(a) 
Water Service Connections.
(1) 
Tap fees.
A tap fee will be charged for the initiation of services, where no service previously existed.
(A) 
An additional fee may be charged to a residential service applicant for a tap expense not normally incurred; for example, a road bore for customers outside of a subdivision or residential area. The charge will be the additional cost actually incurred by the city.
(B) 
The city shall bear the cost of the first 100 feet of any water main or line necessary to extend service to the applicant’s property boundary within an approved subdivision, unless applicant fails to provide necessary facilities, fails to comply with local or state law, or defaults on the terms of a written agreement for the extension of service or other requirements. Developers must comply with city guidelines and seek approval from the city regarding any area within the city to be developed. The customer or developer shall bear all cost of the extension of the water main or line beyond 100 feet and within his/her property boundaries.
(C) 
Provided that water service is requested outside an approved platted and developed subdivision, the city shall bear the cost of the first one hundred feet of any water main necessary to extend service to the extent such can be accomplished through existing public right-of-way. The customer shall bear all cost of the extension of the water main incurred over 100 feet, the cost of any other lines or appurtenances, and all lines and appurtenances within the boundaries of his/her property.
(D) 
Water tap fees are as follows:
Line Size
Residential
Commercial
3/4 inch
$500.00
$600.00
1 inch
$600.00
$700.00
2 inch
$1,000.00
$1,100.00
4" or larger
Actual cost
Actual cost
All tap fees are to be paid in full before the tap is installed.
(2) 
Installation and Service Connections.
(A) 
Service applicants are responsible for providing the city water department with connection requests in writing. An application must be completed and provided to the city and a twenty-four-hour notice given to the public works director. Application for connections shall be made at city hall. Connections will generally be made within three days barring any unforeseen complication. Connections require that someone be at home to insure no leaks are present. Water will not be connected if leaks are detected.
(B) 
A service connection fee (applicable only if meter is already in place) of $25.00 is required for any service connection to be made.
(C) 
A utility deposit of $100.00 for property owners and utility deposit of $200.00 for non-property owners will be required on all new and delinquent applicants. Current customers with a good payment history, as described in section 13.1001(f) of this article are not required to make the deposit for additional installations or service connections
(D) 
All connections shall be made under the supervision of the public works director and no connection shall be covered until said director inspects the work and approves the same.
(E) 
The customer shall be responsible for furnishing and laying the necessary customer service line from the city’s line to the service address.
(F) 
All lines provided by the customer outside of the boundaries of his or her property shall become the property of the city. The customer must procure all necessary easements for the line in favor of the city at his/her sole expense.
(G) 
The customer service line and appurtenances installed by the customer shall be constructed in accordance with the laws and regulations of the state governing plumbing practices, the city’s requirements, the applicable plumbing code, and approved by the city public works director.
(H) 
The customer is responsible to maintain the customer’s service line on his/her property and any appurtenances on his or her property in good operating condition. The lines and appurtenances on the customer’s property shall remain the property of the customer for which the customer retains all obligations of repair and maintenance.
(I) 
The customer may be charged for moving a meter for the convenience of the customer. The customer may be charged should the customer request to replace a meter with a meter of another size or capacity. This includes any necessary line enlargement. The charge will be the actual cost to the city of such work.
(J) 
Each new customer is required to provide at customer expense a “cut off” outside the meter box. When an old line is replaced to an existing customer, the customer is required to include a “cut off” on the customer’s side of the meter.
(K) 
Homes and lots with sprinkler systems are allowed to have a separate meter for operating the sprinkler system. Charges are based on usage.
(L) 
Fences must be placed behind meters in order for city access.
(3) 
Where service is already available to a new or remodeled residential or commercial building. A temporary permit for 60 days may be obtained for water usage at the rate of 1,000 per month at $30.00 per 1,000 gallons. Where a customer is in good standing and has previously paid a service deposit, the deposit for the temporary permit shall be waived. All other customers not meeting these criteria shall pay a deposit of $100.00 for each temporary permit.
(b) 
Sewer Service Connections.
(1) 
Tap Fees.
A tap fee will be charged for initiation of service, where no service previously existed.
(A) 
An additional fee may be charged to a residential service applicant for a tap expense not normally incurred: for example, a road bore for service applicants outside of a subdivision or residential area. The charge will be the additional cost actually incurred by the city.
(B) 
The city shall bear the cost of the first 100 feet of any sewer main or lateral necessary to extend service to an applicant within an approved subdivision, unless applicant fails to provide necessary facilities, fails to comply with local or state law, or defaults on the terms of a written agreement for the extension of service or other requirements. Developers must comply with city guidelines and seek approval from the city regarding any area within the city to be developed. The customer or developer shall pay the cost of any sewer main or lateral extension beyond 100 feet or on his/her property.
