Surface Water Quality Standards Advisory Work Group

• 2021 Revision
• About the Work Group
• Participating in the SWQSAWG
• Upcoming Meeting Announcements
• Upcoming SWQSAWG Meeting Agenda, Presentations, and Handouts
• Documents from SWQSAWG Meetings Associated With Previous Revision Cycles
• Staff Contacts

2021 Revision

For information regarding the 2021 revision of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards, please visit the Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards webpage

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’s guidance is sought on various 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

The members of the SWQSAWG are selected so that the group is balanced, as required under Section 5.107 of the Texas Water Code. The meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in changes to the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards is welcome to attend.

The Work Group has representatives from water associations, agricultural industry, engineering firms, environmental organizations, consumer groups, and government organizations.

To receive e-mails regarding the SWQSAWG, please join our list service. Click to subscribe

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Upcoming Meeting Announcements

TCEQ had planned to hold the next work group meeting in late May of 2020. However, due to considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be postponed. TCEQ will continue to monitor the situation, and a “save the date” email will be sent to stakeholders when a meeting date, time, and format have been determined.

The purpose of this work group meeting is to inform the public of revisions currently being considered by TCEQ staff for the 2021 revision of the Standards and IPs and to provide an opportunity for public input. Topics to be discussed at the May meeting include:

• Results from a contracted study which evaluated a qPCR method for measuring bacteria on the Texas coast,
• An update on contracts recently completed regarding nutrient criteria development,
• Possible revisions to the temporary standards language in §307.2,
• Site-specific criteria updates based on aquatic life use-attainability studies, and
• Revisions under consideration for the Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (RG-194).

For more information regarding the draft timeline for the 2021 revision of the Standards, please visit the Revising the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards page.

Recent SWQSAWG Meeting Agendas, Summaries, Presentations, and Handouts

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)
• Handouts
  • Recreational Use Changes (March 2020)
  • Changes to Toxics Criteria Table 1
  • Changes to Toxics Criteria Table 2
  • Site-Specific Criteria Changes
• Additional Information
  • Table 2: Calculation Spreadsheet

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Documents from SWQSAWG Meetings Associated With Previous Revision Cycles

Please see records of previous meetings on the SWQSAWG Documents and Handouts page.

Staff Contacts

For further information on the Standards, please contact Ms. Debbie Miller, Water Quality Planning Division, at (512) 239-1703. For further information on the Implementation Procedures, please contact Mr.Peter Schaefer, Water Quality Division, at (512) 239-4372.

If you have any questions concerning the workgroup or need special accommodations at a meeting, please contact Ms. Miller.

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