2023 Texas Statutes › Water Code › Title 2 - Water Administration › Subtitle D - Water Quality Control › Chapter 26 - Water Quality Control › Subchapter E. Authority of Local Governments › Section 26.177. Water Pollution Control Duties of Cities

Sec. 26.177.  WATER POLLUTION CONTROL DUTIES OF CITIES.  (a)  A city may establish a water pollution control and abatement program for the city.  If the watershed water quality assessment reports required by Section 26.0135 or other commission assessments or studies identify water pollution that is attributable to non-permitted sources in a city that has a population of 10,000 or more, the commission, after providing the city a reasonable time to correct the problem and after holding a public hearing, may require the city to establish a water pollution control and abatement program.  The city shall employ or retain an adequate number of personnel on either a part-time or full-time basis as the needs and circumstances of the city may require, who by virtue of their training or experience are qualified to perform the water pollution control and abatement functions required to enable the city to carry out its duties and responsibilities under this section.
(b)  The water pollution control and abatement program of a city shall encompass the entire city and, subject to Section 26.179 of this code, may include areas within its extraterritorial jurisdiction which in the judgment of the city should be included to enable the city to achieve the objectives of the city for the area within its territorial jurisdiction.  The city shall include in the program the services and functions which, in the judgment of the city or as may be reasonably required by the commission, will provide effective water pollution control and abatement for the city, including the following services and functions:
(1)  the development and maintenance of an inventory of all significant waste discharges into or adjacent to the water within the city and, where the city so elects, within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city, without regard to whether or not the discharges are authorized by the commission;
(2)  the regular monitoring of all significant waste discharges included in the inventory prepared pursuant to Subdivision (1) of this subsection;
(3)  the collecting of samples and the conducting of periodic inspections and tests of the waste discharges being monitored to determine whether the discharges are being conducted in compliance with this chapter and any applicable permits, orders, or rules of the commission, and whether they should be covered by a permit from the commission;
(4)  in cooperation with the commission, a procedure for obtaining compliance by the waste dischargers being monitored, including where necessary the use of legal enforcement proceedings;
(5)  the development and execution of reasonable and realistic plans for controlling and abating pollution or potential pollution resulting from generalized discharges of waste which are not traceable to a specific source, such as storm sewer discharges and urban runoff from rainwater;  and
(6)  any additional services, functions, or other requirements as may be prescribed by commission rule.
(c)  The water pollution control and abatement program required by Subsections (a) and (b) of this section must be submitted to the commission for review and approval.  The commission may adopt rules providing the criteria for the establishment of those programs and the review and approval of those programs.
(d)  Any person affected by any ruling, order, decision, ordinance, program, resolution, or other act of a city relating to water pollution control and abatement outside the corporate limits of such city adopted pursuant to this section or any other statutory authorization may appeal such action to the commission or district court.  An appeal must be filed with the commission within 60 days of the enactment of the ruling, order, decision, ordinance, program, resolution, or act of the city.  The issue on appeal is whether the action or program is invalid, arbitrary, unreasonable, inefficient, or ineffective in its attempt to control water quality.  The commission or district court may overturn or modify the action of the city.  If an appeal is taken from a commission ruling, the commission ruling shall be in effect for all purposes until final disposition is made by a court of competent jurisdiction so as not to delay any permit approvals.
(e)  The commission may adopt and assess reasonable and necessary fees adequate to recover the costs of the commission in administering this section.
(f)  A city may contract with a river authority or another political subdivision to perform any or all services and functions that are part of a water pollution control and abatement program established under this section.
(g)  The commission may assist cities in identifying and obtaining funds and technical assistance that may be available to assist a city, or a river authority or other political subdivision with whom a city has contracted, in performing any or all of the services or functions that are part of a water pollution control and abatement program established under this section.
(h)  Property subject to a permit or plat in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality may not be subjected to new or additional water pollution regulations if the property is transferred to another municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction, and all provisions of Chapter 245, Local Government Code, shall apply to the property.  If the release of extraterritorial jurisdiction for the purpose of transferring it to another municipality results in property not being subject to any municipality's water pollution regulations on the date of release, the releasing municipality retains its jurisdiction to enforce its water pollution regulations until the property is included in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the receiving municipality.
Amended by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2207, ch. 870, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977;  Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 795, Sec. 1.106, eff. Sept. 1, 1985;  Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 983, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 411, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 975, Sec. 2, eff. June 16, 1995;  Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 101, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 966, Sec. 11.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.