(C) 
Provided that sewer service is requested outside an approved platted and developed subdivision, the city shall bear the cost of the first one hundred feet of sewer main or lateral necessary to extend service to the boundary of the customer’s property where such can be accomplished within existing public right-of-way. The customer shall bear all cost incurred for extension of the sewer main or lateral beyond 100 feet and on his/her property.
(D) 
Sewer tap fees are as Follows.
Line Size
Residential
Commercial
4 inches
$525.00
$625.00
6 inch
$675.00
$775.00
8" or larger
Actual cost
Actual cost
(E) 
The tap fee is to be paid in full before the tap is installed.
(F) 
Each initial service address requiring a sewer tap must have a sewer clean out on private property with the first clean out located just outside the home and every 80 feet thereafter. Replacement of a customer’s old existing sewer line must include a sewer clean out on private property with the first one located just outside the home and then one every 80 feet thereafter.
(G) 
The customer shall be responsible for furnishing and laying the necessary customer service line from the city’s line to the service address. The customer service line and appurtenances installed by the customer shall be constructed in accordance with the laws and regulations of the state governing plumbing practices, the city’s requirements, the applicable plumbing code, and approved by the city public works director.
(H) 
All service lines provided by the customer outside of the boundaries of his/her property shall become the property of the city. The customer must procure all necessary easements in favor of the city for the line at his/her sole expense to the extent the line cannot be laid in public right-of-way. The lines and appurtenances on the customer’s property shall remain his/her property for which the customer retains all obligations of repair and maintenance.
(I) 
Customers that are having sewer problems such as a backed-up line should notify the staff at city hall. The city will investigate and advise the customer to call a plumber if it is determined that the cause of the backup is the customer’s responsibility.
(c) 
(1) 
The city reserves the right to decline to extend or provide water or sewer service to any applicant if the city is without adequate capacity to provide such service, or if such customer is located outside the corporate limits of the city and is not similarly situated to other customers located outside of the city due to topographical differences, greater distance, significantly greater peak demand, significantly different levels of use, or other reasons that would jeopardize the city’s ability to provide adequate, continuous service to all of its customers.
(2) 
Sewer Cleanout Installation.
Customers who request and do not have a sewer cleanout at their connection to the city’s sewer main are responsible to pay the fees established by the board of aldermen prior to a sewer cleanout to be installed by the city.
(Ordinance 2019-08-19-G adopted 8/19/19)
(a) 
Scope.
This section applies to all water service customers within the city where water service or the associated plumbing has been altered or newly installed, where the possibility of unprotected cross connections may exist, or where an existing backflow prevention assembly is installed.
(b) 
Purpose.
The purpose of this section is:
(1) 
To protect the public water supply of the city from cross contamination or pollution by separating potential contaminants from flowing into the public water supply systems;
(2) 
To prevent unprotected cross connections by ensuring that all potential sources of contamination shall be separated from the public water supply system by an air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention device;
(3) 
To establish backflow prevention and customer service inspection program which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of the city’s potable water supply system; and
(4) 
To follow the guidelines set forth in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems.
(c) 
Authority.
The city, and all designated representatives, will be considered the authority having jurisdiction. The public works department of the city is authorized to make all necessary and reasonable rules and policies consistent with respect to the enforcement of this section.
(d) 
Definitions.
Altered.
Any material improvement, relocation of or addition to the water supply system which does not include replacement of fixtures.
Backflow.
Any unwanted flow of used, nonpotable water or chemical substance from any piping system into the public water supply system.
Backpressure.
Any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system (by pump, elevation of piping, or steam and/or air pressure) above the supply pressure at the point of consideration which would cause, or tend to cause, a reversal of the normal direction of flow.
Back-Siphonage.
A form of backflow due to a reduction in system pressure which causes a subatmospheric pressure to exist at a site in the water system.
Cross Connection.
Any unprotected water supply connection, actual or potential, between the water supply system and any other source through which it is possible to introduce any used water, or chemical substance into the public water supply system; by-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross connections.
Health Hazard.
A potential contamination hazard involving any substance that may cause death, illness, or spread of disease if introduced into the public water supply.
Nonhealth Hazard.
A potential contamination hazard involving any substance that constitutes a nuisance, or may be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the public water supply.
Nonresidential.
Includes all properties except one-and two-family dwellings.
Potential Source.
Includes but is not limited to any lavatory, sink, or vessel which could provide the potential for back pressure and/or back-siphonage to occur thereby contaminating the potable water supply system.
