Public Water Systems: Participate
Join the hundreds of Texas Public Water Systems that have elected to participate in the Source Water Protection Program (SWPP) and help protect the quality of their drinking water and ensure its continued reliability.
Participating is easy. Start by informing the TCEQ in writing of your system’s interest in participating. There are no application forms or fees; simply send an email requesting TCEQ support of your program to the SWP Team by clicking here swpdata@tceq.texas.gov. Once your email is received, the TCEQ will contact you to set up a meeting with local support partners and regional leaders, such as groundwater districts and river authorities. These meetings will consist of a general presentation, followed by a question and answer period, to address any concerns the PWS may have regarding participation in the SWPP.
Next, the PWS should conduct a site-specific survey to identify the potential sources of contamination (PSOCs) near their wells or intakes. This inventory should be conducted, at a minimum, within a quarter-mile radius capture zone for wells and the area of primary influence (API) for surface water intakes. These areas are referred to as source water protection areas (SWPAs). Maps of these areas can be found in the Source Water Susceptibility Assessment (SWSA) report, which is provided to the PWS by the TCEQ.
The inventory of all PSOCs in a SWPA provides a participating PWS with the information it needs to protect its water sources. The results of this inventory form the foundation of the site-specific SWPA report and determine what best management practices could be implemented. The PSOC inventory also serves to ground-truth the PSOC dataset used to conduct the SWSA. While performing the inventory, each PSOC indicated on the SWSA map should be verified and changed or new data should be identified so that a revised source water assessment can be produced.
The TCEQ provides a database and SWPA maps to participants in the SWPP. When the PWS completes the inventory, the SWP Report can be developed. As a benefit to systems that participate, the TCEQ will provide a sample Contingency Plan that may be customized to suit their unique system.
For more information, contact the Texas Source Water Assessment and Protection Program.
