SRC-TJG S.B. 1633 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1633
By: Wentworth
Natural Resources
6/17/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

S.B. 1633 provides for the use of water and salt conserving water
softening devices in certain defined situations. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 (Section 366.013, Health and Safety
Code) of this Act.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code, by
adding Sections 366.013 and 366.014, as follows: 

Sec. 366.013.  INSTALLATION AND USE OF WATER SOFTENERS AND REVERSE OSMOSIS
SYSTEMS.  (a) Authorizes an owner, except as provided by Subsection (b),
to install and use a household water softener that discharges effluent
into an on-site sewage disposal system only if the installed water
softener meets certain requirements. 

(b) Authorizes an owner to use a water softener that discharges effluent
into an on-site sewage disposal system and that does not meet the
requirements of Subsection (a) if the water softener was installed before
September 1, 2003. Requires the owner to replace the water softener with a
water softener that meets the requirements of Subsection (a) if the owner
takes certain actions. 

(c) Authorizes an owner to install and use a point-of-use reverse osmosis
system that discharges effluent into an on-site sewage disposal system. 

(d) Authorizes an owner to install and use a point-of-entry reverse
osmosis system that discharges effluent into an on-site sewage disposal
system if the calculated volume of effluent does not cause hydraulic
overloading or has been adequately addressed in the design of the on-site
sewage disposal system. 

(e) Provides that this section does not apply to certain sewage treatment
systems unless certain conditions apply. 

(f) Requires TCEQ, by rule, to adopt and implement standards for the use
of water softeners and reverse osmosis systems in a building or other
property served by an on-site sewage disposal system. 

SECTION 2.  Requires TCEQ to adopt rules to implement the standards
required by Subsection (f), Section 366.013, Health and Safety Code, as
added by this Act, not later than June 1, 2004.  
SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.