The TCEQ adopted revisions to the Texas Water Quality Standards (TWQS) and Implementation Procedures which will appropriately enhance and classify Texas’ rivers, streams, and lakes. The Texas Surface Water Quality Standards describe the chemical, physical, and biological conditions to be attained in the surface waters of Texas.
The Commissioners chose to retain 126 E.coli per 100 milliliters as the standard for primary contact recreation, asked to continue to be informed about further scientific developments for nutrient criteria, and to consider mechanisms to streamline the process for determining what level of recreation use a water body supports, through a site-specific use-attainability analysis. Further, the Commissioners urged the staff to continue to collect data and evaluate proper protection levels and ensure the public is protected while state resources are utilized as efficiently as possible.
Additionally, for the first time the TCEQ has established numerical nutrient criteria for 75 reservoirs in Texas. This new criteria will protect many major reservoirs by inhibiting excessive growth of aquatic vegetation. The TCEQ worked extensively with an advisory group to develop these nutrient criteria. These criteria are a major step to further TCEQ’s water quality management program to protect reservoirs in Texas.
For more details please visit: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/communication/media/6-10WaterQuality6-30