In Texas, what facilities are all public water systems required to have?

In Texas, all public water systems are required to have some form of disinfection to ensure the safety and health of the water supply. Disinfection is a critical step in the water treatment process, as it removes or inactivates pathogens that could cause waterborne diseases. The most common method of disinfection in public water systems is chlorination, where chlorine is added to the water to kill harmful microorganisms.

While filtration is an important process in providing clean water, not all public water systems are mandated to have filtration systems. Additionally, softening is not required in all systems, as it is specific to areas with hard water problems and is not a universal requirement. Specifically, chlorination is a method of disinfection that is widely used and forms a key part of the regulatory framework for public health protection in water systems. This is why the emphasis is placed on chlorination as a standard practice in public water systems in Texas.