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Transient Noncommunity Water Systems: Compliance Resources

Find out if your public water system is regulated as a transient noncommunity system, how to establish a new system or get help for an existing one, and what your requirements are for public notifications, operations, sampling, monitoring, and reporting.

A transient noncommunity (TNC) public water system (PWS) meets all of these criteria:

Human consumption includes, but is not limited to, drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, bathing, washing hands, washing dishes, and preparing foods.

Parks, recreational vehicle (RV) parks, convenience stores, restaurants, and other businesses are often TNC public water systems.

You must have a Texas-licensed professional engineer (P.E.) prepare and submit plans and specifications for your system. This includes information about your water source, distribution system, and any equipment that is part of your system

Find more information in the following pages and resources:

All public water systems are subject to complaint and routine compliance investigations by the TCEQ. The information and equipment reviewed will depend on the type of investigation or nature of the complaint. In general, you will need to show you are meeting all operational, sampling, monitoring, and record-keeping requirements.

A TCEQ investigator will contact you to schedule any routine, non-complaint investigation and send you a list of items they plan to review.

  • TNC Compliance Notebook – the compliance notebook is a record keeping tool to help you gather and organize documentation required to be available during an inspection.
  • Required Records – this list includes all records required to be available during a PWS investigation. Not all records will be required for your system.
  • Compliance Checklists for PWS Investigations – copies of the checklists TCEQ investigators use for common investigations at public water systems.

As a public water system, you must keep records, provide disinfection for your water, keep the system maintained and in working order, and meet other requirements.

Operations Guidance

Operations Templates and Forms

Use the following templates and forms to meet certain requirements:


Operations for Seasonal Public Water Systems

Seasonal public water systems have modified operations, sampling, and reporting requirements and must complete specific start-up procedures before the operating season begins. A seasonal PWS meets all of the following criteria:

  • Fits the definition of a noncommunity water system.
  • Is not operated as a PWS year-round.
  • Starts up and shuts down at the beginning and end of each operating season.

Read our Start-up Procedures for Seasonal Public Water Systems guidance for more information.

Harris and Fort Bend Counties

Texas Water Code 13.1395 requires affected utilities located inside Harris and Fort Bend Counties to maintain a water pressure of 35 psi (pounds per square inch) throughout the distribution system when the power has been off for more than 24 hours during an emergency. Water systems meeting the definition of affected utilities are required to develop and implement an Emergency Preparedness Plan or “EPP.”

For more information on why an EPP is required and who is affected, visit the Emergency Preparedness Plan Homepage.

  • Emergency Preparedness Plan Template Form 20536A   (For Harris and Fort Bend Counties Only)
  • If you need assistance with the EPP template, please fill out the EPP Help Form and TCEQ will contact you via email or phone to work with you.

All Counties except Harris and Fort Bend Counties

Texas Water Code 13.1394 requires affected utilities outside Harris and Fort Bend Counties to provide water service with a minimum of 20 psi during an extended power outage lasting 24 hours or more. Water systems meeting the definition of affected utilities are required to develop and implement an Emergency Preparedness Plan or “EPP.”

For more information on why an EPP is required and who is affected, visit the Emergency Preparedness Plan Homepage.

  • Emergency Preparedness Plan Template Form 20536B   (For all Counties except Harris and Fort Bend Counties)
  • If you need assistance with the EPP template, please fill out the EPP Help Form and TCEQ will contact you via email or phone to work with you.

Yes, if you have chloramines you must develop and maintain a nitrification action plan (NAP). Nitrification can occur in water systems that contain chloramines.

Yes, you must develop monitoring and sample siting plans to show how you intend to comply with monitoring requirements.

  • Surface water and GUI systems must submit a copy of the monitoring plan for review and approval after initial development and any revisions.
  • All water systems must submit a copy of the sample siting plan for review and approval after initial development and any revisions. You can mail a copy to TCEQ’s Drinking Water Quality Team or email it to TCRDATA@tceq.texas.gov.

We developed templates and examples to help you develop your system’s monitoring and sample siting plans:

Yes, you must regularly conduct sampling for microbial contaminants.

  • Coliform Monitoring, Analyzing, and Reporting (RG-421) – an extensive guide to monitoring coliforms for PWSs.
  • Example SOP for Bacteriological Sample Collection – use this standard operating procedure (SOP) guide to ensure that bacterial samples are taken correctly.
  • RTCR Repeat Sampling Requirements Diagram – use this flowchart to determine your repeat sampling requirements when notified of a positive routine bacteriological sample.
  • Level 1 Assessment Form – use this form if any of the following apply to you:
    • Collect 40 or more distribution samples per month and more than 5.0% of samples collected in a month are total coliform-positive.
    • Collect fewer than 40 distribution samples per month and 2 or more samples collected in a month are total coliform-positive.
    • Failed to collect all required repeat samples after a total coliform-positive result.
  • Level 2 Assessment Form – use this form if any of the following apply to you:
    • Had an E. coli-positive repeat sample after a total coliform-positive routine sample.
    • Had a total coliform-positive repeat sample following an E. coli-positive routine sample.
    • Failed to collect all required repeat samples following an E. coli-positive routine sample.
    • Failed to test for E. coli when any repeat sample tests positive for total coliform.
    • Trigger a second Level 1 assessment within a rolling 12-month period.

Yes, but you do not take these samples yourself. TCEQ contractors will conduct most chemical contaminant samples of concern to NTNC systems. The contractors should call before the end of your monitoring period to set up a time to take the required samples.

Monitoring frequency and requirements are based on a number of factors, including PWS classification, population served, water source, and the level of chemicals in your water based on previous sampling.

Public water systems must submit the Lab Approval Form (TCEQ-10450) to be approved to analyze the following analytes themselves:

  • turbidity
  • pH
  • temperature
  • total organic carbon (TOC)
  • UV
  • alkalinity
  • disinfectant
  • chlorite (at point of entry)
  • calcium
  • phosphate

Yes, you must monitor the disinfectant residual in their distribution system.

If you serve surface water, groundwater under the influence of surface water, or at least 750 customers, you must monitor your disinfectant residual daily.

If you serve groundwater or purchased water and less than 750 customers, you must monitor your disinfectant residual weekly.

Your disinfectant reporting requirements depend on your water source.

You must notify your customers of certain conditions that could affect their drinking water.

Rules and regulations for public water systems are in Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 290 , Subchapters D-H.

If you are an establishment that prepares and serves food, you may also be regulated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

If you are an investor-owned utility, water supply corporation, or if you bill customers for submetered or allocated water and sewer utility services, you may also be regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Drinking Water Watch

Drinking Water Watch (DWW) – search the database for your water system to find analytical results, schedules, violations, and more. To ensure that communication and compliance information is addressed to the appropriate personnel at your public water system, owners and operators should notify TCEQ of any changes to contact information by emailing PWSInven@tceq.texas.gov.


Free Workshops and Onsite Assistance

Free Assistance for Public Water and Wastewater Systems – TCEQ’s Financial, Managerial, and Technical (FMT) Assistance Program can help you comply with regulations, prevent and address problems, perform consolidation and capacity assessments, provide technical training, and more.

TNC Reporting and Record-keeping Workshop – A free workshop for owners and operators of small transient noncommunity public water systems to explain reporting and record-keeping requirements and prepare you for compliance investigations.


Small Business and Local Government Assistance

TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to follow state environmental regulations. Call us at (800) 447-2827 or visit our Web page at TexasEnviroHelp.org.