Residential.
Includes only one-and two-family dwellings.
Water Purveyor.
The operator, herein referred to as the city, of the public water system which supplies potable water to the public.
(e) 
Backflow Prevention Program.
(1) 
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 state regulations for public water systems and this section. The water purveyor shall discontinue water service if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained, and tested in accordance with state regulations and this section.
(2) 
All types of backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed according to the hazards table inset below.
(A) 
Table 1 reflects types of uses of a premises, their corresponding hazard classification and recommended backflow assemblies.
(B) 
Table 2 reflects different types of internal cross connections, their corresponding hazard classifications and recommended backflow assemblies.
Table 1
The following table lists many common hazards. It is not an all-inclusive list of the hazards which may be found connected to public water systems.
Premises Isolation - Description of Premises
Assessment of Hazard Required Assembly
Aircraft and other missile plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Animal feedlots
Health
RPBA or AG
Automotive plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Breweries
Health
RPBA or AG
Canneries, packing houses and rendering plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Commercial carwash facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Commercial laundries
Health
RPBA or AG
Cold storage facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Connection to sewer pipe
Health
AG
Dairies
Health
RPBA or AG
Docks and dockside facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Dye works
Health
RPBA or AG
Food and beverage processing plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Hospitals, morgues, mortuaries, medical clinics, dental clinics, veterinary clinics, autopsy facilities, sanitariums, and medical labs
Health
RPBA or AG
Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing, and fabrication plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Microchip fabrication facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Paper and paper products plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Petroleum processing or storage facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Photo and film processing labs
Health
RPBA or AG
Plants using radioactive material
Health
RPBA or AG
Plating or chemical plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Pleasure-boat marinas
Health
RPBA or AG
Private/individual/unmonitored wells
Health
RPBA or AG
Reclaimed water systems
Health
RPBA or AG
Restricted, classified or other closed facilities
Health
RPBA or AG
Rubber plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Sewage lift stations
Health
RPBA or AG
Sewage treatment plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Slaughter houses
Health
RPBA or AG
Steam plants
Health
RPBA or AG
Tall buildings or elevation differences where the highest outlet is 80 feet or more above the meter
Nonhealth
DCVA
Table 2
The following table lists many common hazards. It is not an all-inclusive list of the hazards which may be found connected to internal piping connected to public water systems.
Internal Protection - Description of Cross Connection
Assessment of Hazard Required Assembly
Aspirators
Nonhealth*
AVB
Aspirator (medical)
Health
AVB or PVB
Autoclaves
Health
RPBA
Autopsy and mortuary equipment
Health
AVB or PVB
Bedpan washers
Health
AVB or PVB
Connection to industrial fluid systems
Health
RPBA
Connection to plating tanks
Health
RPBA
Connection to salt-water cooling systems
Health
RPBA
Connection to sewer pipe
Health
AG
Cooling towers with chemical additives
Health
AG
Cuspidors
Health
AVB or PVB
Degreasing equipment
Nonhealth*
DCVA
Domestic space-heating boiler
Nonhealth*
RPBA
Dye vats or machines
Health
RPBA
Firefighting system (toxic liquid foam concentrates)
Health
RPBA
Flexible shower heads
Nonhealth*
AVB or PVB
Heating equipment
 
 
Commercial
Nonhealth*
RPBA
Domestic
Nonhealth*
DCVA
Hose bibbs
Nonhealth*
AVB
Irrigation systems
 
 
With chemical additives
Health
RPBA
Without chemical additives
Nonhealth*
DCVA, AVB, or PVB
Kitchen equipment - commercial
Nonhealth*
AVB
Lab bench equipment
Health or Nonhealth*
AVB or PVB
Ornamental fountains
Health
AVB or PVB
Swimming pools
 
 
Private
Nonhealth*
PVB or AG
Public
Nonhealth*
RPBA or AG
Sewage pump
Health
AG
Sewage ejectors
Health
AG
Shampoo basins
Nonhealth*
AVB
Specimen tanks
Health
AVB or PVB
Steam generators
Nonhealth*
RPBA
Steam tables
Nonhealth*
AVB
Sterilizers
Health
RPBA
Tank vats or other vessels containing toxic substances
Health
RPBA
Trap primers
Health
AG
Vending machines
Nonhealth*
RPBA or PVB
Watering troughs
Health
AG or PVB
NOTE: AG = air gap; AVB = atmospheric vacuum breaker; DCVA = double check valve backflow prevention assembly; PVB = pressure vacuum breaker; RPBA = reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
+AVBs and PVBs may be used to isolate health hazards under certain conditions, that is, back-siphonage situations. Additional area of premises may be required.
