TCEQ forms Innovative Sources and Treatment team to address wastewater operations, produced water and PFAS

TCEQ announced on Oct. 14 that it created a new Innovative Sources and Treatment team within the Water Supply Division to expand technical assistance and policy coordination on wastewater operations, produced water, and emerging contaminants including PFAS.

Wenjie, the new team leader who started Oct. 1, said the team's three initial priorities are: 1) a wastewater-operations assistance program similar to TCEQ’s public-water-system technical-assistance offerings (financial, managerial, technical support for treatment facilities); 2) produced-water management, including treatment strategy evaluation and regulatory framework development to protect environmental quality; and 3) coordination across programs on emerging contaminants—especially PFAS—covering monitoring, treatment approaches, permitting, and compliance.

Wenjie said the team currently includes two natural-resource specialists and two senior engineers and expects to fill three additional engineer positions. The team will offer remote and on-site technical assistance and training and will collaborate with internal programs and external stakeholders as those priorities evolve.

Stakeholders at the meeting were invited to request training or technical support; Wenjie encouraged systems to reach out for remote or on-site assistance.

Evidence in the record: Wenjie introduced the team, described its focus areas (wastewater operations, produced water, PFAS), and invited engagement from utilities and internal TCEQ programs.