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30 TAC §290.46(f): water system operating records

Every public water system keeps records of how it runs and is maintained, and files periodic operating reports. The records must be organized, kept on file, and ready for review at inspection. The rule sets how long each kind of record is kept.

What the rule says

Quoted word for word from the Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, as published by the Texas Secretary of State. Read on 10/30/2026.

30 TAC §290.46(f)

(f) Operating records and reports. All public water systems must maintain a record of water works operation and maintenance activities and submit periodic operating reports.

30 TAC §290.46(f)(1)

(1) The public water system's operating records must be organized, and copies must be kept on file or stored electronically.

30 TAC §290.46(f)(2)

(2) The public water system's operating records must be accessible for review during inspections and be available to the executive director upon request.

30 TAC §290.46(f)(3)(A)

(A) The following records shall be retained for at least two years: (i) the amount of chemicals used: (I) Systems that treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water shall maintain a record of the amount of each chemical used each day. (II) Systems that serve 250 or more connections or serve 750 or more people shall maintain a record of the amount of each chemical used each day. (III) Systems that serve fewer than 250 connections, serve fewer than 750 people, and use only groundwater or purchased treated water shall maintain a record of the amount of each chemical used each week; (ii) the volume of water treated and distributed: (I) Systems that treat surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water shall maintain a record of the amount of water treated and distributed each day. (II) Systems that serve 250 or more connections or serve 750 or more people shall maintain a record of the amount of water distributed each day. (III) Systems that serve fewer than 250 connections, serve fewer than 750 people, and use only groundwater or purchase treated water shall maintain a record of the amount of water distributed each week. (IV) Systems that serve 250 or more connections or serve 750 or more people and also add chemicals or provide pathogen or chemical removal shall maintain a record of the amount of water treated each day. (V) Systems that serve fewer than 250 connections, serve fewer than 750 people, use only groundwater or purchase treated water, and also add chemicals or provide pathogen or chemical removal shall maintain a record of the amount of water treated each week; (iii) the date, location, and nature of water quality, pressure, or outage complaints received by the system and the results of any subsequent complaint investigation; (iv) the dates that dead-end mains were flushed; (v) the dates that storage tanks and other facilities were cleaned; (vi) the maintenance records for water system equipment and facilities. For systems using reverse osmosis or nanofiltration, maintain records of each clean-in-place process including the date, duration, and procedure used for each event; (vii) for systems that do not employ full-time operators to meet the requirements of subsection (e) of this section, a daily record or a monthly summary of the work performed and the number of hours worked by each of the part-time operators used to meet the requirements of subsection (e) of this section; and (viii) the owner or manager of a public water system that is operated by a volunteer to meet the requirements of subsection (e) of this section, shall maintain a record of each volunteer operator indicating the name of the volunteer, contact information for the volunteer, and the time period for which the volunteer is responsible for operating the public water system. These requirements apply to full-time and part-time licensed volunteer operators. Part-time licensed volunteer operators are excluded from the requirements of clause (vii) of this subparagraph.

Full text: 30 TAC §290.46 (Minimum Acceptable Operating Practices for Public Drinking Water Systems)

What proof usually looks like

Your letter sets what to show and by when. Match each item on it to records like these:

• Logs of chemicals used and water distributed, daily or weekly as the rule sets for your system size and source.
• A complaint log with the date, place, kind of complaint and what you found.
• Dates of flushing dead-end mains and of cleaning tanks.
• Maintenance records for equipment.
• If you use part-time operators: a daily record or monthly summary of their work and hours.

Common mistakes

• Weekly logs when the system size calls for daily ones.
• Records thrown out before the period the rule sets.
• Records kept but not organized, so they cannot be found at inspection.
• No log of complaints, or no note of how each one was followed up.

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This page explains a rule in plain words. It is not legal advice. When this page and the rule differ, the rule controls.