For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall
apply, unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different
meaning:
The city’s potable water system.
The city’s complex of facilities, installations, methods,
and procedures designed to receive, store, maintain, distribute, and
control the flow of a liquid or gas material between the point of
receipt into the city’s system and the point of issue to end
users.
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water
to a tank, fixture, receptor, sink, or other assembly and the flood
level rim of the receptacle. The vertical, physical separation must
be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, but never
less than 1.0 in.
Any water supply other than the approved water supply source,
including water from another public water supply or from a natural
source including, but not limited to, wells, cisterns, springs, rivers,
streams, used waters, or industrial fluids.
The reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other
liquids, gases or other substances into the distribution pipes of
a potable water supply from any sources other than the approved water
supply source.
An assembly which, when properly installed between the approved
distribution system and at or near the point where the supply source
enters the premises. For the purposes of this article the only approved
assembly shall be a reduced pressure backflow assembly (“RPBA”).
An individual licensed in accordance with Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) rules, as amended, for
the pumose of testing backflow prevention assemblies.
The City of Celina, Texas and its duly authorized representatives.
A registered professional engineer in the state or a consulting
engineer providing authorized services to the city.
An impairment of the quality of the approved distribution
system or a private auxiliary water supply by the introduction or
admission of any foreign substance that degrades the quality and which
creates an actual or potential hazard to the public health through
poisoning or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids,
or waste.
A point in the plumbing system where the approved distribution
system is connected directly, or has the potential of being connected,
to an outside source or substance that is not part of the approved
distribution system. This connection may be temporary or permanent,
potential or actual, indirect or direct.
Person or other designated authority charged with the administration
and enforcement of this article.
A well providing potable water or other material directly
to a premises.
A well or water system which had been installed prior to
the effective date of this article.
A cross connection, potential contamination hazard, or other
situation involving any substance that can cause death, illness, and
spread of disease or has a probability of causing such effects if
introduced into the approved distribution system.
A water supply, which has not been approved, for human consumption
by a regulating person.
Work performed on a well that is not considered routine maintenance.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
A physical break or means of division between an approved
distribution system and a private distribution system, with the minimum
distance between systems being 12 inches. This pertains to any liquid
or gas well and distribution system.
Any person hired by the city for the purpose of inspecting
work and installation in connection with health and safety laws as
provided in, or referred to in this article. Such person shall have
a valid licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
in accordance with the Texas Plumbing License Law (Texas Occupation
Code section 1301.001 et seq., as it exists or may be amended).
A water supply, which has been approved for human consumption
by a regulating person.
Any property real, improved or personal that is connected
to the approved distribution system.
The practice of protecting the approved distribution system
by installing a backflow prevention assembly at or near the point
where liquid or gas enters the premises.
A pipe which carries wastewater, stormwater or surface water
and groundwater controlled by the city.
An assembly containing two independently acting approved
check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically
independent pressure differential relief valve located between the
check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The
unit includes properly located resilient-seated test cocks and two
tightly-closing resilient-seated shutoff valves at each end of the
assembly.
A watertight receptacle which receives the discharge of a
drainage system or part thereof, which is designed and constructed
so as to separate solids from the liquid, digest organic matter through
a period of detention, and allow the liquids to discharge into the
soil outside of the tank through a drain field, disposal or perforated
piping.
The terminal end of a service connection from the approved
distribution system (i.e., where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
customer’s water system). If a meter is installed at the end
of the service connection, then the service connection shall mean
the downstream end of the meter.
Incomplete or inaccurate backflow prevention assembly test
results or reports filed with the city pursuant to this article, use
of inaccurate gauges; or the use of improper operational certification
methods.
A water-distribution pipe for public or community use.
The operator of a potable water system supplying at least
15 service connections or servicing at least 25 individuals at least
60 days out of the year.
Bored wells, dug wells and drilled wells developed into the
underground soils, which are used to extract a solid, liquid or gas
from the underground soils. Wells are prohibited unless approved under
the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
Construction of wells shall be performed only by an insured
and bonded company holding a valid well drillers license issued by
the state. The license number shall be displayed during construction
at the site of the work. The number shall be clearly readable from
the nearest traveled public roadway. Well drillers must hold a current
contractor registration with the city and be in good standing. In
addition, the approved permit issued by the city shall be displayed
during construction at the site of the work and remain on site until
a final inspection is obtained.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
(a)
When permit required.
