210E reclaimed water authorizations in Texas

What a 210E authorization is

It is TCEQ's written approval to reuse industrial wastewater, alone or mixed with domestic sewage, for irrigation and other approved uses instead of discharging it. The rules are in 30 TAC Chapter 210, Subchapter E. Level II reuse needs TCEQ's approval on Form TCEQ-20094 before it starts, and the application has no public notice step.

An all-domestic project cannot use 210E. Industrial wastewater with any domestic sewage in it is commingled, and the plant must meet the stricter reclaimed water quality standards. A rule effective March 2025 (§210.2(e)) reads as asking for a treatment permit too. In our experience, TCEQ has not required one for a commingled 210E plant, but site facts can change that, so we confirm it for your project.

When it fits

• The site has an industrial stream that §210.54 does not exclude. Hazardous wastewater, most categorical process wastewater and grease trap waste are out.
• The county denied a septic permit, or a discharge permit would draw opposition.
• You control the reuse land or hold a signed agreement with the user.

What we do

1. Check eligibility: the stream, the exclusions, and whether it is commingled.
2. Build the reuse plan: end uses, irrigation area and a water balance, with storage sized for the days you cannot irrigate.
3. Name the backup. The application must say where water goes when reuse stops. A backup discharge needs its own permit.
4. Prepare the application and answer TCEQ's questions.
5. Design the system: the storage pond, irrigation pump station and distribution.

What you get

• A written eligibility answer before you commit to the path.
• The application with its water balance, storage sizing and reuse documentation.
• Sealed design for the reuse system.

Results on four Texas projects

• A business park in Williamson County, after the county denied septic: authorized in 4 weeks.
• An industrial site in Williamson County: within 6 weeks of submission.
• A 2.0 MGD wastewater plant in Caldwell County: 4 weeks.
• A 1.0 MGD mixed-use project in Hays County: 10 weeks, after the more detailed review its size required.

These show what an eligible, complete application can do. They are not a promise for yours.

What affects time and cost

Completeness matters most: the reuse land, storage and backup settled before filing, not during review. Larger flows draw more detailed review. Engineering cost follows the design flow, the wastewater mix, effluent testing and the reuse site. After approval, the owner samples the water and keeps records for five years.

For developers weighing the path before closing, see 210E reclaimed water authorizations for Texas developments.