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Home My WebLink About022692 ORD - 09/10/1996AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, CHAPTERS 13 AND 23 TO ALLOW USE OF GREYWATER FOR IRRIGATION AND WATERING FOUNDATIONS, WHILE PROHIBITING THE IMPROPER USE OF GREYWATER; PROVIDING FOR SEVERANCE; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES; AND PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION. WHEREAS, the current drought conditions have increased public interest in the use of greywater as an alternative method of irrigating vegetation and watering foundations; AND WHEREAS, existing provisions of the City of Corpus Christi Technical Construction Codes effectively prohibit the practical use of greywater; AND WHEREAS, greywater can be safely used for irrigation of vegetation and watering foundations if certain precautions are taken; AND WHEREAS, permitting the use of greywater will help alleviate demands on the City of Corpus Christi's limited supply of potable water; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That Section 103.1.3 of Chapter 1, Administration, of the Construction Codes of the City of Corpus Christi (Section 103.1.3 of the SBCCI Standard Building, Gas, Mechanical, and Plumbing Technical Codes, 1991 edition), as adopted by Section 13-1 of the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended to read as follows: "103.1.3 Minor Repairs and Alterations. Ordinary repairs and minor alterations may be made without obtaining a permit, provided that such repairs and alterations shallleo not violate any of the provisions of the Technical Construction Codes. Permits shall are not required for the repair, or replacement alteration. or installation of the following: "Plumbing "g. The use of temnorary hoses connected to the outlets of clothes washing machines and condensate drains from dehumidifiers and air conditioning units that allow the greywater or condensate to be used to irrigate vegetation or water the building's foundation. "h. The installation of a separate drain for clothes washing machines that allows the greywater to be used to irrigate vegetation or water the building's foundation. The drain may not be connected 0?2692 R60307B1.232 MICROFILMED to the plumbing system. and the drain may not be connected to any device used to store greywater for future use." SECTION 2. That Section 603.1 of the Mechanical Code of the City of Corpus Christi (Section 603.1 of the SBCCI Standard Mechanical Code, 1991 edition), as adopted by Section 13-5 of the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended to read as follows: "603 CONDENSATE DRAIN PIPING "603.1 General 2 "Condensation from all cooling coils or evaporators shall be carried full size from drip pan outlet and piped into a sanitary sewer drain, storm sewer drain or approved French drain on units larger than 3 tons nominal capacity. Drains from units 3 tons or smaller capacity may terminate in gutter or roof drain, on a concrete pad, or other location subject to approval of the Mechanical Official. Drains may he pined to enable the use of condensate for the irrigation of vegetation and watering of foundations by either directing or through use of hoses connected to the drain piping. as long as the drain piping is not directly connected to the plumbing system. Condensate drains from roof top units may spill on roof providing it does not drain into street or alley, or other area, of sufficient amount to be a nuisance." SECTION 3. That Section 202 of the Plumbing Code of the City of Corpus Christi (Section 603.1 of the SBCCI Standard Plumbing Code, 1991 edition), as adopted by Section 13- 6 of the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended by adding the following definitions: "202. Definition of terms." "Condencaty The untreated water that is collected as a result of the water vapors in humid air being converted into the liquid state through contact with cooling coils or evaporators in air conditioning and other cooling systems." "Greywater. Wastewater from clothes washing machines, showers. bathtubs. hand washing lavatories, and sinks that are not used for food preparation or disposal of chemical and biological ingredients." R60307B1.232 3 SECTION 4. That Section 414 of the Plumbing Code of the City of Corpus Christi (Section 603.1 of the SBCCI Standard Plumbing Code, 1991 edition), as adopted by Section 13- 6 of the Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended by adding the following definitions: "414 INDIVIDUAL OR PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM "414.1. Public Sewer Not Available. "Where a public sewer is not available, an individual sewage disposal system shall be of a type that is acceptable and approved by the Plumbing Official or other governing authority having jurisdiction. See Appendix E. "414,2. Greywater/condensate disposal systems. "Modification of the drains and piping systems to allow the diversion of greywater and condensate for the irrigation of vegetation and watering of foundations is permitted. However no modifications may be made if the diversion of greywater will impair the proper operation of the drainage system. The plans for the installation of a greywater disposal system that provides for the storage of greywater must be designed and certified by a registered professional engineer or registered professional sanitarian." SECTION 5. That Chapter 23, Health and Sanitation, of the City of Corpus Christi Code of Ordinances is amended by adding Section 23-64.1 to read as follows: "Sec. 23-64.1 Improper use of greywater and condensate "Any individual using greywater or condensate for the irrigation of vegetation or waterier foundation must monitor the application of the greywater or condensate to ensure that the use of the greywater or condensate does not create a nuisance. "fa) All greywater discharged must be absorbed into the ground on the premises. "(b) An individual using greywater may not allow the greywater to run off the premises onto anotherrn operty or into a storm drain or storm sewer. "(c) An individual m•y not use greywater to irrigate vegetation that will be used for human consumption. "1il) Grevwater. which is not distributed by a greywater system designed by a professional engineer or licensed registered sanitarian. may not be used if it has been stored for more than 24 hours or is sprayed under pressure. SECTION 6. 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 R60307B1.232 4 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. SECTION 7. A violation of this ordinance or requirements implemented hereunder shall constitute an offense, punishable as provided in Section 1-6 of the City Code of Ordinances. SECTION 8. 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. R60307B1.232 That the foregoing ordinance was read for the first time and passed to its second reading on this the £ /n Day of August, 1996, by the following vote: Mary Rhodes Betty Jean Longoria Dr. Jack Best John Longoria Betty Black hl J Edward A. Martin Melody Cooper Dr. David McNichols Tony Heldenfels That the foregoing ordinance was read for the second time and passed finally on this the 10 Day of September, 1996 by the following vote: Mary Rhodes Betty Jean Longoria Dr. Jack Best John Longoria Betty Black Melody Cooper Tony Heldenfels PASSED AND APPROVED, this the 10 Day of September, 1996. ATTEST: Edward A. Martin Dr. David McNichols Armando Chapa, City secretary _40 APPROVED: /0 DAY OF September, 1996: James R. Bray, Jr., City Attorney By: e R. Ja Assist R60307B1.232 ping t City Attorney Mayor The City of Co 022692 s Christi 5 PUBLISHER'S State of Texas, ) cin OF CORPUS CHRISTI County of Nueces, ) SS: AD# TH53734 PO# 95 NOV I II AFFIDAVIT 1 t. Before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public, this day personally came sr -1y Bennett , who being first duly sworn, according to law, says that she is Business Office Secretarl of the n rpns_ariQti caller Times , a daily newspaper published at chrpua_Claigti in said County and State, generally circulated in Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and We? Counties, and that the publication of Natisiaasage_Qf tiu ns€Si4,_22_E92 21 nding the rxest Ordinan ;CitY__QLS rous Christi. which the annexed is a true copy, was published in the CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER TIMES on the 16th of September, 1996. ___7____ Time (s) Business Office Secretary ALO Subscribed and sworn to before me the 12th day of November, 1996. Notary Public, Nuec- ounty, Texas NEgiOilij SSoo,Q r. iiS4 5 eca $$E 8' 3 o'>c�$ i•o ai.f g m `iii°5Mi_ '`g4Fo€- m._._ Y c m m gig i 3gg;m.s Zorn p¢ gitIr $ 2 ao tota g8-6. It r NA K: STER Notary PL!Nic State of Texas My Comm. Exp. 11-30-96