Which regulatory authority oversees the installation of OSSFs?

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing the installation of On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSFs) in Texas. TCEQ establishes and enforces regulations that ensure OSSFs are designed, installed, maintained, and operated in a manner that protects public health and the environment. This includes creating guidelines for permitting, inspections, and operational standards that installers must follow.

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does have federal jurisdiction over various environmental concerns, in the state of Texas, TCEQ is the primary agency that manages issues specifically related to OSSFs. The Texas Department of Health Services (now known as the Texas Health and Human Services Commission) may have involvement in public health aspects, but TCEQ has the primary regulatory authority over sewage facility installations. Local City Councils can have ordinances and policies regarding sewage systems; however, they typically operate under the framework established by TCEQ, rather than having independent regulatory authority over OSSFs.