§ 6-126. Cross-connection control program.

(a)

General.

(1)

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) Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems (290 Rules) 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 290 Rules and this section.

(b)

Backflow prevention assembly installation, testing and maintenance.

(1)

All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. 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.

(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 M14) or The University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control.

(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 of Fort Stockton within five (5) 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 of Fort Stockton. 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 M14), current addition, University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition, or the current Plumbing Code of the City of Fort Stockton, whichever is more stringent.

(5)

Test gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing shall be tested for accuracy at least annually in accordance with the American Water Works Association's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14), current addition, or The University of Southern California's Manual of Cross-Connection Control, current addition. The original calibration form must be submitted to the City of Fort Stockton within five (5) working days after calibration.

(6)

A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (commission).

(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 that cross-connections or other contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to the private water distribution facilities.

(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.

Customer service inspectors that have been licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

(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-contamination 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 eight (8) percent 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 percent lead can be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that provides water for human use. A minimum of one (1) lead test shall be performed for each inspection.

(Ord. No. 13-105, § 1, 5-14-13)