[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6483715,"mediaKeyId","5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4","parentId",5597450,"title","DSHS explains role as principal state drinking water lab, fee changes and private-testing limits","audioSeconds",841,"startMs",1393000,"endMs",2234000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4&start=1393&end=2234","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4/thumbnail_1393000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483715/Texas/DSHS-explains-role-as-principal-state-drinking-water-lab-fee-changes-and-private-testing-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483715-7c024519e8d3acb6b922569927e73e11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428597&Signature=iYbooIqndy4Yg-RHKvffhs~i0DwVYJnRERupXB5~ypLWmYxEnLM7hMa7yCkeUw9FTNA9GLDYb7ZXDav~5mt8AATgOr3q1cS4davSHQ~QhXqI~HqO6ZpcGyFnyWvIC1iF2BVrb7fB9pwcE-KVpkv5DbX6vbeZlZ6B1cnbdbPFn4wvYDSY39vEu0PXhZcS~cWzMQpGAKbbfhH2uuwpFyjbx7bOCRkBHDd~LtseAZDzyg6z-5c1e~PEresdgWhbB3xmU8HFf0uhgXUdnb7jK5uZ0JsAmBzW3x6OISLq-IYbddPUF5q3YUL4Ac9RMO3piNyaZX~Gc4PD9Z10kkleTMxotQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ)","date","2025-08-19T00:32:35Z","article","Anita Keith, director of the Environmental Chemistry Unit at the Texas Department of State Health Services, told the TCEQ Drinking Water Advisory Work Group that DSHS is the principal state drinking water laboratory for the state’s portion of compliance monitoring and outlined which tests the laboratory runs, recent and planned fee changes, and the lab’s current limits for private-customer samples.

Keith said DSHS and the Lower Colorado River Authority split samples geographically and by method: LCRA currently handles PFAS testing while DSHS performs inorganic and organic work, radiochemistry and select organics such as herbicides. \"Currently LCRA is the only lab that's doing PFAS. We are gearing up, I just hired my first FTE to do PFAS,\" she said. She also explained that each lab follows TCEQ’s quality-assurance project plan addendum and TNI accreditation requirements used for EPA reporting.

Keith noted DSHS is the only lab in Texas currently set up to perform radiochemical testing and that DSHS receives compliance-sampling plates through contractors (Antea Group) directed by TCEQ. She cautioned that DSHS is not currently well set up for private-customer PFAS testing because it lacks staff to prepare and ship private sampling kits; LCRA and other accredited private labs typically handle those requests now.

The unit is proposing a fee increase overall (about 16% on average across methods) to keep operations funded; DSHS staff said fee changes and the comment period are open through August 31 and provided contacts for stakeholder comments. \"We periodically do an analysis of our fee structure to make sure that we are receiving enough funds to operate our program,\" Keith said.

Keith also discussed how the laboratory handles unsatisfactory samples (\"unsat\")—for example, missing chain-of-custody or improper preservation—and clarified that sampling schedules and resamples are determined by TCEQ, not by DSHS. DSHS staff said they can provide copies of analysis reports on request and typically turn those around rapidly when systems need them for CCRs.

Ending: DSHS encouraged systems to use the laboratory customer satisfaction survey and to contact Anita Keith directly with feedback on lab operations and service; the lab will post fee-change notices and related materials for public comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TCEQ Drinking Water Advisory Work Group (DWAWG) Meeting - July 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Texas Department of State Health Services described its role in testing TCEQ compliance samples, which analytes it runs (including radiochemistry), planned fee increases and limitations on private-customer testing for PFAS and other methods.","taxTitle","Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ), Departments and Agencies, Executive, Texas","taxId",36470,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6483720,"TWDB outlines $20 billion potential through Senate Bill 7; solicitations planned for SRF and supplemental programs",466,219000,685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4&start=219&end=685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6483720/Texas/TWDB-outlines-20-billion-potential-through-Senate-Bill-7-solicitations-planned-for-SRF-and-supplemental-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483720-7d3e3c27221c4caa909354d034bf898c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428597&Signature=AX6RBYydeLH1vh-VNsmmRbb7Dl4hpkU~qI2qrhOpsRLiDktrdXOWgcW9thNo3f9jwENdQBI68JOqXDuDp6hV2pvEcI-8uDtqyDq8YeYDN7A7E1vQedjW0YO~S5du9SuPBVmaKXS5lqAJBv0Gg~QpfVwgtD1bZs2UDH5pHIB-0TEmhJR-fiZS2g3nmgAw9zljeejO3EkSA-D9~NEWfzann02laHMUY2xuu77GStpxWq2CkdvKdVxB-cSPXz5fLEWDE72NUgOiMdVpKr-vws40qdftOZ--ebpkG8NrPTpnIlFgArgqLQAfGnCZlZ52hMx96shbhMIryakLHOMFPGm60Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Water Development Board briefed the Drinking Water Advisory Work Group on the status of water infrastructure funding related to Senate Bill 7, which would send a $1 billion-per-year bond authorization to Texas voters for 20 years if approved.

Keeda (TWDB outreach) told the group that the measure—described during the meeting as the \"water bill, Senate Bill 7\"—would, if approved by voters in November, expand the pool of money available for new water creation projects and for aging water and wastewater infrastructure. \"That appropriation is coming in at a billion dollars a year for 20 years. So the investment, it's a $20,000,000,000 investment,\" she said.

