Midland County is subject to regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) General Permit No. TXR040000. The intent of the permit is to protect water quality by reducing pollutants such as sediment and chemicals that enter storm water runoff. The current general permit runs from January 24, 2019 – January 23, 2024.

Midland County has adopted and implemented a storm water management plan (SWMP) for the urbanized portions of the county. The is intended to achieve the regulatory standard of reducing pollutants in the County’s storm water to the “maximum extent practicable.”  

Midland County has identified illegal dumping as a potential source of storm water pollution. The County aims to educate the public about this issue, and to use enforcement tactics that rely on voluntary cleanup as an educational initial approach to violators.

Midland County has identified improper disposal of oil and gas waste such as saltwater and drilling fluids as a significant source of pollutants in unincorporated Midland County. The County aims to educate potential violators, and to enforce regulations that protect the environment.

Midland County has identified undersized or non-permitted On-site Sewage Facilities (septic systems) as sources of pollution in rural areas of the County. The County aims to locate violations and compel the property owner to bring the systems into compliance with local and state regulations through criminal enforcement.

The following list shows flows that are authorized to flow into the County’s urbanized area drainage ditches: Authorized Discharges 

Any other release of chemicals or contaminated water not on the linked list could be an illicit discharge and a violation of the County’s storm water management plan, if it is determined to be a significant source of pollutants. The Environmental Enforcement staff can evaluate possible storm water pollution that is reported. 

For more information, visit the TCEQ Storm Water Page.