(a) Maintaining service connections. The director is authorized to maintain service connections from the mains in public rights-of-way to building laterals or building water lines on premises, pursuant to the following rules:
(1) The city is responsible for maintenance of a service connection from the main to the meter, or from the main to the property line where the connection is unmetered, in the case of water service and from the main to the property line in the case of wastewater service.
(2) The city will maintain a service connection at its original size as long as the customer continues use of a service.
(3) The city’s obligation to continue maintenance of a service connection ceases when the customer abandons use of a service.
(4) The city will remove, at the property owner’s expense, a service connection made in violation of this code.
(5) The director is authorized to charge a fee in accordance with Section 49-18.7 to an applicant or property owner for construction, installation, or maintenance of a service connection.
(b) Connection permits. The following rules govern the issuance of a service connection permit:
(1) The plumber must submit a copy of the plumbing permit, obtained from the city’s building inspection division, with the connection permit application. The connection permit application must specify:
(A) the address of the work;
(B) the name of the applicant;
(C) the name of the property owner; and
(D) the names of other plumbing subcontractors employed to do the work.
(2) The director may revoke a permit at any time before work is completed and connection is made if the director determines that the terms and conditions of the permit are being violated, and no interested party will have a claim for damages or refunds as a result of revocation.
(3) A connection permit must be issued in the name of the applicant and the property owner. A permit is nontransferable and expires one year from the date of issuance. In the event of failure to connect within the term of the permit, a processing fee will be retained in accordance with Section 49-18.16(f) from any service connection charges paid, with any remainder being refunded to the applicant or property owner.
(c) Construction and installation rules. The following rules govern construction and installation of service connections:
(1) A building lateral, building water line, drain and other private plumbing must be constructed in strict accordance with the provisions of the city’s plumbing and building codes. The director may, as a condition of the connection permit, impose additional construction requirements not in conflict with the plumbing and building codes, this chapter, or other applicable state or federal laws and regulations in order to protect the system from damage or contamination, to facilitate connection, or where extraordinary circumstances may require.
(2) A building lateral and building water line must be laid up to the property line and the end left exposed. The permittee or his agent shall provide a ditch safe for entry in accordance with state and federal safety standards. A building lateral and building water line must be stubbed out to meet the service line both as to horizontal location and vertical depth. Location of the service line will be furnished upon request, or upon issuance of a connection permit, but the permittee or the permittee’s agent is responsible for uncovering and confirming the location of the service line before construction of the building lateral or building water line.
(3) For a water service connection two inches or smaller, the department will install the service line and meter and connect them to the building water line when the building water line is properly laid in place. For a residential wastewater service connection, the department will complete the connection from the service line to the building lateral at the property line.
(4) For a water or wastewater service connection other than described in Subsection (c)(3) of this section, the director may require the permittee to construct and install the entire service connection including line connection and meter hookup, if any. In the case of a water service connection under this Subsection (c)(4), the department will inspect the water main tap and all connections from that point to the building water line. In the case of a wastewater service connection under this Subsection (c)(4), the department will inspect the wastewater line tap and the building lateral. Upon inspection and final acceptance of the service connection by the city, that portion of the service connection that is the city’s responsibility to maintain under Subsection (a) of this section becomes the property of the city free and clear of all liens and encumbrances. If the director does not require the permittee to construct and install the entire service connection, the department shall construct and install the service connection in the same manner as described for the connections done under Subsection (c)(3) of this section, at the permittee’s cost.
(5) If the director requires the permittee to construct the service connection, the permittee shall enter into a contract for the purpose pursuant to the format prescribed in Section 49-60(f)(1), (f)(3), and (f)(4). The contract and bonds must be approved by the director before any construction can commence. The permittee shall meet the applicable requirements of the Dallas Plumbing Code, the connection permit and this chapter, and shall pay the applicable charges and costs prescribed in Section 49-18.7. In addition to compliance with the rules set out in this section, the permittee shall obtain and follow the applicable department utility appurtenance sheets to be used in completing the connection.
(6) All service connections must be made only by persons authorized by the director, and the private plumbing must meet the construction requirements of the Dallas Plumbing Code. Any ditch dug for the purpose of constructing or installing a connection must be backfilled by the permittee or his agent upon completion of the connection, following inspection and approval by the city.
(7) Nothing in this Subsection (c) shall be construed to limit the city’s right to construct and install any service connection where the director may deem it appropriate.
(d) Nuisance. Every commode, wastewater drain, privy or other wastewater receptacle used on premises which is neither connected to the wastewater system nor to a septic tank or receptacle approved under this code is hereby declared to be a nuisance and a public health hazard.
(e) Enforcement authority. The director is authorized to promulgate regulations not in conflict with this code, the city charter or state laws and regulations to aid in implementing the provisions of this section. (Ord. Nos. 19201; 19622; 20215; 20653; 20737)