Which agency is responsible for wastewater regulation in Texas?

• A. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• B. Texas Department of Agriculture
• C. Texas Department of State Health Services
• D. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Answer: (D)

Regulation of wastewater in Texas is handled by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This agency protects water quality by issuing and enforcing permits for discharges from municipalities and industries, overseeing wastewater treatment facilities, and administering pretreatment programs to control pollutants entering the sewer system. It also monitors compliance with state and federal standards for treated effluent. Other agencies focus on parks and wildlife, agriculture, or public health, but they are not the primary regulators of wastewater discharges.