Permitting and Operational Regulatory Support - HPW’s team of compliance specialists that manage the operational permits for drinking water system facilities in HPW’s 7 public water supplies. They also coordinate Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) (and other regulatory agency) inspections and communications. In addition, the team supports the Drinking Water Operations Branch by providing compliance assistance, developing and maintaining monitoring and reporting plans, and assisting with development of both training and guidance documents.

Drinking Water Laboratory - HPW’s NELAP accredited drinking water analytical laboratory uses state-of-the-art equipment to monitor the treatment effectiveness of each Drinking Water Treatment Plant and water quality throughout the distribution system. As a NELAP accredited laboratory, data from this in-house laboratory is submitted directly to TCEQ to demonstrate drinking water system and permit compliance. The drinking water laboratory staff conduct ~ 100,000 drinking water analyses every year. 

Cross Connection Control Program - DWRC’s Cross Connection Control Program (CCCP) strives to maintain the quality of water provided to all of our customers by reducing the risk of contamination and/or pollution of the City of Houston’s public water system. To accomplish this, the CCCP works to eliminate any potential cross-connections. The program requires the installation, maintenance, and annual testing of an approved backflow prevention assembly wherever a potential hazard is determined to exist.

Source Water Protection - this group partners with numerous government agencies to protect and monitor the rivers, lakes, wetlands and watersheds that empty into the City’s drinking water reservoirs. Real-time monitoring systems detect contaminants at numerous locations enabling technicians and operators to identify potential contaminants within our raw water resources. Encouraging local businesses and community groups to report incidents of illegal discharge or dumping assists with maintaining this protection. A dedicated team of environmental investigators actively monitor lakes and tributaries for industrial discharges and other contaminants. Investigators collect multiple water samples that are tested for a wide spectrum of microorganisms and pollutants.

What Can You Do to Help? The public plays an important role in reducing the amount of pollution that enters our water resources. Proper use and maintenance of motorized equipment can eliminate fluid discharges into our waterways. Commercial, industrial and residential development of a lake’s surrounding habitat can lead to runoff of chemicals, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, as well as human waste from improperly maintained septic systems. Establishing best-management-practices (BMPs) in these areas result in a positive effect to protect water resources.