Texas Administrative Code › Title 30 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Part 1 - TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Chapter 288 - WATER CONSERVATION PLANS, DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS, GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS › Subchapter B - DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS › Section 288.20 - Drought Contingency Plans for Municipal Uses by Public Water Suppliers

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) A drought
				  contingency plan for a retail public water supplier, where applicable, must
				  include the following minimum elements.
(1)
				  Minimum requirements. Drought contingency plans must include the following
				  minimum elements.
(A) Preparation of the plan
				  shall include provisions to actively inform the public and affirmatively
				  provide opportunity for public input. Such acts may include, but are not
				  limited to, having a public meeting at a time and location convenient to the
				  public and providing written notice to the public concerning the proposed plan
				  and meeting.
(B) Provisions shall
				  be made for a program of continuing public education and information regarding
				  the drought contingency plan.
(C)
				  The drought contingency plan must document coordination with the regional water
				  planning groups for the service area of the retail public water supplier to
				  ensure consistency with the appropriate approved regional water
				  plans.
(D) The drought contingency
				  plan must include a description of the information to be monitored by the water
				  supplier, and specific criteria for the initiation and termination of drought
				  response stages, accompanied by an explanation of the rationale or basis for
				  such triggering criteria.
(E) The
				  drought contingency plan must include drought or emergency response stages
				  providing for the implementation of measures in response to at least the
				  following situations:
(i) reduction in
				  available water supply up to a repeat of the drought of record;
(ii) water production or distribution system
				  limitations;
(iii) supply source
				  contamination; or
(iv) system
				  outage due to the failure or damage of major water system components (e.g.,
				  pumps).
(F) The drought
				  contingency plan must include specific, quantified targets for water use
				  reductions to be achieved during periods of water shortage and drought. The
				  entity preparing the plan shall establish the targets. The goals established by
				  the entity under this subparagraph are not enforceable.
(G) The drought contingency plan must include
				  the specific water supply or water demand management measures to be implemented
				  during each stage of the plan including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) curtailment of non-essential water uses;
				  and
(ii) utilization of alternative
				  water sources and/or alternative delivery mechanisms with the prior approval of
				  the executive director as appropriate (e.g., interconnection with another water
				  system, temporary use of a non-municipal water supply, use of reclaimed water
				  for non-potable purposes, etc.).
(H) The drought contingency plan must include
				  the procedures to be followed for the initiation or termination of each drought
				  response stage, including procedures for notification of the public.
(I) The drought contingency plan must include
				  procedures for granting variances to the plan.
(J) The drought contingency plan must include
				  procedures for the enforcement of mandatory water use restrictions, including
				  specification of penalties (e.g., fines, water rate surcharges, discontinuation
				  of service) for violations of such restrictions.