(a) 
The procedures outlined in this policy are based on the principle of containment of all actual and potential contamination hazards within the customer’s system.
(b) 
A customer may request approval from the city for a proposed deviation from or exception to the standards in this policy. The city may approve a deviation or exception only if it does not involve an increased risk of contamination to the city’s water system.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
Every person provided water service by the city directly or indirectly shall permit the city representative to enter their premises and buildings for the purpose of inspecting pipes and fixtures and the manner in which the water is used to determine compliance with this policy.
(b) 
If a customer refuses to allow access to city representatives for an inspection or a water use survey, the city may either refuse or discontinue the customer’s water service or assume that a high contamination hazard exists, and therefore require the highest degree of protection on the customer’s system.
(c) 
Any temporary or permanent obstruction to safe and easy access to the assembly for the purposes of this policy shall be promptly removed by the water user at the written or verbal request of the city, and shall not be replaced. The costs of clearing such access shall be borne by the user.
(d) 
Any and all costs associated with premises isolation or containment protection shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner, lessee and/or agent.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
All new facilities are required to comply with the requirements of this policy. Compliance by a new city water system customer with the requirements for installation of one or more backflow prevention assemblies will be verified in conjunction with the customer’s application for water service, or with the customer’s building and plumbing permits.
(b) 
The city may require field inspection of the customer’s premises, in addition to plan submittal and review, to determine the actual or potential hazards and backflow prevention assembly requirements.
(c) 
In accordance with TCEQ’s regulations and requirements, the city will require a customer service inspection certification in all of the following:
(1) 
Prior to providing continuous water service to new construction;
(2) 
On any existing service when the city has reason to believe that cross connections or other unacceptable plumbing practices exist; and
(3) 
After any substantial improvement, alteration, correction, or addition to a customer’s system.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
Inspection procedure.
The city may inspect the existing facilities of all city water system customers that do not have a record of backflow prevention assembly installation on file. After the inspection is completed, the city will provide a written notice to the customer advising of the backflow prevention assembly requirements for the customer’s system.
(b) 
Building inspections - plan review.
Plans submitted to the building inspections department for approval of plumbing modifications, or additions to an existing plumbing system, will be reviewed by the city to determine the type of backflow prevention method or assembly required. The method and type of assembly required and location will be noted on the plans.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
Required.
In order to assure that backflow prevention assemblies continue to operate satisfactorily, each customer that is required to use an assembly is required to have periodic testing of the assembly performed in accordance with this policy. All assemblies must be tested at the time of installation, and at the time of any repair or relocation. All tests and repairs must be performed by a certified tester. The tester must complete a test and maintenance report form and submit the form to the city.
(b) 
Testing.
(1) 
The city shall implement a program to provide for city and/or third-party testing of only residential (single-family dwellings) backflow prevention devices on irrigation systems after initial installation by the customer and successful testing of the device has been performed. The cost for this testing shall be as specified in appendix B to Ordinance 2014-20. If the BPAT finds that a backflow prevention device has failed inspection, notification by the city will be made to the customer by letter and will provide the customer with the option of water termination or contacting a plumber for repairs. No repairs or replacements of backflow prevention devices will be performed by the city and/or the contracted BPAT. All repairs, replacements and retesting will be the responsibility of the customer. However, if the city notification is presented at the time of application to obtain the proper permit from the city the permit fee and report processing fee will be waived.
(2) 
This program is for residential customers of single-family dwellings (i.e. nonhealth hazard backflow assemblies installed for irrigation systems) that are directly connected to the city water distribution system.
(c) 
Time schedule.
(1) 
All assemblies must be tested in accordance with the schedule specified in appendix C to Ordinance 2014-20.
(2) 
The city may require devices to be tested at more frequent intervals based upon imminent public health and safety hazards that may exist.
(d) 
Testing by city.
City personnel may perform periodic tests on assemblies at random locations to ensure that acceptable test standards are being followed by certified testers. City personnel may also randomly select and tag assemblies in a manner that will determine if the assemblies have been tested as required.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
No person shall install or maintain a backflow prevention assembly upon or within any city right-of-way except as provided by this section.
(b) 
A backflow prevention assembly required by this policy may be installed upon or within any city right-of-way only if the owner proves to the city that there is no other feasible location for installing the assembly, and installing it in the right-of-way will in no way interfere with the city’s use of the right-of-way. The city retains the right to approve the location, height, depth, enclosure and other requisites of the assembly prior to its installation.
(c) 
Any assembly or portion of an assembly which extends aboveground shall be located no closer than four (4) feet to the back of the curb.
(d) 
A property owner shall, at the request of the city and at the owner’s sole expense, relocate a backflow prevention assembly which encroaches upon any city’s right-of-way when such relocation is necessary for street or utility construction or repairs or for purposes of public safety.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
Unless otherwise stated in this policy, the cost and expense of complying with this policy shall be the responsibility of the property owners, their lessees, or agents. These costs include, but are not limited to, purchasing, installation, testing, repair, replacement and maintenance of the assembly. These costs shall include point-of-use and premises isolation assemblies. Any cost incurred by the city to enforce this policy is the responsibility of the property owners and their lessees.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
Failure, refusal or inability on the part of a customer or user to comply with any provision of this policy will constitute grounds for the city to refuse to provide or to discontinue water service.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a) 
The public works director is hereby authorized to enforce the provision of this policy by any one or more of the enforcement mechanisms set forth in this policy.
(b) 
The inspectors, agents or representatives of the city charged with enforcement of this policy, shall be deemed to be performing a governmental function for the benefit of the general public, and neither the city, nor the individual inspector, agent or representative of the city engaged in inspection, or endorsement activities under this policy, when acting in good faith and without malice, shall ever be held liable for any loss or damage, whether real or asserted, caused, or alleged to have been caused, as a result of the performance of such governmental function.
(c) 
Failure on the part of any customer to discontinue the use of all cross connections, and to physically separate cross connections, is sufficient cause for the immediate discontinuance of public water service to the premises by the city.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)