§ 48-136. Customer service inspections.

(a)

For those users who have applied for a plumbing permit from the city and paid the applicable fee as set forth in the city's fee schedule for new construction; or substantial rehabilitation; work on existing plumbing systems; additions; corrections; or improvements; and at the request of the director, the users shall contact the city to schedule a customer service inspection prior to receiving a final plumbing inspection approval. The director may also require a customer service inspection to an existing service if the building official, director or water superintendent has reason to believe that a cross connection or other unacceptable plumbing practice exists. Alternatively, the building official, director or water superintendent may elect to provide a customer service inspection certificate for the building permit applicant or building owner.

(b)

Only city staff with the following credentials shall be eligible to conduct a customer service inspection and sign the certificate:

(1)

Plumbing inspectors and water supply protection specialists licensed by the state board of plumbing examiners.

(2)

Waterworks operators licensed by the TCEQ.

(3)

Licensed plumbers may perform customer service inspections on single-family residential services only.

(c)

The director (or his designated representative), shall retain these certificates on file for a period of ten years. The customer's water system shall comply with the requirements listed below, and the certification form shall certify the following that there is:

(1)

No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination that potential sources of contamination are isolated from the public water system by an air-gap or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly in accordance with state plumbing regulations; and that all pressure relief valves and thermal expansion devices are in compliance with the city's plumbing code;

(2)

No cross connection in existence between the public drinking water supply and private water source;

(3)

No connection in existence which would allow the return of water used for condensing, cooling or industrial processes back to the public water supply;

(4)

No pipe or pipe fitting which contains more than 8.0 percent lead existing in private plumbing facilities installed on or after July 1, 1988;

(5)

No solder or flux which contains more than 0.2 percent lead existing in customers' plumbing facilities installed on or after July 1, 1988;

(6)

No plumbing fixture installed which is not in compliance with the state approved plumbing code.

(d)

As unacceptable plumbing practices are discovered, users shall eliminate those practices to prevent possible contamination of the water distribution system.

(Code 1994, § 11.305A; Ord. No. 569, § 1, 3-10-2014)