BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2497
89R16085 ANG-D	By: Zaffirini
	Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
	5/9/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texans expect their public water supply systems to provide clean, safe drinking water. Some communities, however, have experienced ongoing water quality concerns, including discoloration, foul odors, cloudiness, and mineral deposits�issues classified as secondary drinking water concerns. While secondary contaminants are not considered harmful to health, they can affect water quality, household appliances, and consumer confidence in their water supply.

A key concern is that some water utilities continue to allow the deterioration of drinking water wells and the delivery of poor water quality while also raising water rates on their customers and refusing to reinstall filtration systems they have previously removed. In communities within Senate District 21, residents have raised concerns about repeated excessive rate increases while experiencing ongoing secondary drinking water contaminants. What's more, some communities have experienced these problems without water utilities being held accountable. These concerns underscore the need for stronger regulatory oversight.

Accordingly, S.B. 2497 would enable the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to require a public water system to install a treatment system if it has repeatedly exceeded the maximum contaminant or secondary constituent level for one or more parameters, has been the subject of more than one substantiated water quality complaint in the previous year, and for exceedances of secondary constituent levels, the treatment process can be installed at a reasonable cost.

As proposed, S.B. 2497 amends current law relating to the installation of a filtration system by certain public drinking water supply systems.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 341.036, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:

(b-1) Authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by order to require a public drinking water supply system that obtains its water supply from an underground source to install a filtration system for the well for that source if TCEQ has previously recommended that the public water system install a filtration system for the well for that source and the public water system has not maintained the well for that source in accordance with TCEQ rules or has been the subject of more than one complaint concerning that source submitted to TCEQ during the previous year.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.