It shall be unlawful to construct
a well or to overhaul a well without first securing a well permit.
(b)
When permit not required.
Permits are not required for
routine maintenance of preexisting wells, as determined by the city
engineer or director of public works or his or her designee. It is
the well driller’s responsibility to notify the city engineer
or director of public works or his or her designee of routine maintenance
so a determination may be made on whether or not a permit is required.
(c)
Permits not transferable.
Each permit issued under this
article shall be personal to the permittee. No such permit shall be
assigned or transferred to another person, and no person shall permit
another person to obtain a permit in his or her name or permit any
new well construction or overhaul work to be performed under his/her
permit other than a person authorized to do the same.
(d)
False statement or bad faith.
Any person who shall willfully
make any false statement in order to obtain a permit shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and subject to the penalty provided herein. Bad faith
or unreasonable delay in the performance of work under this article
shall be deemed a sufficient reason for suspension of the permit of
the well driller so offending and no further permit shall be issued
until such act of bad faith or unreasonable delay has been corrected.
Well drillers in violation of any ordinance governing contractor registration
requirements may be suspended or have their registration revoked.
(e)
Issuance of permit.
The building official or his or
her designated representative, shall issue all permits in accordance
with the provisions and requirements of this article. Incomplete applications
shall be rejected or denied. All applications for permits shall be
on the approved application form and provide the following information:
(1)
Company name, address and telephone number of the well driller;
(2)
Well drillers license number and the city assigned contractor registration
number;
(3)
Name, address, legal description and telephone number of property
owner;
(4)
Company name and the city-assigned contractor registration number
of electrical contractor;
(5)
Company name and the city-assigned contractor registration number
of plumbing contractor;
(6)
Company name and the city-assigned contractor registration number
of irrigation contractor (if applicable);
(7)
Company name and the city-assigned contractor registration number
of backflow prevention assembly tester;
(8)
Plan, specifications, manufacturer’s cut sheets and diagrams
in sufficient detail to allow the reviewing person to determine whether
a proposed well meets the minimum standards as determined by this
article and all other local, state and federal regulating agencies;
(9)
A plan of the property that shows the location of the proposed well,
all buildings, septic tanks, drain fields and other significant structures.
The plan shall also show the location of structures and adjacent property
if within ten (10) feet of the property line;
(10)
Detailed description of what the well will be used for;
(11)
Any other information deemed necessary by the city.
(f)
Duration of permits.
Every permit issued under the provisions
of this article shall expire ninety (90) days after the date issued.
In every case where a permit is expired, a new permit shall be obtained
before any work is resumed.
(g)
Inspections and tests.
(1)
The city engineer or director of public works or their designees
shall have the right, at any time, to enter the property for the purpose
to inspect a well and ensure compliance with this article. In addition,
the city engineer or director of public works or their designees shall
have the right to enter the property at any time in the future for
the purpose of inspection to ensure that there are no cross connections.
Reasonable notice will be given to the property owner prior to entrance
of the property.
(2)
A 120v ground fault circuit interrupting (“GFCI”) receptacle
shall be installed immediately adjacent to the well equipment to allow
for maintenance work on the equipment or the use of a freeze protection
device.
(3)
When applicable, the following inspections shall be required on all
wells drilled within the city or its ETJ:
(A)
Plumbing rough.
To verify initial connections
to the well and distribution system(s);
(B)
Plumbing final.
To verify the required physical
separation of the private system from the approved distribution system,
as well as the completed connections to the well and private distribution
system(s);
(C)
Electrical underground (EUG).
To verify trench
depth and proper wire is used (size and type);
(D)
Electrical final.
To verify disconnects are installed
and appropriate panel box in place (weather tight);
(E)
Upon completion of the well, the well driller shall furnish the city
engineer, public works director or his/her designee with a copy of
the driller’s report and a copy of the water analysis. Any well
that is not completed shall be sealed and considered a plugged or
an abandoned well in accordance with rules, regulations and statues
of the state;
(F)
A backflow assembly test report, on a city approved form, shall be
submitted annually, within twelve months, from the last test. Only
a state licensed, city registered, backflow prevention assembly tester
(BPAT), shall perform the test.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
(a)
Casing.
