Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance repealing and replacing City Code Chapter 15-1 (Cross-Connection Regulations) to address changes to the nationally recognized plumbing codes, current Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations and the expanded use of alternate water sources by adopting regulations to prevent contamination of drinking water by establishing requirements for backflow prevention assemblies and backflow prevention devices and associated testing requirements, establishing customer duties for backflow prevention assemblies and backflow prevention devise, requiring identification of potable and non-potable water systems, creating requirements for testers, creating offenses, and related provisions. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
January 8, 2004 - Council approved an ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 15-1 of the City Code relating to cross-connection regulations.
June 8, 2006 - Council approved an ordinance amending the definitions in Chapter 15-1 of the City Code relating to cross-connection regulations.
For More Information:
Heather Cooke, Austin Water Chief Administrative Officer, 512-972-0083, heather.cooke@austintexas.gov.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
March 12, 2025 - to be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
Austin Water’s Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Program administers City, state, and federal regulations to protect public health and safety. This program works to prevent cross-connections by ensuring safeguards to protect the public drinking water system from contamination hazards. Cross-connections between Austin Water’s system and alternative water systems must also be prevented to protect water quality. Regulations apply to all sites with alternative water systems, contaminants and pollutants to ensure appropriate backflow protections are in place.
Backflow events occur when water flow is reversed, and non-potable water or other substances enter the drinking water system through back pressure. Austin Water ensures that backflow prevention devices are installed and maintained, which includes minimum requirements for backflow prevention assembly (BPA) installation, testing, maintenance, and reporting.
This backflow prevention and cross-connection ordinance was last updated by Council in 2006, with most updates occurring in 2004. The proposed updates address properties’ increased use of alternate water systems as well as regulatory changes that EPA and TCEQ have made.
Additionally, the City’s Development Services Department has requested that all plumbing code requirements for cross-connection control and backflow prevention be moved into Chapter 15-1 instead of Chapter 25-12, where the City’s Plumbing Code and local amendments are codified.
The Affordability Impact Statement confirms there are no additional anticipated costs to housing and provides neutral impacts for development costs.