Jefferson County, TX Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Organized/municipal systems
- Must meet 30 TAC Chapter 210
- On-site systems
- Must meet 30 TAC Chapter 285
- Reviewing agency
- TCEQ, via county plat review
- Tied to
- Final plat approval, Sec. 8.8(b)
- Violation class
- Class B misdemeanor, Sec. 13.1
Summary
Any subdivision proposal in unincorporated Jefferson County that includes greywater reuse for treated wastewater must meet state TCEQ criteria: 30 TAC Chapter 210 for organized or municipal systems, 30 TAC Chapter 285 for on-site systems. The County Engineer reviews this as part of plat approval.
8.4 Greywater Systems for Reuse of Treated Wastewater. (a) Organized or municipal sewerage systems. Any proposal for sewage collection, treatment and disposal which includes greywater reuse shall meet minimum criteria of 30 TAC Chapter 210 promulgated and administered by the TCEQ. (b) On-site sewerage facilities. Any proposal for on-site sewage disposal which includes provisions for greywater use shall meet the minimum criteria of 30 TAC Chapter 285.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
4 of the Jefferson County Subdivision and Development Regulations, Greywater Systems for Reuse of Treated Wastewater, requires that any proposal for sewage collection, treatment and disposal that includes greywater reuse meet the minimum criteria of 30 TAC Chapter 210, administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, when the project is served by an organized or municipal sewerage system. Where wastewater is instead handled by an on-site sewage disposal system, any proposal that includes provisions for greywater use must meet the minimum criteria of 30 TAC Chapter 285.
3 requires TCEQ permits under 30 TAC Chapter 305 and 317 for organized systems, and on-site facilities serving up to 5,000 gallons per day must comply with 30 TAC Chapter 285's OSSF standards, with pit privies and portable toilets specifically barred as acceptable disposal methods. 7, meaning a subdivider proposing greywater reuse must document TCEQ compliance before the county will approve a final plat. 3(a)(4) before the plat can move forward without additional financial surety for wastewater facilities.
Violations & Fines
A subdivision plat proposing greywater reuse that fails to document compliance with 30 TAC Chapter 210 or Chapter 285 will not receive final plat approval under Section 8.8(b). Beyond the platting stage, knowingly or intentionally violating any requirement of the Regulations, including Section 8.4, is a Class B misdemeanor under Section 13.1, punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both, and the County Attorney may seek an injunction or recover the county's compliance costs under Section 12.2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jefferson County allow greywater reuse systems in new subdivisions?
Who checks greywater reuse compliance before a subdivision is approved?
What happens if a subdivider ignores the greywater reuse requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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