Municipal Domestic Wastewater Permits
This page contains a brief description of activities requiring Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits and Texas Land Application Permits (TLAP) for the disposal of municipal domestic wastewater and applicable rules.
The discharge of treated domestic wastewater into or adjacent to water in the state must be authorized by the TCEQ.
Domestic facilities that dispose of treated effluent by discharge into waters in the state are required to obtain a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit.
Domestic facilities that dispose of treated effluent by land application (surface irrigation, evaporation, drainfields or subsurface land application) are required to obtain a Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) permit.
Municipal Domestic Wastewater Permits:
Applicable Rules
To better understand the permitting process and how permit requirements are established in domestic wastewater permits, it helps to be familiar with the rules that govern the disposal of wastewater. The following links to the Texas Administrative Code may be helpful.
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Chapter 21 Water Quality Fees Chapter 30 Occupational Licenses and Registrations Chapter 39 Public Notice Chapter 40 Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedure Chapter 50 Action on Applications and Other Resolutions Chapter 55 Requests for Reconsideration and Contested Case Hearings; Public Comment Chapter 60 Compliance History Chapter 80 Contested Case Hearings Chapter 210 Use of Reclaimed Water Chapter 213 Edwards Aquifer Chapter 217 Design Criteria for Sewerage Systems Chapter 222 Subsurface Area Drip Dispersal Systems Chapter 281 Applications Processing Chapter 305 Consolidated Permits Chapter 307 Texas Surface Water Quality Standards Chapter 308 Criteria and Standards for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Chapter 309 Domestic Wastewater Effluent Limitation and Plant Siting Chapter 311 Watershed Protection Chapter 312 Sludge Use, Disposal and Transportation Chapter 314 Toxic Pollutant Effluent Standards Chapter 315 Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution Chapter 317 Design Criteria Prior to 2008 Chapter 319 General Regulations Incorporated into Permits Chapter 332 Composting Chapter 351 Regionalization
A guidance document can be found here which describes how effluent limits and other requirements based on water quality standards are established in domestic wastewater discharge permits to protect surface water quality standards.
Contact the Water Quality Division if you have questions.