A casing of steel or other approved material
shall be provided to prevent caving of the formations penetrated and
also to ensure protection of the liquid or gas supply from contamination
by material from shallow strata. The wall shall be cased from the
bottom of the drilled hole to twenty four (24) inches above the finish
grade or more if required to keep surface water from entering casing.
The well casing shall be cemented in place and sealed to protect the
underground water formation from potential contamination resulting
from surface water or individual waste disposal systems (i.e. septic
tanks).
(b)
Well seal.
The annular space between the drilled hole
and the well casing shall be sealed with concrete or grout for a depth
of at least ten (10) feet above the liquid or gas producing formation.
The casing shall be covered at the ground with a concrete slab no
less than twenty-four (24) inches by twenty-four (24) inches by twelve
(12) inches. The top of the slab shall protrude six (6) inches above
finished grade and shall be sloped away from the casing. The top of
the casing shall be provided with a suitable well seal to prevent
contamination of the well. If a vent is provided on the casing, it
shall be equipped with an elbow turned downward and screened with
a 16-mesh screen.
(c)
Disinfection of wells and equipment.
Upon completion
of the well, but before it is placed into service, the well and equipment
shall be disinfected by the use of chlorine (powdered, tablet or solution).
(d)
Water samples.
After the chlorine has been flushed,
a sample of water shall be analyzed for purity. If used for human
consumption, the well shall not be placed into service until the water
has been tested and found to be suitable for human consumption.
(e)
Abandonment of wells.
Permanently abandoned wells shall
be filled with cement grout or concrete. Abandoned wells shall not
be used for the disposal of wastewater, septic tank effluent or other
wastes.
(f)
Screening.
The substance bearing formation shall be
screened to control, among other similar conditions, the flow or production
of sands and formation materials.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
The regulations of the TDLR and the Texas Water Well Drillers
Act, as existing or as may be amended and as they pertain to the construction
of wells, shall be and are hereby incorporated into this article and
must be strictly complied with.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
No well shall be used to supply any liquid or gas to a premises
when that premises has direct connection to the city’s approved
distribution system.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
Any irrigation water well must be constructed in accordance
with the provisions of this article. No irrigation water well shall
be used for domestic (potable water) use. No irrigation water well
shall be shared without complying with the following requirements:
(1)
The owner of an existing water well, or proposed water well, shall
furnish a notarized letter to the city that includes their name, address
and legal description of the property. The letter shall include the
names, addresses and legal descriptions of all properties wishing
to tie on to the well. The letter shall state that the owner and all
affected properties acknowledge and understand the well is for irrigation
use only and not domestic (potable water) use.
(2)
All properties currently tied or wishing to tie on to an existing
or proposed well shall:
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
Wells shall be constructed no closer to property lines or significant
structures as defined below:
(1)
Front, rear and side yard setbacks as defined by the final plat or
current zoning district for the subject property;
(2)
Primary buildings: ten (10) feet;
(3)
Power lines: thirty (30) feet;
(4)
Septic tanks and drain fields: one hundred fifty (150) feet;
(5)
Septic tanks and drain fields: fifty (50) feet, if well is cement
encased;
(6)
Septic spray heads/soil absorption area: eighty (80) feet;
(7)
Barns and animal pens: one hundred, fifty (150) feet;
(8)
Permanent derricks and towers: no closer than forty (40) feet to
side property lines.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
The city is required to charge for water discharges into the
public sewer on the basis of actual quantity of water discharged.
The method of determining this quantity is based on the water meter
readings; therefore the following shall apply:
(1)
Wells used only for yard or irrigation watering and other uses not
connected with the sanitary sewer: No change in sewer charges is required.
(2)
Wells used in such a manner that all or a portion of the well water
enters the public sewer: A city-approved meter must be installed and
accessible to meter readers. Sewer charge shall be based on the current
approved rate structure.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
There shall also be a complete physical separation of at least
twelve (12) inches between the approved distribution system and any
private system.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
There shall be no debris, dirty water, mud or any other refuse
dumped and/or discharged onto public rights-of-way. The drilling operation
of any well shall control and dispose of, among other things, all
drilling, cuttings, mud and water so as not to create a mud pit or
disposal operation at the well site.
(Ordinance 2011-05 adopted 1/10/11)
