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Public Water System Monitoring Plans

How to comply with requirements for monitoring plans for public water systems in Texas including laboratory approval.

Per the requirements of 30 TAC §290.121 , all public water systems are required to develop a monitoring plan, including all community, transient and non-transient water systems. The plans are a system-specific document which demonstrates that the water quality monitoring performed by the system is representative of the water distributed to consumers and is consistent with regulatory requirements.

Monitoring Plan Requirements by System Type

Systems that treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUI) are required to send a copy of their monitoring plan to the TCEQ for review and approval. A copy of the plan should be kept at each treatment plant, as well as a central location.

Systems that use groundwater or purchased water are not required to send a copy of the monitoring plan to TCEQ, but must keep the plan on file for review by the TCEQ inspector during routine comprehensive compliance investigations (sanitary survey), or must provide a copy of the plan to TCEQ upon request. A copy of the plan should be kept at each treatment plant, as well as a central location. PWSs are required to have a copy of the monitoring plan available during appointments with the TCEQ's Sample Collection Contractor.

Use the following templates to help you develop your monitoring plan.

Groundwater and Purchase Water Monitoring Plan Template

Surface Water and Groundwater Under the Influence of Surface Water (GUI) Monitoring Plan Template

Submittal to TCEQ

Submit one (1) copy of the completed Monitoring Plan to:

Monitoring Plans, MC-155
Drinking Water Special Functions Section
TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087

Fax: (512) 239-6050

Revisions

Water systems are required to submit any changes related to the Monitoring Plan to the TCEQ within thirty (30) calendar days following the effective date of the change. Revisions may be submitted separately, only if one part of the plan is affected by the change.

Drinking Water Lab Approval Form

Water systems must submit a Drinking Water Lab Approval Form as part of the monitoring plan. Analyses available for approval by the Water Supply Division include:

  • Turbidity
  • pH
  • Temperature
  • TOC
  • UV254
  • Alkalinity
  • Chlorine (Free or Total)
  • Chlorine Dioxide
  • Chlorite (at entry point)
  • Calcium
  • Orthophosphate
  • Conductivity
  • Silica

Each public water system that analyzes one or more of the approved lab analytes to determine compliance with the treatment technique requirements, water quality parameters under the Lead & Copper Rule and minimum/maximum residual disinfectant levels is considered to be a laboratory.

  List of Approved PWS Drinking Water Labs

Drinking Water Methods

Analyses must be completed using analytical methods that are acceptable to the EPA. Select the method you use to measure each analyte (for example: Standard Method Cl-4500D). If you use an analyzer, include this on the form as well (for example: Hach 1720D). For a list of acceptable methods, see Table 1 on the lab approval form for reference.

Commercial Laboratories

A laboratory is considered commercial if it performs any of the analyses included under laboratory approval for any outside entity. Commercial labs must be approved in order to run approved analyses for public water systems. Demonstration of capability is a requirement for Commercial Lab Approval.

Drinking Water Laboratory Approval Form

List of Approved Commercial Drinking Water Labs 

Submittal to TCEQ

Include a copy of the Drinking Water Lab Approval with your Monitoring Plan or submit directly to:

Laboratory Approval Coordinator, MC-155
TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Fax: (512) 239-6050