HomeMy WebLinkAbout033750 ORD - 09/09/2025Ordinance amending Corpus Christi Code, Section 55-37 to establish requirements
for water wells to avoid cross connection with City water supply and to include
backflow prevention device testing filing fee which was previously established in
City Code Section 14-1313 and providing for penalty and publication, effective
October 1, 2025.
Whereas, it is necessary to establish requirements to avoid cross connection between
the City water supply and a water well;
Whereas, the backflow prevention device testing filing fee of $20.00 was previously
established and codified at City Code Section 14-1313 Development Services Fee
Schedule;
Whereas, it is recommended to move the fee from the Development Services Fee
Schedule into Section 55-37 which provides procedures for installation, testing, repair,
and replacement of backflow prevention devices and associated billing;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 55-37 of the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended to
delete the struck -through text and insert the underlined text shown as follows:
Sec. 55-37. - Procedures for installation, testing, repair, and replacement of
backflow prevention devices and associated billing.
(a) The city plumbing code, city building code, city residential code, and state laws and
regulations establish requirements for installation and testing of backflow prevention
devices for protection of the municipal water supply. The utility customer is responsible
to install and maintain the required backflow prevention device in accordance with said
code and regulations and as further provided in this section. For purposes of this
section, the city plumbing code, the city building code, and the city residential code refer
to said codes as adopted by city Ordinance 030847, as amended from time to time.
Upon installation, maintenance or repair of a water well on property with City water utility
service lines, the property owner shall obtain a Customer Service Inspection (CSI) for
cross -connection prevention purposes from a State of Texas licensed Customer Service
Inspector. If it is determined after the CSI that the water well and the City water system
are physically separated and not cross -connected, then this separation shall serve as an
air qap. The property owner must obtain periodic CSIs every three years to demonstrate
that the two separate systems are protected by an air qap. The property owner or third -
party CSI inspector shall provide a copy of the CSI report to the City's third -party database
within 10 days of inspection. It is prohibited for any person or entity to cause or allow a
cross -connection between a water well and the City water system where there is no air
qap or reduced pressure assembly installed at the meter on the premises.
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SCANNED
(b) Backflow prevention devices must be tested as required by Corpus Christi Code by
a state -licensed backflow prevention assembly tester to be certified to be operating in
accordance with applicable standards, with a copy of the test results to be provided to
the city manager or designee filed with the city's third -party database within ten (10)
days of the testing. The backflow prevention device testing filing fee is $20.00.
(c) In accordance with 30 Texas Administrative Code § 290.44(h)(1)(B)(iii), it is the
responsibility of the city, as the water purveyor, to ensure that backflow requirements
are met. In dealing with a non -compliant customer, the city will, at its discretion, require
the customer, at the customer's expense, to use a third party contractor to inspect,
install, repair and/or replace the backflow prevention device required by this section,
adopted codes, state or federal laws or regulations to protect the city's water supply
from potential contamination.
(d) If the utility customer fails to comply with this section, the city, at its discretion, can
refuse to connect the utility customer or disconnect the property, facility, or unit from the
city's water supply system. Failure to comply with the requirements of this section,
including subsection (c), will result in the termination of the water service.
(e) If an imminent threat to the city's water system exists, the city will terminate the
customer's water service immediately.
(f) A violation of this section is an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed two
thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Each day any violation of this section continues
constitutes a separate offense.
(g) The provisions of this section shall apply to the provision of water provided to
customers, other than wholesale customers, inside and outside the city limits unless
otherwise contradicted in a written contract to supply water to said outside city limits
customer.
(Ord. No. 031067, § 4, 2-14-2017; Ord. No. 032617, § 2, 12-7-2021; Ord. No. 033156,
§ 4, 9-5-2023)
SECTION 2. Section 14-1313 of the City Code is amended by deleting the struck -through
text shown as follows to remove the following fees from the Technical construction codes
fee schedule:
BACKF OW PREVENTION
Backflow prevention device test filing fee $20.00
Minimum Fee $100.00
Section 14-1313 of the Corpus Christi Code is amended to delete the backflow prevention
SECTION 3. Publication shall be made in the official publication of the City of Corpus
Christi as required by the City Charter of the City of Corpus Christi. Penalties are as
provided in Section 55-37. This ordinance takes effect October 1, 2025 upon publication.
SECTION 4. If for any reason any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, word,
or provision of this ordinance shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by final judgment of
a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect any other section, paragraph,
subdivision, clause, phrase, word, or provision of this ordinance, for it is the definite intent
of this City Council that every section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, phrase, word, or
provision hereof be given full force and effect for its purpose.
Introduced and voted on the ' Akday of
WkrA W, 2025.
PASSED and APPROVED on the 1111\ day of ` k.i "'" , 2025.
Paulette Guajardo, May
EFFECTIVE DATE
ATTEST:
Rebecca Huerta, City Secretary
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