There is hereby adopted, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing installation, alteration, repair, and replacement of plumbing, piping, fittings, fixtures, and equipment which may be connected to the water and sewer system in the city, that certain code known as the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition.
(Ordinance 1607 adopted 4/19/16)
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 rules and regulations for public water systems (TCEQ Rules) and this part. The water purveyor shall discontinue water service if a required backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained and tested in accordance with the TCEQ rules and this part.
(Ordinance 0901, sec. 1(A), adopted 1/17/09)
(a) 
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation by a recognized 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), current addition, University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition, or the current plumbing code, whichever is more stringent.
(e) 
Test gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be calibrated at least annually in accordance with The American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14), current addition, or The University of Southern California’s Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition. The original calibration form must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days after calibration.
(f) 
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current endorsement from the state commission on environmental quality (commission).
(Ordinance 0901, sec. 1(B), adopted 1/17/09)
(a) 
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 improvements, correction, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.
(b) 
Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized as capable of conducting a customer service inspection:
(1) 
Plumbing inspectors and water supply protection specialists that have been licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners.
(2) 
Certified waterworks operators, and members of other water related professional groups who have completed a training course, passed an examination administered by the commission or its designated agent, and hold a current endorsement issued by the commission.
(c) 
The customer service inspection must certify that:
(1) 
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination is permitted. Potential sources 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.
(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 .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 0901, sec. 1(C), adopted 1/17/09)
Air gap.
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 inch. An air gap may also be a horizontal space between two pipes at no less than 6.0 inches.
Approved.
Accepted by the authority responsible as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this part or as suitable for the proposed use.
Auxiliary water supply.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor’s approved public water supply that presents a potential contamination hazard of the public water system. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor’s public water supply or any natural source(s) such as a well, spring, river or stream or used waters; or industrial fluids. These waters may be contaminated or polluted or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.
Backflow.
The undesirable reversal of flow in a public water distribution system as a result of a cross connection.
Backflow prevention assembly.
An approved assembly to counteract backpressure or prevent backsiphonage.
Backflow prevention assembly test and maintenance report.
The report required for each backflow prevention assembly upon initial installation and periodically thereafter as required, giving evidence that the backflow prevention assembly has been properly selected based on the degree of hazard, and has been properly installed and tested in accordance with applicable standards, and showing the results of this test. The completed form will be forwarded to the building inspection department of the city for documentation and forwarded to the water purveyor for annual record keeping.
Backflow prevention assembly tester, backflow tester, or general tester.
A backflow assembly device tester who is qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial or irrigation service (excepting firelines). This person must be licensed by TCEQ and registered with the city.
Backpressure.
Pressure created by any means in the water distribution system, which by being in excess of the pressure in the water supply mains causes a potential backflow condition.
Backsiphonage.
The backflow of potentially contaminated water into the potable water system as a result of the pressure in the potable water system falling below atmospheric pressure of the plumbing fixtures, pools, tanks or vats connected to the potable water distribution piping.
Building official.
The officer charged with the enforcement of the building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fuel, gas, and energy conservation codes of the city, or his duly authorized representative. For purposes of this part, all Texas-licensed plumbing inspectors under the supervision of the building official are his duly authorized representatives.
Bypass arrangements.
Any jumper connections, removable section, unions, swivels or change-over devices and other temporary or permanent devices through which or because of which backflow can occur.
Contamination.
An impairment of the quality of the potable water that creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids or waste.
Cross connection.
A physical connection or bypass arrangement between a public water system and either another supply of unknown or questionable quality, or another source that may contain contaminating or polluting substances, any source of water treated to a lesser degree in the treatment process, or any steam, gas or chemical system.
Cross connection control device.
Any nationally approved or recognized device placed upon any connection, physical or otherwise, between a potable water supply system and any plumbing fixture or any tank, receptacle, equipment or device, which is designed to prevent nonpotable, used, unclean, polluted and contaminated water, or other substance, from entering into any part of such potable water system under any condition or set of conditions.
Cross connections-controlled.
A connection between a public water system and a nonpublic water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.
Cross connection control by containment.
The installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly at the water service connection to any customer’s premises, where it is physically or economically unfeasible to find and permanently eliminate or control all cross connections or potential contamination hazards, within the customer’s water system; or it shall mean the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer’s water system where there are cross connections or potential contamination hazards, that cannot be effectively eliminated or controlled at the point of the cross connection.
Customer/property owner.
The owner, as determined by the real property records of the county, or the agent of the owner in responsible charge of the subject premises. For purposes of this part, a licensed plumber and/or irrigator shall be deemed to be an agent of the owner when performing work under the scope of this part pursuant to a plumbing and/or irrigation permit.
Customer service inspection.
An inspection designed to detect any actual or potential point of contamination of the potable water system and/or cross connection hazards.
Degree of hazard.
The non-health hazard or health hazard classification that shall be attached to all actual or potential cross connections.
(1) 
Non-health hazard shall mean a cross connection or potential cross connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into a public water supply.
(2) 
Health hazard shall mean the classification assigned to a cross connection or potential contamination hazard or other situation involving any substance that can cause illness, death, spread of disease or has a high probability of causing such effects if introduced into the potable drinking water supply.
Double check valve backflow assembly (DCVA), double check assembly, and double check (DC).
An assembly consisting of two independently acting approved check valves, including tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly and fitted properly located resilient seated test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard.
Fireline tester.
A tester who is qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on firelines. This person must be licensed by TCEQ and registered with the city.
Licensed professional.
Any individual, or their representative, that must maintain a license obtained through a professional licensing board in order to conduct their business under state law.
Nonpotable water.
Water not safe for drinking, personal or culinary utilization.
Pollution.
An impairment of the quality of the potable water to a degree that does not create a hazard to the public health but that does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such potable water for domestic use.
Point of use isolation.
The appropriate backflow prevention within the consumer’s water system at the point at which the actual or potential cross connection exists.
Potable water.
Water free from impurities present in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects and conforming to the bacteriological and chemical quality requirements of the public health service drinking water standards or the regulations of any public health authority having jurisdiction over such matters.
Potential contamination hazard.
A condition which, by its location, piping or configuration, has a reasonable probability of being used incorrectly, through carelessness, ignorance, or negligence, to create or cause to be created a backflow condition by which contamination can be introduced into the public water supply. Examples of potential contamination hazards are:
(1) 
Bypass arrangements;
(2) 
Jumper connections;
(3) 
Removable sections or spools; and
(4) 
Swivel or changeover assemblies.
Public health service drinking water standards.
The standards set forth in 30 TAC 290 subchapter F, as may be amended from time to time.
Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RPBA), reduced pressure principle assembly, RPZ or RP assembly.
A backflow prevention device consisting of two independently acting check valves, internally force-loaded to a normally closed position and separated by an intermediate chamber (or zone) in which there is an automatic relief means of venting to the atmosphere, internally loaded to a normally open position between two tightly closing shutoff valves and with a means for testing for tightness of the checks and opening of the relief means.
Repair of an irrigation system.
The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing irrigation system, including without limitation, installation of a backflow prevention device, adding additionally irrigation zones, reparation of a main irrigation line and valve replacement. For the purpose hereof, the replacement of a control box or sprinkler head(s) shall not be deemed to be a repair.
Service connection.
The point of delivery where the water purveyor loses control over the water.
Used water.
Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public water system to a consumer’s water system after it has passed through the point of delivery or service connection and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water purveyor.
Water purveyor.
The director in charge of the water department of the city, who is vested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of an effective cross connection control program and for the enforcement of the provisions of this part.
(Ordinance 0901, sec. 1(D), adopted 1/17/09)
Any person who violates the part is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine in accordance with section 1.01.009 of this code for each day that one or more of the provisions in this part is violated. Each day shall constitute a separate offense. If a person is convicted of one or more distinct violations of this part, the public works director shall upon due notice to the customer, 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, as provided in appendix A to this code and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the public works director that the same action shall not be repeated while this part is in effect. Compliance with this part may also be sought through injunctive relief in the district court.
(Ordinance 0901, sec. 4, adopted 1/17/09; Ordinance adopting Code)