Groundwater Availability Certifications
Groundwater availability certifications help to ensure that proposed new subdivisions have adequate water supplies available for development when groundwater is proposed as the primary water source. These certifications were previously optional, but as of January 1, 2024, municipalities and counties must require groundwater availability certifications as part of the subdivision platting process. Groundwater availability certification requirements are outlined in Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules and Texas law. See 30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 230 and Local Government Code Chapters 212 and 232 for details on platting requirements and exemptions or waivers for certification requirements.
While the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is only involved in this process by receiving copies of certifications, we aim to provide helpful resources and information to those involved with creating and reviewing groundwater availability certifications. Additionally, the information and data provided in groundwater availability certifications is useful to the TWDB in developing groundwater availability models, maintaining the TWDB Groundwater Database, and conducting groundwater studies to support regional water planning in Texas.
Submitting forms and supporting information
To complete the certification process, applicants must submit both of the following to the municipality or county authority for plat approval:
- Form TCEQ-20962 - Certification Form: Groundwater Availability for Platting
- Form TCEQ-2098 - Plat Attesting Form
In addition, copies of the certifications are to be submitted to the TWDB, preferably electronically to GroundwaterData@twdb.texas.gov, and the local groundwater conservation district (GCD), if there is one. Check out the Groundwater Data Viewer and turn on the "Groundwater Conservation Districts" layer to see which areas of the state have a local GCD.
Copies of certifications submitted to the TWDB should include the above two forms along with any supporting information and site-specific groundwater data collected or used for the certification.
Please note that all certifications must be prepared and signed by a licensed geoscientist or engineer in the state of Texas.