*Where a greater hazard exists (due to toxicity or other potential health impact) additional area protection with RPBA is required.
(f) 
Assembly Testing and Maintenance, Annual Testing.
(1) 
All backflow prevention assemblies, independent of the hazard identified, shall be tested upon installation by a certified 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 annually and certified to be operating within specifications. The city public works department will provide written notification to the property owners 30 days in advance stating when the annual test of their backflow prevention assembly is required. Results of all testing must be forwarded to the city public works department by the date of expiration. Failure to receive notification does not relieve property owners of the responsibility of annual testing for each assembly.
(2) 
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 14, current edition) or the University of Southern California Manual of Cross Connection Control (current edition), and the regulations set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
(3) 
Assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the water 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 public works department within five (5) business days of the test, repair or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(4) 
All existing backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet current state regulations but were approved devices at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, may, except for the testing and maintenance requirements under Subsections (f)(1), (f)(2) and (f)(3) above, continue in use until the assembly cannot meet all minimum annual testing performance standards. The city public works department may require the assembly be replaced in the event that it is determined that the continued use of the assembly constitutes a health hazard.
(5) 
No backflow prevention assembly or device shall be removed from use, relocated, or other assembly or device substituted without the approval of, or a permit from, the city public works department. 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, and which has been tested as herein required.
(6) 
Gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be calibrated at least annually. The original calibration form shall be submitted to the city public works department within five (5) business days after calibration.
(g) 
Responsibility.
It shall be the responsibility of the water customer where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have a field test performed and repairs completed (if necessary) by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester. Tests and repairs shall be at the expense of the water user.
(h) 
Customer Service Inspections Program - Required.
A customer service inspection report 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, alteration, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.
(i) 
Authority to Perform Required Customer Service Inspections.
(1) 
State board of plumbing examiners certified plumbing inspectors and licensed plumbers with the water supply protection specialist endorsement may perform customer service inspections.
(2) 
Certified waterworks operators and members of other water-related professional groups who have completed a training course, passed an examination administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its designated agent, and hold a current endorsement issued by the commission may perform customer service inspections.
(j) 
Completion of Required Customer Service Inspections.
All required customer service inspections associated with a plumbing permit shall be included in the plumbing final inspection by the city’s designated plumbing inspector. All additional customer service inspections will be the responsibility of the property owner.
(k) 
Minimum Standards of a Required Customer Service Inspection.
The required customer service inspection must certify that:
(1) 
No direct connection between the public water supply and a potential source of contamination exists, and that potential sources of contamination are isolated from the public water supply by a properly installed air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly.
(2) 
No cross connection between the public drinking water supply and a private water system exists, and where an actual 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 certified backflow prevention assembly tester.
(3) 
No connection exists which would allow the return of water used for condensing, cooling or industrial processes back to the public water supply.
(4) 
For all newly constructed systems and for any portion of an existing system at or within view from a backflow prevention device or work of any type performed on said existing system, the following statements are required:
(A) 
Lead tests have been performed as required, and no pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8.0% lead has been used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection which provides water for human use; and
(B) 
Lead tests have been performed as required, and no solder or flux which contains more than 0.2% lead has been used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection which provides water for human use.
(l) 
Authority Having Jurisdiction, Enforcement.
The City of Teague Public Works Department and public works department [sics] shall have the responsibility for maintenance of the backflow prevention and customer service inspections program, and for enforcement of this section. All customers shall have until July 1, 2018 to come into compliance with the use of backflow preventers and to have their inspections done and reports submitted to the public works department.
(m) 
Authority to Disconnect Service.
If a person violates this section, the city public works department shall, upon due notice to the water customer, be authorized to discontinue water service to the premises where such violation(s) occurred.
(n) 
Reconnection.
Upon request to open or reinstitute water service at a location previously discontinued due to violation(s) of this section, proof of a current customer service inspection as described in Subsections (i), (j) and (k) above shall be provided. Services disconnected under such circumstances shall be restored only upon receipt of the inspection report indicating that the previous violation(s) have been remedied and received payment of a reconnection charge, consistent with the fee and charge schedule, and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the city that the same violation shall not be repeated while this section is in effect. Compliance with this article may also be sought through injunctive relief.
(o) 
Penalty.
Notwithstanding Section 1.109 of this code, any person who shall intentionally, knowingly or with criminal negligence violate any provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $150.00 for the first offense, in an amount not to exceed $300.00 for the second offense, and in an amount not to exceed $500.00 for the third and subsequent offenses.
(Ordinance 2018-05-15 adopted 5/15/18)