Clean Water Act discharge permit · NPDES TX0047023
CITY OF BIG SPRING WATER RECLAMATION PLANT, Big Spring, TX: NPDES TX0047023 discharge permit, effluent exceedances, inspections, penalties
- Administratively continuedPermit status
- MajorDischarger class
- 54Pollutants under a numeric limit
- 8Pollutants with an effluent exceedance
- 0Inspections on file
- 0Formal enforcement actions
CITY OF BIG SPRING WATER RECLAMATION PLANT, held by BIG SPRING, CITY OF, holds NPDES permit TX0047023, which discharges to Colorado River Below Lake J.B. Thomas. EPA’s file records it issued February 10, 2020 and expiring February 10, 2025.
CITY OF BIG SPRING WATER RECLAMATION PLANT, Big Spring, Texas: Individual permit TX0047023, held by BIG SPRING, CITY OF; Publicly owned treatment works; Administratively continued (past its expiration date and still in force until reissued); issued February 10, 2020, term to February 10, 2025; discharges to Colorado River Below Lake J.B. Thomas.
- Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N]: 6 limits, 48 violations of any kind, 39 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2026, largest 303% over the limit.
- Solids, total suspended: 3 limits, 21 violations of any kind, 15 effluent exceedances, latest September 30, 2024, largest 300% over the limit.
- Chlorine, total residual: 2 limits, 21 violations of any kind, 15 effluent exceedances, latest April 30, 2021, largest 1,250% over the limit.
- E. coli: 2 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 12 effluent exceedances, latest April 30, 2024, largest 14,597% over the limit.
- pH: 3 limits, 13 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest September 30, 2023.
- Oxygen, dissolved [DO]: 1 limit, 9 violations of any kind, 6 effluent exceedances, latest May 31, 2022, largest 35% over the limit.
- Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant: 4 limits, 14 violations of any kind, 2 effluent exceedances, latest August 31, 2007, largest 29% over the limit.
- BOD, carbonaceous [5 day, 20 C]: 3 limits, 10 violations of any kind, 1 effluent exceedance, latest March 31, 2020, largest 27% over the limit.
- Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 38 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 38 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits, 20 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits, 20 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits, 20 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 20 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits, 10 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LOEC Sub-Lethal Reproduction Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits, 10 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LC50 Pass/Fail Static 24Hr Acute Pimephales promelas: 1 limit, 10 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pinephales promelas: 2 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Diazinon: 0 limits, 8 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LC50 Pass/Fail Static 24Hr Acute D. Pulex: 0 limits, 6 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Arsenic, dry weight: 5 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chromium, sludge, total, dry weight [as Cr]: 5 limits, 5 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Daphnia magna survival 24 Hr Acute WET: 1 limit, 4 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Selenium, dry weight: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Copper, dry weight: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Cadmium, dry weight: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Molybdenum, sludge, total, dry weight [as Mo]: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Zinc, sludge, total, dry weight [as Zn]: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Lead, sludge, total, dry weight [as Pb]: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Nickel, sludge, total, dry weight [as Ni]: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Mercury, sludge, total, dry weight [as Hg]: 3 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Chloride [as Cl]: 0 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Sulfate, total [as SO4]: 0 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Solids, total dissolved: 0 limits, 3 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Nickel, total [as Ni]: 2 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Level of pathogen requirements achieved: 2 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Description of pathogen option used: 2 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Vector attraction reduction alternative used: 2 limits, 2 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Fecal coliform: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Ann. amt sludge disposed by other method: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual amt of sludge incinerated: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual sludge production, total: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual amount of sludge land applied: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual amt. sludge disposed surface unit: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual amt sludge disposed in landfill: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Annual amt sludge transported interstate: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Unit w/liner/leachate collection system: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Compliance w/part 258 sludge requirement: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Boundary areas: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Salmonella: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Pollutant table from 503.13: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Whole effluent toxicity - retest #1: 3 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Whole effluent toxicity - retest #2: 3 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna: 2 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna: 2 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna: 2 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna: 2 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna: 2 limits, 0 violations of any kind, 0 effluent exceedances.
