BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2798
85R19775 JXC-F	By: Farrar (Creighton)
	Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
	5/11/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In order to meet growing water demands, the state needs a regulatory framework for reusing all forms of wastewater. H.B. 2798 addresses this issue by providing for a pilot program for the reuse of any form of wastewater.

H.B. 2798 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a county with a population of more than 3.3 million (Harris County) to implement a pilot program to reuse any form of wastewater at a county facility for subsurface irrigation and toilet and urinal flushing. The bill requires such a program to require the wastewater to be treated at the facility before reuse. The bill authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt rules to ensure that such a program does not create a nuisance and does not threaten human health or damage the quality of surface water and groundwater in Texas.

H.B. 2798 amends current law relating to the authority of a county to implement a pilot program to reuse wastewater at county facilities.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 (Section 341.0391, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 341.0391, as follows:

Sec. 341.0391. COUNTY PILOT PROGRAM FOR WASTEWATER REUSE. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million.

(b) Authorizes a county to implement a pilot program to reuse any form of wastewater at a county facility for subsurface irrigation and toilet and urinal flushing. Requires that the program require the wastewater to be treated at the facility before reuse.

(c) Authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt rules to ensure that a program implemented under this section does not create a nuisance and does not threaten human health or damage the quality of surface water and groundwater in this state.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.