Bill > HB2605

This bill requires large municipally owned utilities (those with over 150,000 service connections) to conduct more rigorous water loss audits and mitigation efforts. Specifically, if a utility's water loss meets or exceeds a state-established threshold, they must complete a validation of their water audit within 180 days, performed by a certified professional who is not a board staff member or the original audit submitter. They must also develop a comprehensive water loss mitigation plan within one year that includes detailed goals for water loss reduction over one, three, five, and ten-year periods, along with specific projects, estimated financial and water savings, and implementation cost estimates. If a utility has reported high water loss for three consecutive years, they must conduct an even more detailed validation to investigate billing data accuracy and water leakage reduction strategies, and update their mitigation plan accordingly. These mitigation plans must be incorporated into the utility's existing water conservation plan and progress must be reported annually. To ensure compliance, the bill establishes a $25,000 administrative penalty for each violation of these requirements, effectively creating a strong incentive for utilities to accurately track and reduce water losses.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB2605