(A) Generally. Except as permitted by this subchapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to dig, drill or to have dug, or drilled, a water well to procure domestic water for consumption by themselves or others or for irrigation within the city limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city after the effective date of this subchapter.
(B) Existing wells. Any person owning property upon which there exists an already existing domestic water well, shall at no time connect any piping from that well to piping which is connected to the city’s municipal water system.
(C) Exceptions. After receipt of an application for a water well drilling permit within the city limits of the city, or within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city, the city shall, within 30 days after the receipt of the permit application and fee, grant or deny the permit based on the following criteria:
(1) The application for the permit was timely and properly completed and submitted with the proper fee paid;
(2) After review of the application and available hydrology data from available sources such as the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the local groundwater conservation district, the City Engineer and city staff conclude that the proposed water well poses no immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and consumers of the city water system; and
(3) The City Engineer and city staff determine that it is economically and/or physically impractical for the city to provide water to the person or property to be served by the proposed water well due to the location or proximity of the proposed water well and its service area, the depth of the well aquifer and the proposed use of the water well such as domestic or agricultural use.
(Ord. 0211-2, passed 2-21-2011) Penalty, see § 51.99