Water wells for public use are prohibited within the CCN boundaries of the city except for wells drilled by the city for expansion of the city’s system. Private wells within the CCN boundaries must apply for, be approved for, and receive a permit from the city prior to the construction of such wells. Such wells shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of the permit and may only be used for irrigation or residential use for a single residence. Such wells cannot be cross-connected into the city’s water system except as provided for in the city’s cross-connection ordinance.
(Ordinance 2001-07, sec. I, adopted 8/23/01; Ordinance adopting Code)
Any person, firm or corporation found guilty of the violation of this division shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for each such occurrence. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 1996-4, sec. IV, adopted 6/24/96)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to drill or cause to be drilled on any real property located within the corporate city limits a water well without the owner of said real property, his agents or employees first obtaining a permit authorizing such drilling from the building official of the city.
(Ordinance 1996-4, sec. I, adopted 6/24/96)
(a) 
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to drill a water well within the city shall file an application for permit with the city secretary for review and approval by the building official. The building official shall have five (5) working days to review and approve/disapprove the application. No drilling activities shall commence until a permit to drill has been issued by the building official.
(b) 
The building inspector shall issue a permit for a water well only after the following specifications have been met:
(1) 
A well shall not be used in lieu of an available city or community water system. In the event a property owner desires to drill a well to supplement a city or community water system, that well shall be used for nonhousehold purposes only and shall not be connected to the household water system. Wells for the purpose of air-conditioning and heating systems shall not be permitted. No private well shall be tied onto a city or community water system.
(2) 
No well shall be permitted to be drilled on any lot or tract of land smaller than two (2) acres; the well site shall be more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from any septic sewer system; a sanitary control easement of one hundred fifty (150) feet must be obtained and filed in the deed records of the county clerk’s office. Any variance from this distance requirement must be approved by the state commission on environmental quality and the city council.
(3) 
The minimum depth of the well shall be to the depth of the Paluxy Aquifer.
(4) 
The water well shall be drilled by a state-licensed water well driller, shall meet state commission on environmental quality standards and city ordinances, and shall be drilled in accordance with the state Well Drillers Act.
(5) 
The application shall specify the location of the well; depth and size of hole to be drilled; both the type, diameter and length of inner casing and well screen; both the type, diameter and length of outer steel casing (surface casing); and size and type of sanitary well seal.
(c) 
All applications for water well permits must be accompanied by a copy of a properly executed sanitary control easement of one hundred fifty (150) feet that has been filed in the deed records of the county clerk’s office, along with the appropriate permit fee as set by the city council.
(Ordinance 1996-4, sec. II, adopted 6/24/96; Ordinance 2012-03 adopted 3/22/12)
The well drilling permit shall be affixed to a stake or other suitable marker at the well site. The city building inspector shall inspect all drilling sites to verify the location of the well site and compliance with all of the above specifications. The city building inspector shall approve final acceptance of the water well only after compliance with all requirements and receipt of a copy of the water well report as furnished to the state; a signed statement from the well driller verifying that the driller has pressure cemented the casing, constructed a well foundation, and disinfected the well; and results from bacteriological analysis by a department of state health services approved laboratory on samples taken one per day for three successive days stating there are no coliform organisms present.
(Ordinance 1996-4, sec. III, adopted 6/24/96)
A fee as set forth in the fee schedule provided in appendix A to this code will be charged for each and every well permit. If this fee is not paid in full, a well permit will not be issued.
Editor’s note–The reference in section 13.05.035 to the fees set forth in table C in section 3.01.003 was corrected to the current location of the city’s fee schedule which was established by Ordinance 2012-13 adopted 8/23/12.
(Ordinance 2000-19, sec. I, adopted 12/18/00; Ordinance adopting Code)