290 rules.
The TCEQ’s rules and regulations for public water systems, which appear in title 30, Texas Administrative Code, chapter 290.
Manuel M14.
The American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control, current edition.
TCEQ.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)
(a) 
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 290 Rules and this article. The city shall discontinue water service if a required air gap or backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained, and tested in accordance with the 290 Rules and this article.
(b) 
No backflow protection at the water service meter is required where an adequate internal cross-connection control program is in place.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)
(a) 
All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested upon installation by a backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies that are installed to protect 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) 
Backflow prevention assemblies installed on fire suppression systems must be tested by a backflow prevention assembly tester permanently employed by an approved fireline contractor.
(c) 
Gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing must be tested for accuracy at least annually in accordance with the AWWA’s Manual 14 or the current edition of the University of Southern California’s Manual of Cross-Connection Control. A copy of the gauge accuracy test report must be submitted to the city to demonstrate the gauge has been tested for accuracy.
(d) 
A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current license issued from the TCEQ.
(e) 
Assemblies must be repaired, overhauled, or replaced whenever the assemblies are found to be defective. Original forms recording testing, repairs, and overhauls must be kept and submitted to the city within five working days of the test, repair, or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(f) 
No backflow prevention assembly or device may be removed from use, or relocated, or other assembly or device substituted for it, without the approval of the city.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)
(a) 
A customer service inspection must be completed before the provisions of continuous water service to all new construction, on any existing service when the city has reason to believe that cross-connections or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, 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 Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
(2) 
Customer service inspectors that have been licensed by the TCEQ.
(c) 
The customer service inspection must certify that:
(1) 
No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination exists. Potential sources of contamination must 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 that allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply.
(4) 
No pipe or pipefitting that contains more than 0.25 percent lead is used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that supplies water for human use.
(5) 
No solder or flux that contains more than 0.2 percent lead is used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)
(a) 
Any irrigation system that is connected to a public or private potable water supply must be connected through a backflow prevention assembly approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
(b) 
Backflow prevention assemblies installed on irrigation systems that are classified as health hazards must be tested at least annually. Backflow prevention assemblies installed on irrigation systems that are not classified as health hazards must be tested upon installation and then every three (3) years.
(c) 
Assemblies must be repaired, overhauled, or replaced whenever the assemblies are found to be defective. Original forms recording testing, repairs, and overhauls must be kept and submitted to the city within five working days of the test, repair, or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(d) 
No backflow prevention assembly or device may be removed from use, or relocated, or other assembly or device substituted for it, without the approval of the city.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)
A violation of this article is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, any person who violates this article shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $2,000.00. Each day that one or more of the provisions of this article is violated shall constitute a separate offense. If a person is convicted of two or more distinct violations the city shall, upon due notice to the customer, be authorized to 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, hereby established at $250.00 and, and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the city that the same action shall not be repeated while this article is in effect. Compliance with this article may also be sought through injunctive relief in the county district court.
(Ordinance 341SM adopted 3/14/17)