Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB595 by Leibowitz (Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing discharges of sewage effluent into any water in the contributing or recharge zone of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code restricting the authorization of permits for discharges of sewage effluent in waters located in the contributing or recharge zones of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segments of the Edwards Aquifer. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality would be prohibited from issuing new, or amended permits allowing the discharge of sewage effluent before September 1, 2009 increasing the discharge in these areas.
The bill also specifies the types of permits for storm water and non-storm water discharges the commission can issue. Under current law, the commission issues general storm water permits for storm water and non-storm water discharges, some of which differ from those specified in the bill.
The commission would be required to engage in rulemaking, and would modify application forms and guidance documents to implement the provisions of the bill.
Local Government Impact
The bill would amend the Water Code relating to permits to a restriction on permits authorizing discharges of effluent into recharge zones of portions of the Edwards Aquifer.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reported that provisions of the bill could have fiscal implications to local governments that provide wastewater treatment services in the contributing or recharge zones of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segments of the Edwards Aquifer. These zones include Bexar, Comal, Hays, Kinney, Medina, Travis, and Uvalde counties. The bill would impact new construction to require any wastewater generated that exceeds current permitted treatment capacities would have to be routed to another watershed for discharge or disposal, or require additional land for individual septic tank installation.
Costs to local entities to implement the provisions of the bill would depend on the number of permits requested to be issued or renewed that are located in the recharge zones of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segments of the Edwards Aquifer.