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- Travis County Code: Subdivision Standards
Water Availability at a Glance: Regulations for Subdivisions Utilizing Groundwater
Effective September 1, 2023, all subdivisions utilizing water wells for water supply must prove adequate groundwater supply through aquifer testing and provide Groundwater Availability Certification prepared by a registered groundwater professional (P.E. or P.G.) (Travis County Code 482.213 through 482.216, 482.203, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Chapter 230). All lots supplied by individual water wells must be at least 5-acres.
Note: Contact [email protected] before drilling a new water well or conducting aquifer testing, for any subdivision application in Travis County.
Planning
Permit applications must document that water and wastewater services will be available to all lots and for all phases of the subdivision.
If potable water will be provided by a water control and improvement district (WCID), a municipal utility district (MUD), or other public water systems (PWS), contact TCEQ for PWS requirements (30 TAC 290, Subchapter D). A letter guaranteeing PWS supply to the subdivision will be required by Travis County.
For subdivisions with 15 or more units, groundwater conservation, water level monitoring, and site fire protection rules apply.
Key Components for All Subdivisions Utilizing Groundwater
If groundwater provides water supply, using either an existing or newly installed water well, multiple sets of regulations apply. For complete requirements see Travis County Code 482.213 through 482.216.
Note: A Groundwater Availability Certification waiver may be granted if certain conditions are met. See Travis County Code 482.212 for more information on how your project may qualify.
Travis County Codes 482.212 through 482.216 include reference to 482.203 and TCEQ Chapters 230 and 290. TCEQ rules supplement but do not supersede Travis County rules for subdivisions utilizing groundwater for potable water supply.
Wastewater
If wastewater will be treated by onsite sewage facilities (OSSF), evidence of wastewater service availability may be satisfied by submitting planning materials required by Travis County Code Chapter 448, which regulates OSSF. See Travis County Code 482.213(b).
Groundwater Conservation
In western Travis County drought contingency planning must follow Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA); in eastern Travis County it must follow City of Austin standards (Travis County Code 482.213(c)(11)).
Groundwater use for common area features (Travis County Code 482.214(g)) such as amenity ponds, landscape irrigation, and sports fields is restricted accordingly:
- If there is a centralized wastewater system, groundwater may only be used until treated effluent is available,
- The volume of ponds and water features using groundwater may not exceed 2-acre feet individually and 6-acre feet cumulatively,
- Use of groundwater for common areas must be accounted for in groundwater availability certification and must be curtailed during any stage of drought.
Groundwater Availability Certification
Groundwater Availability Certification documents must be sealed by a professional proficient in groundwater science and licensed in Texas (P.G. or P.E.).
Travis County rules (Travis County Code 482.214(b)) for groundwater supply provide specifics on groundwater availability certification and refer to Travis County Code 482.203(b)(20)(A) through (E), which refers to additional requirements in 20 TAC Chapter 230 - Groundwater Availability Certification for Platting.Additional Special Groundwater Requirements
In Travis County, wells may only draw from the Trinity or Edwards aquifers, not from Colorado River alluvium (Travis County Code 482.214(a)).
GPS coordinates or equivalent data locating all wells must be provided Travis County Code 482.214(b)(4)).
As per Travis County code 482.214(b)(5), unless water is supplied by a public water system (PWS) supply regulated by TCEQ, quality of groundwater produced from the test well(s) must meet TCEQ standards in 30 TAC Section 290 (290.104, 290.106, 290.108, and 290.109).
A water supply well may not be located within 150 feet of the subdivision boundary without the consent of the adjoining landowner (Travis County Code 482.214(d)).
Unless the Commissioner’s Court approves an update to the original groundwater availability certification (Travis County Code 482.214(e)):
- No additional well(s) may be drilled in the subdivision,
- Lots in the subdivision may not be further subdivided,
- A well used to supply the subdivision cannot supply sources other than the subdivision, except in the event of fire or other emergency.
Certification of compliance with all Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) rules (Travis County Code 482.214) must be provided. Note: GCD rules supplement but do not replace Travis County or TCEQ rules.
Fire Protection
Residential subdivisions with 15 or more units supplied by a centralized water system, and all commercial subdivisions, shall provide the subdivision with water supply, water storage facilities, water lines, hydrants, and access roads for firefighting (Travis County Code 482.215).
Development Intensity
For development intensity affecting Trinity and Edwards Aquifers see Travis County Code 482.216.
For Surface Water Quantity and Quality Protection
For subdivisions located over the Trinity Aquifer in a Western Watershed or over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge or Contributing zones:
- Impervious cover in a commercial subdivision shall not exceed 45%, unless its primary driveway access is on a state road, or it complies with Travis County Code 482.944(b)(3) “Alternate Standards”,
- Impervious cover in a residential subdivision shall not exceed 30% unless the number of lots are fewer than the number of acres, or Travis County Code 482.226 “Conservation Area” is adopted.
For Groundwater Quantity and Quality Protection
For residential subdivisions supplied by the Trinity or Edwards aquifers:
- If supplied by individual wells, all lots must be at least 5-acres,
- If supplied by a centralized groundwater system, all lots must be at least 3-acres, or the number of lots cannot exceed the number of acres divided by four.
