Stormwater Quality

Learn how to maintain your lawn while preventing stormwater pollution. Video courtesy of NCTCOG Environment & Development.

Environmental Quality is responsible for monitoring water quality in urban lakes, rivers, neighborhood creeks, and storm drains. Storm drain systems are designed to remove stormwater runoff from urban areas. In Fort Worth, the stormwater sewer system is separate from the wastewater sewer system, and runoff flows directly to the nearest body of water without being treated. Pollutants, including fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and detergents that are present on urban land, streets, other surfaces, or are illegally dumped into storm drains, go directly into a body of water each time it rains.

Surface Water Quality Monitoring

Comments and questions from residents regarding these documents are welcomed as part of our education and outreach process. Please email comments to: environmental@fortworthtexas.gov. 

Legal Requirements

The City of Fort Worth's Stormwater Ordinance prohibits illicit discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer system (storm drain), provides for the regulation of mobile commercial cosmetic cleaning (power washers), and regulates stormwater discharges from industrial sources including construction activity. The City of Fort Worth is authorized to inspect and enforce permit regulations for activities that result in discharges to the stormwater system. The EPA lists the City's ordinance as a model real-life example ordinance.

The City of Fort Worth operates under a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The permit is held in conjunction with the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). An annual report of activities conducted for this permit is submitted to the TCEQ.

View the most recent report

A Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) is submitted to TCEQ as part of the TPDES permit renewal process. This is a "living" document and is revised yearly by all permittees.

TCEQ Notice of Receipt of Application and Intent (NORI) to Obtain a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Amendment - Permit No. WQ0004350000

The City of Fort Worth (CFW) and Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) have applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to amend Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Permit No. WQ0004350000 (EPA I.D. No TXS000901) to authorize the removal of the phenal test in the dry weather field screening monitoring program and renew the discharges from the municipal separate storm sewer system located within the corporate boundary of the City of Fort Worth, except agricultural lands, in Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Parker and Wise Counties, Texas. The discharge route is from the municipal separate storm sewer system to surface water in the state. TCEQ received this application on Aug. 30, 2022. The permit application is available for viewing and copying at the Fort Worth City Hall Annex, 908 Monroe Street, Fort Worth, Texas.

See NORI Permit Amendment Application below. Available in alternative languages.

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Pollution: Proper Pool Drainage

Environmental Quality Division is available to answer questions regarding the proper drainage of residential swimming pools and spas. For more information on pools, spas and stormwater pollution prevention, or to report illegal discharges, contact our offices at 817-392-1234.

Download guidelines

Texas Stream Team

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The Texas Stream Team is a network of trained volunteers and supportive partners working together to understand and protect Texas waterways. Texas Stream Team is administered through a cooperative partnership between Texas State University, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hundreds of Texas Stream Team volunteers collect water quality data on waterways throughout Texas. The City of Fort Worth is a Partner with the Texas Stream Team Program by supporting local volunteers who perform sampling in Fort Worth.

The only qualification is an interest in protecting Texas’ natural resources! Volunteers complete three phases of training using a test kit that measures physical and chemical parameters in water. Volunteers are asked to monitor their site(s) monthly at the same time of day each month, for a two year commitment. Monitoring takes approximately one to two hours per month per site.

Visit The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment for more information about Texas Stream Team.

If you have questions or for more information, email us at TexasStreamTeam@FortWorthTexas.gov.

Join Texas Stream Team! 
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