United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Regulations and Standards
Washington, DC 20460
EPA 440/5-88-080
September 1988
Water
State Water Quality
Standards Summary:
Texas
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DISCLAIMER
This publication was prepared by Battelle under contract to
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Contract 68-03-3534).
Secondary information sources were used to compile data presented
in this document. Each State was given an opportunity to review
and provide comments on a draft of this information document. In
no event shall either the United States or Battelle have any
responsibility or liability for any use, misuse, or reliance upon
the information contained herein, nor does either warrant qr
otherwise represent in any way the accuracy, adequacy, efficacy,
or applicability of the contents hereof.
The reader should consult the water quality standards of a
particular State for exact regulatory language applicable to that
State. Copies of State water quality standards may be obtained
from the State's Water Pollution Control Agency or its
equivalent.
Additional information may also be obtained from the:
Standards Branch
Criteria and Standards Division (WH-585)
Office of Water Regulations and Standards
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
202-475-7315
This document may be obtained only from the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) at the following address:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Front Royal Road
Springfield, Virginia 22161
703-487-4650
The NTIS order number is: PB89-142129
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TEXAS
Responsible Agency:
Texas Hater Coitission
1700 North Congress Avenue .
P.O. Box 13087, Capitol Station
Austin
78711-3087
Standards Available From:
Agency Intonation Consultants
P.O. Box 2181
State Contact:
Hr. Charles Bayer
Texas Water Cotiission
P.O. Box 13087, Capital Station
Austin 78711-3087 512-463-8475
State Contact:
Austin 78768-2181
512-478-8991 Fee: yes Bailing List: no
State Narrative Language For: Antidegradation
1. Existing uses Mill be aaintained and protected. Categories of existing uses are the saie as for designated
uses, as defined in 307.7 of this title (relating to site-specific uses and criteria).
2. No activities subject to regulatory action which Mould cause significant degradation of Maters exceeding
fishable/SMiiiable quality Mill be allowed unless it can be shoMn to the couission's satisfaction that the
lowering of water quality is necessary far important ecanoik or social development. Significant degradation
is defined as a lowering of Mater quality to lore than a de tiniius extent, but not to the extent that an
existing use is iipaired. Fishable/sMiuafale Maters are defined as Haters which have quality sufficient to
support propagation of indigenous fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the Mater.
3. Outstanding national resource Maters are defined as high quality Maters within or adjacent to national
parks and wildlife refuges, state parks, wild and scenic rivers designated by law, and other designated areas
of exceptional recreational or ecological significance. The quality of outstanding national resource Maters
«ill be taintained and protected. , •
4. The cossission will not authorize or approve any waste discharge that will result in the quality of any
water being lowered below water quality standards without complying with federaland state laws applicable to
water quality standards atendtent.
5. Anyone discharging wastewater which Mould constitute a new source of pollution or an increased source of
pollution fros any industrial, public, or private project or developient will be required to provide a level
of Kastewater treateent consistent with the provisions of the Texas Hater Code and the Clean Hater Act.
fis necessary, cast-effective and reasonable best Banageaent practices established through the Texas Mater
quality sanageeent progras shall be achieved for nonpoint sources of pollution.
State Narrative Language rFor: Toxics
(1) Water in the state shall not be acutely toxic to aquatic life except in,siall zones of initial dilution
at discharge paints, in accordance with 30.7.8 (relating to application of standards).
(2! Water in the state with designated or existing aquatic life uses shall not be chronically toxic to aquatic
life, except in nixing zones and below critical low-flow conditions, in accordance with 307.8 of this title
(relating to Application of Standards). •
(3) Water in the state shall be saintained to preclude adverse toxic effects on huean health resulting froa
contact recreation, or cgnsueption of drinking water after reasonable treattent. In addition to other
provisions of this section, periitted discharges or other controllable sources shall not cause laxieui
contarainant levels for public drinking water supplies, as established in the federal Safe Drinking Hater Act
(42 United. States Code 300f et seq.), to be exceeded after reasonable treateent by a Mater supply treataent
plant. The coiaission will utilize available investigative and regulatory leans to identify and control sour
ces of toxic pollutants which cause or could potentially cause the following guidelines to be exceeded:
(A) EPfl aaxiius contacinant levels for drinking Mater supplies; and
(B) U.S. Food and Drug Adainistration Action Levels for toxic concentrations in fish and shellfish tissue.
State Narrative Language For: Free From
TX-l
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TEXAS
It Concentrations of taste- and odor-producing substances shall not interfere with the production of potable
water by reasonable Hater treatment lethods, iipart unpalatable flavor to food fish including shellfish, resul
t in offensive odors arising froi the waters, or otherwise interfere with the reasonable use of the waters of
the state.
