Texas Wastewater Class B Practice Exam

Enforcement actions from TCEQ may take place for which violation of the Texas Water Code?

1. Unauthorized discharge

2. Operating a treatment plant without a permit

3. Failure to monitor wastewater quality

4. Neglecting maintenance records

The correct answer is: Unauthorized discharge

The selection of unauthorized discharge as the correct answer highlights a significant breach concerning the Texas Water Code. Unauthorized discharge refers to the release of pollutants into water bodies without the required permits or compliance with regulations. This action poses serious risks to the environment, public health, and the integrity of the water resources. Such violations are taken seriously by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), leading to enforcement actions because they directly contravene established legal standards aimed at protecting water quality. Other options, while also indicative of serious issues within wastewater management, do not specifically underline the direct act of violating permitted discharge regulations. Operating a treatment plant without a permit, for example, is indeed a severe issue but is categorized differently regarding enforcement actions. Similarly, failure to monitor wastewater quality and neglecting maintenance records are important for maintaining compliance and operational integrity, but they do not represent the immediate environmental risk that unauthorized discharge entails. Enforcement actions are often focused on preventing harmful impacts from activities that may result in immediate environmental harm, making unauthorized discharge a critical violation in this context.