GENERAL PROVISIONS

Fort Worth City Code ch. 12.5, art. V, div. 3, subpt. I

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-525 PURPOSE.

§ 12.5-525 PURPOSE. Pursuant to Tex. Administrative Code Title 30, § 290.44, it is the responsibility of the city to protect its drinking water supply by instituting and enforcing a cross-connection program. The purpose of this division, therefore, is to comply with the above-cited regulatory requirements and to protect the water supply of the city from contamination or pollution due to any cross-connections. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-526 COST OF COMPLIANCE.

§ 12.5-526 COST OF COMPLIANCE. The cost of complying with these regulations shall be the responsibility of the property owners and their lessees. These costs include, but are not limited to, purchasing, installation, testing and repair of the assembly. These costs shall also include point-of-use and premises isolation assemblies. Any cost incurred by the city to enforce this division is the responsibility of the property owners and their lessees. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-527 RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND RENTERS.

§ 12.5-527 RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND RENTERS. (a) It is the responsibility of all property owners and lessees to abide by the conditions of this division. If changes are made to a premises plumbing system, the property owner shall notify the director. (b) The owner of leased premises is responsible for the installation, testing and repair of all backflow assemblies on the premises. When the lessee changes, the owner shall immediately notify the city. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-528 BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY REQUIREMENTS.

§ 12.5-528 BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A certified cross-connection inspector employed by or under contract with the city shall determine the type and location of backflow assembly to be installed within the city’s water service area. This does not include wholesale customers or their water users. (b) At a minimum, a backflow prevention assembly will be required in each of the following circumstances: (1) When the nature and extent of any activity at a premises, or the materials used in connection with any activity at a premises, or materials stored at a premises, could contaminate or pollute the potable water supply; (2) When a premises has one or more cross-connections; (3) When internal cross-connections are present that are not correctable; (4) When intricate plumbing arrangements are present that make it impractical to ascertain whether cross-connections exist; (5) When a premises has a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established; (6) When entry to a premises is unduly restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency to assure that cross-connections do not exist; (7) When materials are being used such that, if backflow should occur, a health hazard could result; (8) When installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly is deemed by an inspector to be necessary to accomplish the purpose of these regulations; (9) When an appropriate cross-connection survey report form has not been filed with the director; (10) When a fire sprinkler system using nonpotable piping material is connected to the city’s water system; (11) In all new nonresidential construction there shall be installed an approved backflow assembly at the service connection. The type of the assembly will be commensurate with the degree of hazard as determined by an inspector; (12) When a building is constructed on commercial premises, and the end use of such building is not determined or could change, a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall be installed at the service connection to provide protection of the public water supply in the event of the most hazardous use of the building; (13) If a premises is required to have backflow prevention assemblies, but water cannot be turned off during the testing of such assemblies, the premises shall be equipped with dual backflow prevention assemblies of the same type so that testing, repair and maintenance can be performed; (14) Any used water return system that has received approval from the director; (15) If a point-of-use assembly has not been tested or repaired as required by this division, a premises isolation assembly shall be required; (16) If an inspector determines that additions or rearrangements have been made to the plumbing system without the proper permits as required by the plumbing code, premises isolation shall be required; (17) All multistory buildings or any building with a booster pump or elevated storage tank; and (18) Retrofitting shall be required on all high hazard connections and wherever else the director deems retrofitting necessary. (c) Any premises requiring multiple service connections for adequacy of supply and/or fire protection shall have a backflow assembly on each service connection. The assembly shall be commensurate with the degree of potential hazard that could occur in the event of an interconnect between any of the buildings on the premises. (d) A person commits an offense if the person owns or is in control of any premises and knowingly fails to install and maintain backflow prevention assemblies on said premises as required by this section. (e) A person commits an offense if the person owns, operates or manages any premises and backflow from the premises enters the public water supply system. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-529 RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS.

§ 12.5-529 RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS. If the director determines that residential premises have a cross-connection, said premises shall be equipped with an approved backflow prevention assembly installed in accordance with this division. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-530 PLUMBING CODE.

§ 12.5-530 PLUMBING CODE. As a condition of water service, customers shall install, maintain and operate their piping and plumbing systems in accordance with the plumbing code. If there is a conflict between this article and the plumbing code, the more restrictive provision shall apply. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-531 INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS.

