No water service connection shall be made to any establishment
where a potential or actual contamination hazard exists unless the
water supply is protected in accordance with the state commission
on environmental quality (TCEQ) rules and regulations for public water
systems (290 Rules) and this article. The water purveyor shall discontinue
water service if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed,
maintained and tested in accordance with the 290 Rules and this article.
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
(a)
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation
by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to
be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies
which are installed to provide protection against health hazards must
also be tested and certified to be operating within specifications
at least annually by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester.
(b)
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and tested
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the American
Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow
Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14) or the University
of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control.
(c)
Assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense
of the customer whenever said assemblies are found to be defective.
Original forms of such test, repairs, and overhaul shall be kept and
submitted to the city within five (5) working days of the test, repair
or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(d)
No backflow prevention assembly or device shall be removed from use,
relocated, or other assembly or device substituted without the approval
of the city. Whenever the existing assembly or device is moved from
the present location or cannot be repaired, the backflow assembly
or device shall be replaced with a backflow prevention assembly or
device that complies with this section, the American Water Works Association’s
Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection
Control (Manual M14), current edition, the University of Southern
California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current edition, or
the current plumbing code of the city, whichever is more stringent.
(e)
Test gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be
tested shall be tested [sic] for accuracy at least annually in accordance
with the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice
for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14),
current edition, or the University of Southern California Manual of
Cross-Connection Control, current edition. The original gauge accuracy
test form must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days
after the gauge has been tested for accuracy.
(f)
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current
license from the state commission on environmental quality (commission).
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
(a)
The customer shall allow his property to be inspected for possible
cross-connections and other potential contamination hazards. These
inspections shall be conducted by the water system or its designated
agent prior to initiating new water service, when there is reason
to believe that cross-connections or other potential contamination
hazards exist, or after any major changes to the private water distribution
facilities. The inspections shall be conducted during the water system’s
normal business hours.
(b)
A customer service inspection shall be completed prior to providing
continuous water service to all new construction, on any existing
service when the water purveyor has reason to believe that cross-connections
or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement,
correction, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.
(c)
Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized
as capable of conducting a customer service inspection:
(d)
The customer service inspection must certify that:
(1)
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and
potential sources of contamination [exists. The potential source of
contamination] shall be isolated from the public water system by a
properly installed air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly.
(2)
No cross-connection between the public water supply and a private
water source exists. Where an actual properly installed air gap is
not maintained between the public water supply and a private water
supply, an approved reduced pressure-zone backflow prevention assembly
is properly installed and a service agreement exists for annual inspection
and testing by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester.
(3)
No connection exists which allows water to be returned to the public
drinking water supply is permitted [sic].
(4)
No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8% lead may be used
for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that
provides water for human use.
(5)
No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2% lead can be used
for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that
provides water for human use. A minimum of one lead test shall be
performed for each inspection.
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
(a)
With the installation of backflow prevention assemblies at the service
connection a “closed system” is created. This closed system
could result in injury to the water system customer or damage to the
customer’s property if adequate safety measures, such as the
installation of thermal expansion tanks, are not implemented.
(b)
Thermal expansion may cause damage ranging from leaking faucets to
a ruptured water heater if the condition is not addressed.
(c)
The city shall provide customers with information regarding thermal
expansion when the city requires a backflow prevention assembly to
be installed at the customer’s service connection. The city
shall not accept any liability resulting from thermal expansion at
a customer’s property.
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
(a)
An approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DCVA)
or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RPBA)
shall be the minimum protection for fire hydrant water meters which
are being used for a temporary water supply during any construction
or other uses which would pose a potential hazard to the public water
supply.
(b)
An RPBA must be installed if any solution other than potable water
can be introduced into the system.
(c)
It is the responsibility of all persons engaging in the use and rental
of a fire hydrant water meter to abide by the conditions of this article.
All fire hydrant meter rentals shall meet the current requirements
as provided for by the city.
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
Violations of this article shall be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provisions in section 1.01.009 of this code. Provided, however that no penalty shall be greater or less than the penalty provided for the same or similar offense under the laws of this state or of the United States. Each day that one or more of the provisions in this article is violated shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to the penalty prescribed in section 1.01.009, if a person is convicted of one or more distinct violations of this article, the city shall, upon due notice to the customer, be authorized to discontinue water service to the premises where such violations occur. Services discontinued under such circumstances shall be restored only upon payment of a reconnection charge, set by the city resolution establishing rates, and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the city that the same action shall not be repeated while this article is in effect. Compliance with this article may also be sought through injunctive relief in the district court.
(Ordinance 2010-09-478 adopted 9/13/10)
