SUBJECT: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)’s Annual Public Health Service (PHS) Fees and Watershed Management – Beneficial Land Use and Surface Disposal (WMB) fees.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize payment of the TCEQ invoices totaling $2,437,340.25 for the annual PHS fees and WMB fees for the City of Houston (City's) seven separate public water systems.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: This is a request to authorize payment of invoices received from the TCEQ for the annual PHS fees and WMB fees for the City’s seven separate public water systems for TCEQ Fiscal Year 2025. The current invoices cover the period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025 corresponding to TCEQ’s fiscal year 2025.
The PHS fee rate schedule is found in TCEQ’s regulations, 30 Texas Administrative Code § 290.51. This fee became effective December 21, 1993 and was last amended in 2016. The annual fees are based on the number of service connections for each public water system and the current fee rate is $2.45 per connection. The revenue resulting from the PHS Fees pays TCEQ’s expenses to schedule analyses of drinking water for chemical content, collect samples of drinking water for chemical analysis, review system data for the evaluation of sampling waivers, inspect PWSs, review plans for new systems and for major improvements to existing systems, and providing technical assistance as needed.
The WMB fee rate schedule is found in TCEQ’s regulations - Title 30, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 312: Sludge Use, Disposal, and Transportation, Section 9 Fee Program. The revenue resulting from the WMB Fees is used to cover TCEQ’s administrative costs associated with permitting and monitoring the land application of treated drinking water residuals (sludge) for beneficial use.
Recommend that Council approve the Houston Public Works’ request to pay TCEQ the invoiced amount of $2,437,340.25.
FISCAL NOTE: Funding for this item is included in the FY25 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policies.
Randall V. Macchi
Director, Houston Public Works
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Estimated Spending Authority
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DEPARTMENT
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FY2025
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OUT YEARS
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TOTAL
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Houston Public Works
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$2,437,340.25
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$0.00
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$2,437,340.25
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