Keeping Streams Clean & Flowing

The water in streams and lakes is called surface water, and it accounts for most of the water that Texans use. Surface water allocations are managed by the state's river authorities. Treated wastewater (aka sewage) is the main threat to water quality in many streams. Wastewater treatment facilities operate under permits  issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The requirements in many permits are insufficient to prevent pollution in pristine streams, which are especially sensitive to the phosphorus that remains in wastewater after treatment. Stormwater (aka runoff) is the other main threat to water quality in streams, and is discussed in our section on Watershed Protection. Save Texas Streams supports these policy goals:

• No new wastewater discharge permits on pristine streams
• Better rules for discharge permits on other streams
• Better rules for wastewater irrigation permits on all streams
• Increased reuse of treated wastewater as recycled water
• Limiting dams and water withdrawals on pristine streams