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Liquid Waste Hauler Program

Austin Water regulates all liquid waste haulers operating within the City of Austin's jurisdiction under City Code Chapter 15-5. Regulated wastes include sewage, water and wastewater treatment plant sludge and wastes from septic tanks, grease traps, grit traps and portable toilets. Austin Water also operates an approved receiving station for certain types of hauled liquid waste. Proper management and disposal of these wastes is essential to protecting public health, safety and the environment.

For more information, contact the Austin Water Utility Compliance Services Division:

Glen Bell Service Center
3907 South Industrial Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744

Phone: 512-972-1090
Fax: 512-972-1260
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Email: awlwh@austintexas.gov

Permitting Requirements

Before collecting, transporting or disposing of hauled liquid waste from any generator within the City's jurisdiction, a hauler must obtain a permit and have each vehicle pass an inspection by Austin Water's Utility Compliance Services Division. Generators within the City's jurisdiction must use a liquid waste hauler with a valid City of Austin permit.

To obtain a permit, haulers must first register with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). New and existing haulers must submit the application form listed in the Forms section. Existing permit holders may add vehicles, drivers or updated vehicle identification information by submitting the corresponding forms. Applicable permit, inspection and re-inspection fees are due with application submission.

Vehicle Inspections

Austin Water inspects each vehicle's condition and verifies all inspections are current before authorizing discharge at the receiving station. Inspections must be scheduled in advance through the Utility Compliance Services Division.

Single-vehicle haulers: inspections are held at the division office, 3907 South Industrial Drive, Austin, TX 78744
Multi-vehicle haulers: inspections are held on the 4000 block of Commercial Center Drive, approximately a quarter mile from the division office

Vehicles that fail an inspection must make all required corrections and contact the division to schedule a reinspection. See the sample inspection form (PDF) and vehicle inspection checklist (PDF) for reference.

Manifest Forms

All hauled liquid waste collected within the City's jurisdiction must be manifested using the City's manifest forms (PDF). In 2020, these forms were revised to improve compliance tracking of grease trap waste under the Austin City Code's minimum cleaning frequency rules. The revised form also includes an expanded list of waste types, including an option for "wastewater from a mobile food vendor."

These changes are described in the Transition to New Forms Letter (PDF) sent to all permitted haulers on July 10, 2020. See the Manifest and Trip Ticket Usage Instructions (PDF) for step-by-step guidance on completing, delivering and maintaining records for each load.

The manifest form requires the Pollution Control Device ID for all grease trap waste loads removed from generators within the City's jurisdiction. The following tools can help locate those IDs. If an ID has not yet been assigned, check the "unknown" box on the form:

Each manifest form has an original and four attached copies, with specific delivery and record-keeping requirements for the generator, transporter and disposal facility. Trip ticket entries must be complete and legible. All transfers of waste between vehicles must be documented as described in the instructions. See the example set of transfer manifests (PDF) for reference.

Manifest Book Purchases and Returns

Manifest books are sold by Austin Water and can be purchased by credit card, check or money order. See current rates and fees for pricing. To purchase, call the Utility Compliance Services Division at 512-972-1090 or email awlwh@austintexas.gov.

Payment can be made by phone at 512-972-0009 or in person at the Austin Water Cashier's Office, 625 E. 10th St., Suite 200. The Cashier's Office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.–noon and 1–2 p.m. Voicemails left Tuesday or Thursday will be returned the following business day.

Manifest books can be picked up at the division office at 3907 South Industrial Drive or shipped directly to you. To receive books by mail, provide the division with an envelope and a prepaid mailing label. The division does not cover mailing costs. Indicate how many books are needed if not pre-ordered.

Each manifest book contains 25 trip tickets and must be returned to Austin Water within 30 days after all tickets have been used. Completed books can be mailed or dropped off at the division office. A drop-off box at the front entrance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Disposal Fee Collection

Haulers must pay disposal fees before discharging any liquid waste at the City's approved receiving station. Austin Water establishes accounts that cover an entire fleet, with disposal fees drawn per load based on 100% of the truck's discharge capacity. No disposal account can be activated until all required permits have been obtained.

To purchase disposal credits, call the Utility Compliance Services Division at 512-972-1090. Payment can be made by phone at 512-972-0009 or in person at the Cashier's Office (hours above).

Receiving Station

The City's approved receiving station is located at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, 7113 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (FM 969). The facility accepts septic tank waste, portable toilet waste and waste-activated sludge from residential wastewater treatment plants (pre-approval required).

Hours:

Monday–Friday: 6:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m.–2:45 p.m.
Closed Sundays and City holidays

See the Receiving Station Disposal Instructions (PDF) for required discharge procedures.

Any permitted hauler may request an extension of receiving station hours. Requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. If approved, all applicable fees must be paid before additional hours are scheduled. See step-by-step after-hours request instructions (PDF) and applicable rates and fees.

Waste from Wastewater Treatment Plants

Austin Water accepts waste sludge from area wastewater treatment plants that meet the City's acceptance criteria. These criteria are designed to prevent incompatible waste from interfering with the City's treatment operations.

Treatment plants wishing to discharge at the receiving station must complete the Application for Disposing of Wastewater Treatment Plant Waste (PDF), which describes the acceptance standards and monitoring requirements. The self-monitoring report included as an attachment must also be completed. An acceptance or denial letter will be issued based on the report's completeness, the type of waste and the analytical results.

Austin Water's Pretreatment Program periodically requires treatment plant owners to provide additional information to support authorization or reauthorization for discharge. New plants are subject to the same requirements. Contact the Pretreatment Program at 512-972-1090 or awlwh@austintexas.gov for more information.

Forms