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                                                                  S.B. No. 1633




AN ACT

relating to the installation and use of a water softener or reverse 
osmosis system by an owner of an on-site sewage disposal system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 366, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 366.013 to read as follows:
	Sec. 366.013.  INSTALLATION AND USE OF WATER SOFTENERS AND 
REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEMS.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection 
(b), an owner may install or use a water softener that discharges 
effluent into an on-site sewage disposal system only if the 
installed water softener:
		(1)  conserves water by design;                                        
		(2)  regenerates using a demand-initiated regeneration 
control device, commonly known as a DIR device; and
		(3)  is clearly labeled as being equipped with a DIR 
device, with the label affixed to the outside of the system so that 
it may be inspected and easily read.
	(b)  An owner may use a water softener that discharges 
effluent into an on-site sewage disposal system and that does not 
meet the requirements of Subsection (a) if the water softener was 
installed before September 1, 2003.  The owner must replace the 
water softener with a water softener that meets the requirements of 
Subsection (a) if the owner:
		(1)  replaces the water softener; or                                   
		(2)  installs a new on-site sewage disposal system for 
the building or other property served by the existing system.
	(c)  An owner may install and use a point-of-use reverse 
osmosis system that discharges effluent into an on-site sewage 
disposal system.
	(d)  An owner may install and use a point-of-entry reverse 
osmosis system that discharges effluent into an on-site sewage 
disposal system if the calculated volume of effluent:
		(1)  does not cause hydraulic overloading; or                          
		(2)  has been adequately addressed in the design of the 
on-site sewage disposal system.
	(e)  This section does not apply to an aerobic, nonstandard, 
or proprietary on-site sewage treatment system unless the water 
softener drain line to the system bypasses the treatment system and 
flows into the pump tank or directly into the discharge method.
	(f)  The commission by rule shall adopt and implement 
standards for the use of water softeners and reverse osmosis 
systems in a building or other property served by an on-site sewage 
disposal system.
	SECTION 2.  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 
shall adopt rules to implement the standards required by Subsection 
(f), Section 366.013, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, 
not later than June 1, 2004.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           

                                                                              




______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1633 passed the Senate on 
May 6, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the 
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2003, by a viva-voce 
vote.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1633 passed the House, with 
amendment, on May 28, 2003, by a non-record vote.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor