Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2798 by Farrar (relating to the authority of a county to implement a pilot program to reuse wastewater at county facilities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Texas Health and Safety Code to allow a county with population of more than 3.3 million to implement a pilot program to reuse any form of wastewater, treated on-site, at a county owned facility for subsurface irrigation and toilet and urinal flushing. The bill would allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to adopt rules to ensure that the program does not create nuisance and does not threaten human health or damage surface water and groundwater quality. According to TCEQ, domestic wastewater reuse is authorized under current TCEQ rules (30 TAC 210, Subchapters A-D). These rules allow wastewater, graywater, and alternative onsite water to be reused for subsurface irrigation, toilet and urinal flushing, as well as other purposes.
Local Government Impact
According to Harris County, the bill would save taxpayer money by utilizing reuse in areas where conventional systems are more costly.