- June 17, 2026: Agency Enforcement Review (State).
Texas holds 1,720 Publicly owned treatment works coverages of this permit type in EPA’s file; 1,305 were issued before TX0047023. BIG SPRING, CITY OF holds 2 permits in Texas.
Other permits held by BIG SPRING, CITY OF
- ROY C HESTER WTP, Big Spring: TX0064963, issued April 30, 2015
Coverages issued nearest TX0047023
- January 28, 2020: BEACH ROAD MUD WWTP, Matagorda, TX0105988, held by BEACH ROAD MUD
- January 28, 2020: TIDEHAVEN JHS HS WWTP, Elmaton, TX0136280, held by TIDEHAVEN ISD
- January 28, 2020: HARRIS COUNTY MUD 43, Harris County, TX0139220, held by HARRIS COUNTY MUD NO 43
- January 29, 2020: FAIRVIEW MEADOWS WWTP, New Fairview, TX0140775, held by NEW FAIRVIEW MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT 1
- February 10, 2020: BRADY WWTP, Brady, TX0034312, held by BRADY, CITY OF
- February 11, 2020: LA GRANGE WWTP, La Grange, TX0020923, held by LA GRANGE, CITY OF
- February 11, 2020: GAZLEY CREEK WWTP, Smithville, TX0022951, held by SMITHVILLE, CITY OF
- February 11, 2020: CITY OF YOAKUM WWTP, Yoakum, TX0026034, held by YOAKUM, CITY OF
- February 11, 2020: AIRPORT WWTP, Galveston, TX0027791, held by GALVESTON, CITY OF
- February 11, 2020: S CENTRL CALHOUN COUNTY WCID 1 WWTP, Port Lavaca, TX0104205, held by SOUTH CENTRAL CALHOUN COUNTY WCID NO.1
CITY OF BIG SPRING WATER RECLAMATION PLANT among its neighbors
Its county holds 32, 2 of them major permits; TX0047023 is a major permit.
Other permits in the county
- 5STRONG, Forsan: TXR05GY01, minor permit, permit term to August 13, 2026
- ABL 0693-01-034, Big Spring: TXR1595QM, minor permit, discharging to LAKE COLORADO CITY, permit term to March 4, 2028
- ABL-BS 2597-01-008, Big Spring: TXR1524PS, minor permit, discharging to BEALS CREEK, permit term to March 4, 2028
- ABL-BS 2597-01-008, Big Spring: TXR1533PS, minor permit, discharging to BEALS CREEK, permit term to March 4, 2028
- ALON USA BIG SPRING REFINERY, Big Spring: TXR05FF84, minor permit, permit term to August 13, 2026
- BETHEL DRIVE PLANT, Big Spring: TXR05GF17, minor permit, permit term to August 13, 2026
- BIG SPRING - BIRDWELL LANE RECON, Big Spring: TXR1561YB, minor permit, discharging to BEALS CREEK, permit term to March 4, 2028
- BIG SPRING CARBON BLACK PLANT, Big Spring: TXR05CU89, minor permit, permit term to August 13, 2026
- BIG SPRING PLANT, Big Spring: TXG111789, minor permit, discharging to ONEMILE LAKE, permit term to November 7, 2021
- BIG SPRING PLANT, Big Spring: TXG114026, minor permit, permit term to November 6, 2026
Identity
| Facility as filed | CITY OF BIG SPRING WATER RECLAMATION PLANT |
|---|---|
| Permittee as filed | BIG SPRING, CITY OF |
| NPDES ID | TX0047023 |
| Permit status | Administratively continued (past its expiration date and still in force until reissued) |
| Permit type | Individual permit |
| Discharger class | Major discharger |
| Facility type | Publicly owned treatment works |
| Program | Publicly owned treatment works |
| Issued | February 10, 2020 |
| Expiration date | February 10, 2025 |
| Address | Big Spring, TX 79720 |
| Receiving water | Colorado River Below Lake J.B. Thomas |
| SIC | 4952 – Sewerage Systems |
Effluent limits and exceedances
- 62Pollutants on file
- 54Under a numeric limit
- 53With a violation of any kind
- 8With an effluent exceedance
An effluent exceedance is a discharge monitoring report value over the permit’s numeric limit (EPA’s violation code E90). A violation of any kind also counts a report not filed. Each row is EPA’s own count for that pollutant; the 60 with the most exceedances of 62 are shown.
