please email standards@tceq.texas.gov.