Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group

2022 Revisions to the Standards and the Implementation Procedures

For information regarding the 2022 revisions to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, please visit the webpage Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. See information related to the 2022 revisions to the Implementation Procedures on Implementing the Surface Water Quality Standards in Permitting.

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 Standards).

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.

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Participating 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.

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Meeting Announcements

No future stakeholder meetings are scheduled at this time. Any additional information or notifications will be communicated to the workgroup to SWQSAWG email list subscribers. Subscribe to the SWQSAWG email news group.

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Meeting Records

June 29, 2020

• Agenda 
• List of Attendees 
• Meeting Minutes 
• Presentations
  •  Evaluation of a qPCR Method for Measuring Bacteria on the Texas Coast 
  •  Site-Specific Criteria Changes 
  •  Possible Revisions to Temporary Water Quality Standards Language 
  •  Updates on Contracts Regarding Nutrient Criteria Development 
• Handouts
  • Site-Specific Criteria Changes Handout 
  • Current Temporary Standards Rule Language (30 TAC §307.2(g)) 
  • Current Federal Regulations for Variances (40 CFR §131.14) 
• Additional Information
  
  • EPA Comments on Temporary Water Quality Standards 

June 30, 2020

• Agenda 
• List of Attendees 
• Meeting Minutes 
• Presentation
  •  Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (RG-194) Updates and Discussion Topics  
• Handouts
  • Draft pH screening procedures  
  •  Freshwater pH screening spreadsheet  
  •  Saltwater pH screening spreadsheet  
  • Draft WET procedures clean copy  
  • Draft WET procedures with track changes 
  • Appendix C clean copy  
  • Appendix C with track changes  
  • Appendix D clean copy  
  • Appendix D with track changes  
  • Toxic Criteria revisions clean copy  
  • Toxic Criteria revisions with track changes  

March 9, 2020

• Agenda 
• List of Attendees 
• Meeting Minutes 
• Presentations
•  Texas Surface Water Quality Standards Update (March 2020) 
•  Recreational Use Changes (March 2020) 
•  Site-Specific Criteria Changes (March 2020) 
•  Presentation about the 2021 Revisions to the Procedures for Implementing the Standards in Permitting
• Handouts
  • Recreational Use Changes Handout 
  • Changes to Toxics Criteria Table 1 
  • Changes to Toxics Criteria Table 2 
  • Site-Specific Criteria Changes Handout 
• Additional Information
  •  Table 2: Calculation Spreadsheet  

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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.

Staff Contacts

For further information on the Standards, 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 ipcomment@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.

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