Public Education

Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the State of Texas to improve the quality of stormwater runoff. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit Number TXR040000 (the permit) on January 24, 2019, with an effective date of January 24, 2019. This permit regulates stormwater that discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). 

Did you know that stormwater currently receives no treatment? Water that flows into your stormwater drainage system goes directly into our bayous, rivers, and bays. Whatever is put down the storm drains remains untreated and flows into the Water of the USA.

Standards of water quality affect every resident in your District. In an effort to improve the water quality of our streams, this Permit encourages public awareness and environmental stewardship. Non-allowable discharges, such as grass clippings, tree trimmings, oils, and grease are a violation of the permit and your District’s rate order. Making an illegal discharge is punishable by fines or water service termination. If you see any spills or illegal dumping into the storm drains, your Operator or Storm Water Solutions should be contacted as soon as possible. You can also use Cleanbayous.org to file a report or to find additional information about stormwater quality.