Overview

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has developed a statewide community public water system service area mapping application called the Texas Water Service Boundary Viewer (TWSBV) application through a grant from the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) Water Availability and Use Science Program under Cooperative Agreement No G17AC00016. While several statewide water system mapping applications exist, they do not necessarily represent the actual retail water service areas or include all public water systems (PWS). This mapping application strives to collect and provide the most up-to-date and best data available on the water service areas for all community PWS within Texas.

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Water User Survey (WUS) program prompts water systems to use the TWSBV application to update or verify their service boundaries each year to reflect current retail water service areas. The data collected within the TWSBV application is used in local, regional, and state organizations and various data research as well as the regional and state water planning process. The application is also available to the public to view public water system service boundaries and related reports, including historical water use and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Drinking Water Watch (DWW) information.

For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Contact: If you have questions that are not addressed in this FAQ or the Help Guide, please contact us at WSBViewer@twdb.texas.gov or (512) 463-6867.

Common Definitions and Acronyms

Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN): The CCN obligates the retail water public utility to provide continuous and adequate service to every customer who requests service in that area.
Community public water system: A system for the provision of water to the public for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, which includes all uses described under the definition for drinking water. Such a system must have at least 15 service connections or serve at least 25 individuals at least 60 days out of the year (Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 290, Subchapter D (290.38(71)).
PUC: Public Utility Commission
PWS: Public Water System
Regional Water Planning Group: There are 16 planning groups across the state, each made up of 20 members that represent a variety of interests, including agriculture, industry, environment, public municipalities, business, and others. These planning groups adopt regional water plans which, once approved by the TWDB, are folded into the state water plan.
Retail service providers: An individual or entity that supplies potable water for human consumption.
TCEQ: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
TWDB: Texas Water Development Board
TWSBV: Texas Water Service Boundary Viewer
Wholesale service provider: An individual or entity that sells water to another utility for resale to the public, indirectly providing potable water.
Water Use Survey (WUS): Annual survey to collect and maintain accurate information concerning the current use of water in the state administered by the TWDB.
Water User Group (WUG): Planning unit used in the regional and state water plans.