2. Surface waters shall be essentially free of floating debris and suspended solids that are conducive to
producing:
A, adverse responses in aquatic organists; or
B. putres'cible sludge deposits or sediment layers which adversely affect benthic biota or any lawful use's.
3. Surface waters shall be essentially free of settleable solids conducive to changes in flow characteristics
of streai channels or the untiiely filing of reservoirs, lakes, and bays.
4. Surface waters shall be maintained in an aesthetically attractive condition.
5. Haste discharges shall not cause substantial and persistent changes from ambient conditions of turbidity
or color.
6. There shall be no foaiing or.frothing of a persistent nature.
7. Surface waters shall be maintained so that oil, grease, or related residue will not produce a visible fill
of oil or globules of grease on the surface or coat the bands or bottois of the watercourse.
8. Surface waters will not be toxic to nan or terrestrial or aquatic life.
State Narrative Language For: Low Flow
Please refer to the 'EPA Hater Quality Criteria Suiiaries: A Compilation of State/Federal Criteria for
low-flow language for Texas.
State Narrative Language For: Mixing Zones
(b) A reasonable mixing zone will be allowed at the discharge point of permitted discharges into surface
water in the state, in accordance with the following provisions.
(1) The following portions of the standards don't apply within mixing zones:
(A) site-specific criteria, as defined in 307.7 of this title (relating to site-specific criteria and uses)
and listed for each classified segnent in Appendix A of 307.10 of this title (relating to Appendices A - C);
(B) numerical chronic criteria for toxic materials as established in 307.6 of this title (relating to toxic
materials);
(C) total chronic toxicity restrictions as established in 307.6 of this title (relating to toxic materials);
(D) maximum tecperature differentials as established in 307.4(f) of this title (relating to general criteria)
(EJ dissolved oxygen criteria for unclassified waters, as established in 307.4(h) of this title (relating to
general criteria);
(F) dissolved oxygen criteria for intermittent streams and barge canals, as established in 307.4(j) of this
title (relating to general criteria);
(B) fecal coliform criteria for unclassified waters, as established in 307.4(k) of this title (relating to
general criteria).
Please refer to the 'EPA Hater Quality Criteria Summaries: A Compilation of State/Federal Criteria" for
additional mixing zone language for Texas.
-2- :
TX-2
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TEXAS
Classifications
Contact Recreation
Non-contact
Recreation
Doiestic Hater
Supply
Aquifer Protection
Liiited Quality
Aquatic Habitat
Intermediate Quality
Aquatic Habitat
High Quality
Aquatic Habitat
Exceptional Quality
Aquatic Habitat
Oyster fc'aters
Additional Uses
Recreational activities involving a significant risk of ingestion of Mater,
including wading by children, swiiting, water skiing, diving, and surfing.
Recreational pursuits not involving a significant risk of water ingestion, inclu
ding fishing, couercial and recreational boating, and liiited body contact
incidental to shoreline activity.
Segsents designated for public water supply are those known to be used or
exhibit characteristics that would allow thei to be used as the supply source
for conunity and non-couunity water supply systeis, as defined by regulations
promulgated pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 United States Code 300f
et seq).
Segients designated for aquifer protection are capable of recharging the Edwards
Aquifer. In accordance with board rules, the principal purpose of this use
designation is to protect the quality of the water infiltrating into and
recharging the aquifer.
Other basic uses, such as navigation, agricultural water supply, and industrial
water will be aaintained and protected for all water in the state in which these
uses can be achieved.
TX-3
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TEXAS
All Contact Recreat.. Non-contact Doiestic Hater
Classes
Physical
pH
Upper Value 9.0
Loner Value 6.5
Secondary Upper Liiit B.5
Teaperature
Upper Value Narr. .
Teiperature Change
Upper Value Narr.
Turbidity
Upper Value Narr.
Total Dissolved Solids
Upper Value Narr. site-spec.
Nutrients
Toxic ttetals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Fecal Colifori
Upper Value Narr. . Narr.
TX-4
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TEXAS
Exceptional Qua.. Oyster Haters Additional Uses
Physical
Dissolved Oxygen
Lower Value 6.0 ig/L
Nutrients .
Toxic Hetals
Pesticides
Drganics
Bacteria
Fecal Cplifon
Upper Value Narr.
TX-5
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TEXAS
Physical
Dissolved Oxygen
LoHer Value
Nutrients
Toxic Hetals
Pesticides
Organics
Bacteria
Aquifer Protect.. Liiited Quality Intermediate flu.. High Quality
3.0 ig/L 4.0 ig/L 5.0 §g/L
TX-6
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