(A) General. 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 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and this section. 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 section.
(B) Backflow prevention assembly installation, testing and maintenance.
(1) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications with the University of Southern California's most adopted edition for testing guidelines. 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.
(a) All new commercial properties will have a minimum of a double check assembly installed on domestic water service before entering the building unless there are only restrooms in the said building.
(b) All backflow assemblies installed must be a testable assembly.
(c) All backflow assemblies on a commercial property must be tested annually including landscape irrigation.
(d) All backflow assemblies installed shall comply with the most update list for a Health or Non-Health Hazard listed at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chapter 290-Public Drinking Water, Table 290.47(f). Link: Figure: 30 TAC §290.47(f) (state.tx.us).
(e) Residential landscape irrigation must be tested every other year from date of installation.
(2) 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 M-14) of and or the University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control most adopted edition.
(3) 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 working days of the test, repair or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.
(4) 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 M-14), current addition, University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition, or the current Plumbing Code of the City of Whitesboro, whichever is more stringent.
(5) 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 M-14), current addition, University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition. The original calibration form must be submitted to the city within five working days after calibration.
(6) A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current endorsement from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and be registered with the city.
(C) Customer service inspections.
(1) 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 thatcross-connections or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.
(a) All new customers will need to sign a Retail Customer Service Agreement Form for New Service.
(2) Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized as capable of conducting a customer service inspection:
(a) Plumbing inspectors and water supply protection specialists that have been licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
(b) 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.
(3) The customer service inspection must certify that:
(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 a properly installed air gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly.
(b) 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.
(c) No connection exists 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% lead may be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use.
(e) No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2% 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.
(Ord. 968, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 1190, passed 8-9-22)