BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 2497
89R20738 ANG-D	By: Zaffirini
	Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
	5/13/2025
	Committee Report (Substituted)

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, C.S.S.B. 2497 would enable the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to require a public water system (PWS) which serves fewer than 100 connections and obtains its water supply from an underground source to install a filtration system if the PWS has repeatedly exceeded the maximum contaminant or secondary constituent levels for one or more parameters as determined by TCEQ; has been the subject of more than one substantiated water quality complaint in the preceding 12 months; and for exceedances of secondary constituent levels, the treatment process can be installed at a reasonable cost.

C.S.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 Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 341.0365, as follows:

Sec. 341.0365. FILTRATION SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN UNDERGROUND SOURCES. Authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by order to require a public drinking water supply system that serves fewer than 100 connections and obtains its water supply from an underground source to install a filtration system for that source if the public water system:

(1) has repeatedly exceeded the maximum contaminant level or secondary constituent level for one or more parameters established by TCEQ and the United States Environmental Protection Agency;

(2) has been the subject of more than one substantiated water quality complaint submitted to TCEQ during the preceding 12 months; and

(3) can install at a reasonable cost the filtration system for that source to manage an exceedance of a secondary constituent level, if applicable.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.