How much water pollution are you okay with?

Summer traditions in Texas: giant mosquitoes, beating the record heat with swimming in springs, creeks and rivers, kids out of school, and trips to fish and camp.

Do you ever think about how much pollution is allowed in Texas waters?

Right now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is reviewing rules that decide how much pollution is safe to allow in our rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. Whether you enjoy fishing at your local lake, kayaking down a winding river, or simply savoring a refreshing glass of crisp clean water on a hot summer day, your voice is important in protecting the precious water resources of the Lone Star State.

Tell the TCEQ that everyday Texans are watching and want our waters protected.

The TCEQ is seeking preliminary public comment ahead of the next revision of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. [UPDATE: Even though the TCEQ’s call for preliminary public comments has ended, you can still submit your comments through this action alert. When the final public comment period opens next year, we will include your comments along with those from the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter in our submission to TCEQ.] Your feedback is invaluable to ensure that the updated standards reflect the needs and values of communities across Texas.

How much oil & gas wastewater (“produced water”) should be allowed in our rivers?
Should TCEQ regulate pre-production plastics pollution (“nurdles”) and microplastics on our coast?
How should salinity standards be defined so coastal endangered species are protected?
What levels of algae-forming nutrient pollution should be allowed in your local creeks and streams?

These are just a few of the potential issues TCEQ will consider in their revision.

Join us as we advocate for the future of the ‘lifeblood’ of our state by submitting your comments here, so we can deliver them to TCEQ and ensure your voice and community are represented.

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Re: PROPOSED REVISIONS TO 30 TAC CHAPTER 307

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Debbie Miller MC-234, Water Quality Planning Division Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711-3087 Dear Ms. Miller, Thank you for your work and service to Texas. We are writing to strongly urge you to strengthen the Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) in the upcoming revision. Specifically, it is essential to address such critical issues as pre-production plastics (“nurdles”) pollution, the absence of numeric criteria for salinity standards, the need for stricter regulations on oil and gas wastewater discharge (“produced water”), a reassessment of recreational use categories, and the adoption of more effective antidegradation policies. One of the pressing issues that deserves special attention during this triennial review is pre-production plastics pollution. We urge TCEQ to refocus on this issue after it was completely removed from the previous revision of the SWQS and support a renewed approach which should prohibit the discharge of any kind of plastic pollution in Texas waters, including microplastics that may not be visible to the naked eye. Additionally, TCEQ should use this triennial review to take action on adopting numeric salinity criteria. Despite nearly three decades of ongoing studies and the long-standing recognition of the need to establish a quality baseline for salinity gradients along the Texas coast, TCEQ has yet to take action on this matter. Further, TCEQ should ban the discharge of oil and gas wastewater due to the significant risks that toxic pollutants contained in such “produced water” pose to public health and the environment. Stringent SWQS are essential to ensure clean water, healthy communities, and sustainable ecosystems. It is also necessary for TCEQ to revise the previous rollbacks of recreational use categories by consolidating primary contact recreation under stricter bacterial criteria. This sensible public health measure will enhance safety of water recreation for Texans while maintaining regulatory flexibility between primary and secondary contact. Finally, measures are also needed to ensure a comprehensive Tier II anti-degradation review as the current wording of the Texas SWQS, as interpreted by TCEQ and generally upheld by Texas courts, is insufficient to protect high-quality waters across the state. We applaud TCEQ’s commitment to tackling new challenges in the state and urge the adoption of more stringent Surface Water Quality Standards. These standards are essential to safeguard our communities, economies, and wildlife.

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