CITY OF HOUSTON UPPER BRAYS WWTP, Houston, TX: NPDES TX0088153 discharge permit, effluent exceedances, inspections, penalties

CITY OF HOUSTON UPPER BRAYS WWTP, Houston, Texas: Individual permit TX0088153, held by HOUSTON, CITY OF; Publicly owned treatment works; Administratively continued; issued November 27, 2019, term to November 27, 2024; discharges to Houston Ship Channel/Buffalo Bayou Tidal.

36 of the 60 pollutants listed for NPDES TX0088153 have no violation or effluent exceedance.

• Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N]: 6 limits, 67 violations of any kind, 67 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2024, largest 667% over the limit.
• E. coli: 4 limits, 48 violations of any kind, 48 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2026, largest 99,999% over the limit.
• Solids, total suspended: 3 limits, 47 violations of any kind, 47 effluent exceedances, latest July 31, 2026, largest 1,438% over the limit.
• BOD, carbonaceous [5 day, 20 C]: 3 limits, 36 violations of any kind, 35 effluent exceedances, latest February 28, 2025, largest 99,999% over the limit.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia: 2 limits, 28 violations of any kind, 28 effluent exceedances, latest March 31, 2018, largest 46% over the limit.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - P. promelas: 2 limits, 12 violations of any kind, 12 effluent exceedances, latest September 30, 2017, largest 43% over the limit.
• Whole effluent toxicity: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind, 4 effluent exceedances, latest September 30, 2008, largest 99,999% over the limit.
• Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• LOEC Sub-Lethal Reproduction Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 0 limits, 4 violations of any kind.
• Whole effluent toxicity - retest #1: 3 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• Whole effluent toxicity - retest #2: 3 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• Low Flow Pass/Fail Survival Test Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• NOEC Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• NOEC Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pinephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• LOEC Lethal Survival Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• LOEC Sub-Lethal Reproduction Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 0 limits, 2 violations of any kind.
• pH: 3 limits, 1 violation of any kind.
• Chlorine, total residual: 2 limits, 1 violation of any kind.
• Oxygen, dissolved [DO]: 1 limit, 1 violation of any kind.
• Arsenic, dry weight: 5 limits.
• Chromium, sludge, total, dry weight [as Cr]: 5 limits.
• Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant: 4 limits.
• Selenium, dry weight: 3 limits.
• Copper, dry weight: 3 limits.
• Cadmium, dry weight: 3 limits.
• Molybdenum, sludge, total, dry weight [as Mo]: 3 limits.
• Zinc, sludge, total, dry weight [as Zn]: 3 limits.
• Lead, sludge, total, dry weight [as Pb]: 3 limits.
• Nickel, sludge, total, dry weight [as Ni]: 3 limits.
• Mercury, sludge, total, dry weight [as Hg]: 3 limits.
• Nickel, total [as Ni]: 2 limits.
• Level of pathogen requirements achieved: 2 limits.
• Description of pathogen option used: 2 limits.
• Vector attraction reduction alternative used: 2 limits.
• IC25 Low Flow Pass/Fail Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 2 limits.
• IC25 Low Flow Pass/Fail Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits.
• IC25 Low Flow Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 2 limits.
• IC25 Low Flow Pass/Fail Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits.
• IC25 Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 2 limits.
• IC25 Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits.
• IC25 Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Ceriodaphnia dubia: 2 limits.
• IC25 Sub-Lethal Static Renewal 7 Day Chronic Pimephales promelas: 2 limits.
• Fecal coliform: 1 limit.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]: 1 limit.
• Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure: 1 limit.
• Annual whole sludge application rate: 1 limit.
• Ann. amt sludge disposed by other method: 1 limit.
• Annual amt of sludge incinerated: 1 limit.
• Annual sludge production, total: 1 limit.
• Annual amount of sludge land applied: 1 limit.
• Annual amt. sludge disposed surface unit: 1 limit.
• Annual amt sludge disposed in landfill: 1 limit.
• Annual amt sludge transported interstate: 1 limit.
• Unit w/liner/leachate collection system: 1 limit.
• Compliance w/part 258 sludge requirement: 1 limit.