| Pollutant or measure | Limits | Violations, any kind | Effluent exceedances | Latest exceedance | Largest exceedance, as filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N] | 6 | 48 | 39 | March 31, 2026 | 303% over the limit |
| Solids, total suspended | 3 | 21 | 15 | September 30, 2024 | 300% over the limit |
| Chlorine, total residual | 2 | 21 | 15 | April 30, 2021 | 1,250% over the limit |
| E. coli | 2 | 14 | 12 | April 30, 2024 | 14,597% over the limit |
| pH | 3 | 13 | 6 | September 30, 2023 | |
| Oxygen, dissolved [DO] | 1 | 9 | 6 | May 31, 2022 | 35% over the limit |
| Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant | 4 | 14 | 2 | August 31, 2007 | 29% over the limit |
| BOD, carbonaceous [5 day, 20 C] | 3 | 10 | 1 | March 31, 2020 | 27% over the limit |
| Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas | 2 | 20 | 0 | ||
| NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas | 2 | 20 | 0 | ||
| NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas | 2 | 20 | 0 | ||
| LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas | 2 | 10 | 0 | ||
| LOEC Sub-Lethal Reproduction Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas | 2 | 10 | 0 | ||
| LC50 Pass/Fail Static 24Hr Acute Pimephales promelas | 1 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pinephales promelas | 2 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Diazinon | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| LC50 Pass/Fail Static 24Hr Acute D. Pulex | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Arsenic, dry weight | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Chromium, sludge, total, dry weight [as Cr] | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Daphnia magna survival 24 Hr Acute WET | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Selenium, dry weight | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Copper, dry weight | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Cadmium, dry weight | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Molybdenum, sludge, total, dry weight [as Mo] | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Zinc, sludge, total, dry weight [as Zn] | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Lead, sludge, total, dry weight [as Pb] | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Nickel, sludge, total, dry weight [as Ni] | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Mercury, sludge, total, dry weight [as Hg] | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Chloride [as Cl] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Sulfate, total [as SO4] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Solids, total dissolved | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Nickel, total [as Ni] | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Level of pathogen requirements achieved | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Description of pathogen option used | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Vector attraction reduction alternative used | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Fecal coliform | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Ann. amt sludge disposed by other method | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual amt of sludge incinerated | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual sludge production, total | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual amount of sludge land applied | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual amt. sludge disposed surface unit | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual amt sludge disposed in landfill | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Annual amt sludge transported interstate | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Unit w/liner/leachate collection system | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Compliance w/part 258 sludge requirement | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Boundary areas | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Salmonella | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Pollutant table from 503.13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Whole effluent toxicity - retest #1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Whole effluent toxicity - retest #2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Daphnia magna | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Inspections, violations and enforcement
- 0Single-event violations
EPA’s single-event violation file, as loaded, holds no violation for NPDES TX0047023.
Inspections
EPA’s inspection file holds no inspection for NPDES TX0047023.
Formal enforcement and penalties
0 formal actions, 0 of them with a penalty assessed. Federal and state penalties are separate figures from separate authorities and are shown as each was filed, never added together.
Informal enforcement
| Date | What EPA recorded | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2026 | Agency Enforcement Review | State |
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Figures from EPA’s ICIS-NPDES download, loaded October 14, 2026.