Keeda said the bill expands eligible programs to include the Economically Distressed Areas program and the Flood Infrastructure Fund, and it retains prior directives that prioritized projects in communities with populations of 150,000 or less for certain pots of money. TWDB staff said they expect to follow the same extraction and solicitation approach they used for the earlier Senate Bill 28 funds from 2023 and anticipate solicitations for SRF (state revolving fund) programs and supplemental awards in upcoming fiscal cycles.

TWDB noted that solicitations for the state revolving funds open in December and currently close the first Friday of the following fiscal year; for supplemental funds such as emerging contaminants and lead-service-line programs the agency extends closing through April. Keeda advised interested applicants to join TWDB email lists to receive announcement and solicitation notices.

The agency also summarized past Flood Infrastructure Fund appropriations—more than $400 million in the first round and over $600 million in the follow-up round—and said additional flood-related projects would be eligible under the SB7 funding pot should voters approve the bond.

Ending: TWDB staff urged systems and stakeholders to monitor solicitations and to sign up for email notices; formal solicitations and rules will follow voter approval and rulemaking timelines.","The Texas Water Development Board told the advisory group it expects up to $1 billion annually for 20 years under Senate Bill 7 if voters approve the measure; the board plans solicitations for state revolving funds and supplemental programs including emerging contaminants and lead service line work.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6483724,"TCEQ unveils new Drinking Water Viewer with downloadable schedules and sample data",5274,75000,5349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4&start=75&end=5349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5597450-245e8d3f8ec3f23477c8dc0a535e70e4/thumbnail_75000.jpg","/articles/6483724/Texas/TCEQ-unveils-new-Drinking-Water-Viewer-with-downloadable-schedules-and-sample-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483724-5b7f32bccbb81e62ba91ccf2e57468d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428597&Signature=Lvv3I3Iqmcjq7sdkChhfUbuM363HgqE~35q4N8sQMVkWyv1qLXx6wNOXyMRdxfiLDWxG1j2byTh4t0Vl-4kQSzt6yZL8OqWcHOACiV-QR-wOHeqCJxUBgoWC5mHScbzRlXyRThV5Hu~MCyWew8fYERmZJha1B4oa7WyC9GCQKdSVfGS2q2LdxAU2BXzlLaLAbxsUi9gV4Fk6NkpUG3pmkaeO8JHsvjpWWtCH5cqhS46Zrp7900fUuM-CwtdAIr00-H080q~WX9x44PZup0YfwnPd-BlH4khHD2wnAJ6dBVyeFeuPfMmL9RfdnKiPqxIC4YKGcisarCz-WALZmNh8eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality showcased its new Drinking Water Viewer in a demonstration during the third-quarter Drinking Water Advisory Work Group meeting, saying the viewer will replace the current Drinking Water Watch and be available to the public soon.

The new tool consolidates a system-level overview, contact information, treatment and source details, sampling point lists, monitoring schedules and historical sample results. \"This is the landing page here,\" explained Ryland Fields during the demonstration, then walked attendees through features that allow users to export contact lists, sampling-point inventories and sample results to Excel and to save a PDF snapshot of yearly sample schedules.

Program staff said the viewer will be available publicly and Drinking Water Watch will remain online through the end of the year. Steven Swarenga, who first announced the viewer to the group, said the agency expects to roll the platform out in about two weeks from the demonstration and will notify the work group when it goes live. \"We are very excited to roll this out,\" he said.

Fields demonstrated how users can search by water system, view a flow diagram, inspect sampling-point inventories and download coliform and chemical sample results with date-range filters. The viewer also displays compliance schedules, violations and enforcement actions tied to particular events, and a status summary that shows resolved and unresolved items.

The tool includes contextual help (question-mark tooltips) and an export function for schedules and results intended to reduce manual public records requests and make it easier for systems, consultants and researchers to run their own analyses. Steven Swarenga said the agency is exploring CCR-generation options offered by the contractor but said the final CCR workflow may differ from the current Drinking Water Watch CCR helper.

The agency plans to demo the Viewer at the upcoming Public Drinking Water Conference. Systems were reminded that schedules and monitoring data shown in the Viewer are a live reflection of what is entered into agency data systems and that any missing or delayed schedules are because staff must complete compliance calculations or data entry first.

The work group asked whether the Viewer would push automatic schedule-change notifications to system contacts; Fields and staff said the Viewer itself will not send automated schedule-change emails, but all displayed data can be downloaded and shared by systems.

The TCEQ said it will send an announcement to the work group when the Viewer is live and will have staff on-site at the Public Drinking Water Conference to guide users through the tool.

Ending: The Viewer is intended to replace Drinking Water Watch with a more modern, exportable interface and to provide public access to schedules, sample data and enforcement status. The TCEQ encouraged users to test the tool during its rollout and will post follow-up guidance and links once the Viewer is in production.","The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality demonstrated a public Drinking Water Viewer that will replace Drinking Water Watch by year-end, offering downloadable schedules, sample results, violation and enforcement detail, and an exportable yearly schedule snapshot for systems and consultants.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DSHS explains role as principal state drinking water lab, fee changes and private-testing limits

TWDB outlines $20 billion potential through Senate Bill 7; solicitations planned for SRF and supplemental programs

TCEQ unveils new Drinking Water Viewer with downloadable schedules and sample data