• July 13, 2026: Permit Violations - Violation Specified in Comment (ST6).
• July 13, 2026: Evaluation (S).
• November 20, 2023: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S. that may endanger health or the environment (EP6).
• October 24, 2023: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• December 16, 2022: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• November 21, 2022: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• September 13, 2022: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• September 7, 2022: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• September 1, 2022: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• October 19, 2021: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• October 11, 2021: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• September 29, 2021: Permit Violations - Violation Specified in Comment (ST6).
• July 4, 2021: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• June 10, 2021: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• May 20, 2021: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• December 28, 2020: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• December 27, 2020: Dry-weather SSO discharge to waters of the U.S., not permit compliant, no endangerment (EP6).
• May 13, 2020: WW SSO - Discharge to Waters (EP6).
• March 11, 2020: Dry-weather SSO, no discharge to waters of the U.S., that may endanger health or the environment (EP6).
• September 28, 2019: WW SSO - Overflow to Dry Land or Building Backup (EP6).
• May 16, 2018: Permit Violations - Violation Specified in Comment (ST6).
• February 23, 2018: WW SSO - Discharge to Waters (EP6).

Texas holds 1,720 Publicly owned treatment works coverages of this permit type in EPA’s file; 1,261 were issued before TX0088153. HOUSTON, CITY OF holds 26 permits in Texas.

Other permits held by HOUSTON, CITY OF

• PARK TEN MUD, Houston: TX0026395, issued 2017-09-28
• GREEN RIDGE WWTP, Houston: TX0026433, issued 2022-09-08
• WESTWAY WWTP, Houston: TX0026875, issued 2019-09-26
• HARRIS COUNTY WCID 111 WWTP, Houston: TX0027201, issued 2018-09-11
• ALMEDA SIMS WWTP, Houston: TX0034924, issued 2018-10-17
• SOUTHEAST WWTP, Houston: TX0035009, issued 2020-05-26
• TURKEY CREEK WWTP, Houston: TX0035017, issued 2020-12-29
• CLINTON PARK WWTP, Houston: TX0035106, issued 2017-12-20
• NORTHGATE WWTP, Houston: TX0055310, issued 2018-05-25
• WHITE OAK WWTP, Houston: TX0057347, issued 2017-11-15

Coverages issued nearest TX0088153

• 2019-11-21: SNYDER WATER RECLAMATION PLANT, Snyder: TX0047899, held by SNYDER, CITY OF
• 2019-11-21: SULPHUR SPRINGS WWTP, Sulphur Springs: TX0058955, held by SULPHUR SPRINGS, CITY OF
• 2019-11-21: FWSD 23 WWTP, Houston: TX0063053, held by HOUSTON, CITY OF
• 2019-11-27: HAMBY WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY, Abilene: TX0023973, held by ABILENE, CITY OF
• 2019-11-27: CITY OF SHINER WWTP, Shiner: TX0026042, held by SHINER, CITY OF
• 2019-11-27: UPLANDS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, Brookshire: TX0136441, held by FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT 213
• 2019-12-04: CITY OF WEST COLUMBIA WWTP, West Columbia: TX0026182, held by WEST COLUMBIA, CITY OF
• 2019-12-06: CITY OF COLUMBUS WWTP, Columbus: TX0022900, held by COLUMBUS, CITY OF
• 2019-12-06: CITY OF MOODY WWTP, Moody: TX0024066, held by MOODY, CITY OF
• 2019-12-06: CITY OF WHARTON WWTP 2, Wharton: TX0101222, held by WHARTON, CITY OF

CITY OF HOUSTON UPPER BRAYS WWTP among its neighbors

229 discharge permits are in the Keegans Bayou-Brays Bayou subwatershed (HUC 120401040401); TX0088153 is one. Its county: 4,455, 195 major; TX0088153 is major permit.

Other permits in the Keegans Bayou-Brays Bayou subwatershed (HUC 120401040401)

• 11116 BELLAIRE BLVD, Houston: TXR1516PK, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• 33 ACRES AT FM 1464 AND BEECHNUT, Houston: TXR1520NC, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ADDICKS PLANT, Houston: TXG110467, minor, term to 2011-11-07
• ADDICKS PLANT, City Of Houston: TXG111820, minor, term to 2016-11-07
• AI HOA PAD BUILDING A, Houston: TXR1597PL, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ALIEF AG FACILITY, Houston: TXR1556VO, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ALIEF CHILLER REPLACEMENTS - MULTI CAMPUS, Houston: TXR1516WP, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ALIEF ISD LEROY CRUMP STADIUM, Houston: TXR1522WO, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ALIEF ISD YWLS DRIVEWAY IMPROVEMENT, Houston: TXR1598XX, minor, term to 2028-03-04
• ALIEF SUPPORT FACILITY, Houston: TXR05BO39, minor, term to 2026-08-13