§ 38-64. Requirements for use

Any person using or desiring to use the city's utility system shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The person shall comply with all ordinances applicable to the city's utility system.

(2) No connection to the city's utility system shall be made until the city has approved connection to the utility system, and if required, all facilities are installed and inspected in accordance with this chapter. The city may disconnect and discontinue utility service at any time the city manager may deem it advisable to protect the city's utility system.

(3) Under no circumstances may a customer or customer's agent or any other person connect to the city's utility system except as authorized by this chapter.

(4) Only plumbers licensed by the state may make utility connections from the structure or building to the utility meter installed in accordance with this chapter.

(5) The customer shall ensure that the customer's private service line and connection operate properly. The customer shall maintain the customer's private service line and connection in such a way as to be impermeable to stormwater or rain infiltration and inflow. The customer shall immediately repair his private service line or connection should it become broken or damaged.

(6) All customers are responsible for water loss due to service line leaks or breaks on the customer's side of the meter. If the customer or his agent fails to immediately repair or replace the broken or damaged service line, the city, after notification to the customers, may repair or replace the line and may place a lien against the property for the cost and may disconnect the property from city utility system.

(7) Cross contamination prevention.

a. 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 an air-gap or an appropriate backflow prevention device.

b. No cross connections between the public drinking water supply and a private water system or well is permitted. These potential threats to the public drinking water supply shall be eliminated at the service connection by the installation of an air-gap or a reduced pressure-zone backflow prevention device.

c. No connection which allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply is permitted.

d. No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8.0 percent lead may be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection which provides water for human use.

e. No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2 percent lead can be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection which provides water for human use or consumption.

f. A person or customer may not:

1. Install or maintain a potable water supply, plumbing fixture, equipment, or construction device that creates a cross connection, or allows reclaimed, contaminated, or polluted water, mixtures or other substances, or gases, to enter potable water by back siphoning, backpressure, or other means;

2. Connect an auxiliary water supply to the city's public water system or a private plumbing system unless a backflow prevention assembly or air gap is installed as required by this chapter;

3. Use a chemical or substance that may cause pollution or contamination of the public water system without installing a backflow prevention assembly or device as required by this chapter;

4. Connect to the public water system a mechanism or system designed to return reclaimed or used water to the public water system;

5. Connect a reclaimed water system to the city's public water system or to the potable water system of a customer who receives potable water service from the city's public water system; or

6. Connect a vehicle or equipment capable of producing back siphonage or back pressure without installing a backflow prevention assembly or device as required by this chapter.

g. A person may not install a backflow prevention assembly in a private plumbing system, fire protection system, process water system, irrigation system, or other water distribution system connected to the city's water system unless:

1. the assembly has been designed, manufactured, and tested in accordance with the standards adopted by the American Water Works Association; and

2. the assembly has been tested and listed as an approved backflow prevention assembly by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.

(8) Customer duties regarding backflow prevention devices.

a. A customer required to have a backflow prevention device shall install a new, replacement, or reconditioned backflow prevention assembly or device in accordance with this chapter.

b. Not later than the fifth day after the date a new, replacement, or reconditioned backflow prevention assembly is installed and tested, a customer shall submit to the city manager the original test and maintenance report on the backflow prevention assembly.

c. When a backflow prevention device is required, the city manager may not install or authorize the installation of a permanent water meter unless the customer has submitted a test and maintenance report for each backflow prevention assembly installed on a site, all inspections of the device are completed as provided in this chapter, and the device meets the requirements of this article.

d. The customer is responsible for general maintenance and upkeep of a backflow prevention assembly. An owner and the owner's tenant/lessee are jointly responsible for maintenance.

e. The city manager may require, at his discretion, that any customer install and maintain a backflow prevention assembly if the city manager determines that such a device is necessary to protect the public water supply system from contamination.

(9) Inspection and testing of backflow prevention assemblies.

a. A customer shall test a backflow prevention assembly as required by 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 290.44, water distribution.

b. All inspections and testing shall be conducted by a plumbing inspector, or a water supply protection specialists licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners or by a customer service inspector licensed by the state commission on environmental quality.

c. If necessary to protect the city's water system, the city manager may require testing more frequently than required by state law.

d. A customer shall pay the cost of testing and related costs.

e. A customer must repair, overhaul, or replace an assembly that fails a test before returning the assembly to service.

f. A customer shall keep a record of each test, repair, and overhaul of a backflow prevention assembly and submit the original record to the city manager not later than the fifth day after a test, repair, or overhaul.

(10) Removal or replacement of backflow prevention device.

a. A customer may not remove from use, relocate, or substitute another backflow prevention device or assembly without the approval of the city manager.

b. A replacement backflow prevention assembly must comply with this chapter.

c. A customer shall replace a backflow prevention assembly or device that:

1. is removed or relocated from an existing installation;

2. the city manager determines requires more than minimum maintenance; or

3. constitutes a hazard to the water system or the public health.

(11) Cross connection survey.

a. The city manager may conduct a cross connection survey of the customer's potable water system as a condition of service to prevent or eliminate cross connections between the customer's potable water system and contamination or pollution sources.

b. The city manager shall inspect:

1. A building and surrounding property for potential cross connections;

2. The availability of an auxiliary or reclaimed water supply;

3. The use of a pollutant, contaminant and other liquid, solid, or gaseous substance;

4. Backflow prevention assembly installation; and

5. Backflow prevention certification and test records.

c. The city manager shall require a customer to eliminate possible cross connections between the customer's potable water systems and the public water supply and shall disconnect water service to the customer until the possible cross connection is eliminated as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 592, art. IV, § 7, 10-23-2012)