Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________ N ATURAL
/Water
ATURAL RESOURCES/Water
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires an owner of an apartment house built after January 1, 2003, that provides government assisted or
subsidized rental housing to low- or very low-income residents to install a plumbing system in the
apartment house that is compatible with submetering for the measurement of water.
Requires a retail public utility, on request by the property owner or manager, to install individual meters
owned by the utility in the above-mentioned types of housing for which construction begins after January 1,
2003, unless the utility determines that installation of meters is not feasible.
Clarifies that the bill does not apply to owners of manufactured home rental communities who do not own
the manufactured homes located on their property.
Compliance History Considered in Times of Drought - H.B. 2588
by Representative Counts
Senate Sponsor: Senator Bernsen
Current law directs that in times of drought water must be distributed on a pro rata basis. Many feel that if
rationing water from a water supply becomes necessary, water suppliers should be allowed to take into
account the degree to which customers have complied with applicable water conservation and drought
contingency plans.
Provides for water to be divided and distributed among all customers pro rata, so that preference is given to
no one, when a shortage occurs in a water supply not covered by a water conservation plan prepared in
compliance with Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) or Texas Water
Development Board (TWDB) rules.
Requires the persons or corporation owning or controlling the water, in the event of a shortage in a water
supply that is covered by a TNRCC or TWDB water conservation plan, to divide and distribute the water
among all customers pro rata, according to:
• the amount of water to which each customer may be entitled; or
• the amount of water to which each customer may be entitled, less the amount of water the
customer would have saved if the customer had operated its water system in compliance with the
water conservation plan.
Enforcement Authority of Groundwater Conservation Districts - H.B. 2690
by Representative Walker
Senate Sponsor: Senator Staples
Clarifies that when a groundwater conservation district prevails in certain actions, it may seek reasonable
attorney's fees, costs for expert witnesses, and other costs incurred by the district
Senate Research Center 238