§ 12.5-531 INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the following requirements, to ensure their proper operation and accessibility. (1) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the plumbing code and this division. The assembly installer shall obtain the required plumbing permits prior to installation and shall have the assembly inspected by a certified cross-connection inspector and as required by the plumbing code. (2) No part of a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall be submerged in water or installed in a location subject to flooding. If a doublecheck valve assembly is installed in a vault, brass plugs shall be maintained in the test ports at all times and adequate drainage shall be provided. (3) Assemblies shall be installed at the point of delivery of the water supply, before any branch in the line, and on private property located just inside the boundary of the city’s right-of-way. An inspector may specify other areas for installation of the assembly. (4) The assembly shall be protected from freezing and other severe weather conditions. (5) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be of a type and model approved by the director. (6) All vertical installations shall be approved in writing by the director prior to installation. (7) The assembly shall be readily accessible with adequate room for maintenance and testing. Assemblies two inches and smaller shall have at least a six-inch clearance on all sides of the assembly. All assemblies larger than two inches shall have a minimum clearance of 12 inches on the back side, 24 inches on the test cock side, 12 inches below the assembly and 36 inches above the assembly. “Y” pattern doublecheck valve assemblies shall be installed so that the checks are horizontal and the test cocks face upward. (8) If the director grants written permission to install the backflow assembly inside of a building, the assembly shall be readily accessible between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (9) If an assembly is installed pursuant to subsection (a)(8) above, and is four inches or larger and is installed five feet or higher above the floor, it shall be equipped with a rigidly and permanently installed scaffolding acceptable to the director. This installation shall also meet all applicable requirements set out by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the State of Texas occupational safety and health laws. (10) RP assemblies may be installed in a vault only if relief valve discharge can be drained to daylight through a boresight type drain. The drain shall be of adequate capacity to carry the full rated flow of the assembly and shall be screened on both ends. (11) An approved air gap shall be located at the relief valve orifice of RP assemblies. This air gap shall be at least twice the inside diameter of the incoming supply line as measured vertically above the top rim of the drain and in no case less than one inch. (12) Upon completion of installation, the property owner shall notify the director to test and inspect the assemblies. The property owner shall register all backflow assemblies with the director. Registration shall consist of date of installation, manufacturer, model, serial number of the backflow prevention assembly, and initial test report. (b) A person commits an offense if the person installs a backflow prevention assembly in violation of this section. (c) A person commits an offense if the person fails to notify the director to inspect a backflow prevention assembly after its installation as required by this section. (d) A person commits an offense if the person fails to register a backflow prevention assembly as required by this section. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-532 TESTING OF ASSEMBLIES.

§ 12.5-532 TESTING OF ASSEMBLIES. (a) The director will inspect and test, or cause to be inspected and tested, all assemblies in each of the following circumstances: (1) Immediately after installation; (2) Whenever the assembly is moved; (3) A minimum of once a year for all double check assemblies and pressure vacuum breakers; (4) Any premises that has RP assemblies as point-of-use protection without high hazard premises isolation protection must be tested every six months; (5) Any premises that has an RP assembly as premises isolation without high hazard point-of-use protection must be tested every six months; and (6) Immediately after repair. (b) Assemblies may be required to be tested more frequently if the director deems necessary. (c) All assembly testing shall be performed by a certified and registered backflow prevention assembly tester, in accordance with city-approved test procedures. (d) It is the responsibility of the property owner and the person in control of the premises to have all assemblies tested in accordance with this division. (e) A person commits an offense if the person owns or is in control of any premises and knowingly fails or refuses to have the backflow prevention assemblies installed on said premises inspected or tested as required by this section. (f) The city shall not be liable for damage to an assembly that occurs during testing, when such damage results from metal fatigue or deteriorated metal, or when such damage occurs under standard testing procedures. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-533 MAINTENANCE OF ASSEMBLIES.

§ 12.5-533 MAINTENANCE OF ASSEMBLIES. (a) A person who owns, operates or manages premises in which required backflow prevention assemblies are installed, shall maintain such assemblies in proper working order at all times, including repair as required. All maintenance and repair of assemblies shall be done in accordance with all applicable regulations of the commission and this chapter. (b) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be maintained in a manner that allows them to be tested by a method that has been approved by the director. (c) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly fails to maintain backflow prevention assemblies in compliance with this section. (d) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly fails to comply with a repair order issued by the director. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-534 THERMAL EXPANSION.

§ 12.5-534 THERMAL EXPANSION. It is the responsibility of the property owner to eliminate the possibility of thermal expansion, if a closed system has been created by the installation of a backflow assembly. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-535 PRESSURE LOSS.

§ 12.5-535 PRESSURE LOSS. Any water pressure drop caused by the installation of a backflow assembly shall not be the responsibility of the city. The department may give reasonable assistance to a property owner regarding information on adequate sizing of assemblies and proper plumbing practices to provide for required pressure and flows for fire protection. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-536 MOBILE UNITS.

§ 12.5-536 MOBILE UNITS. (a) A person who owns or operates any vehicle that uses water from the city’s public water system shall obtain a use permit from the director before accessing the public water system. The director may require a fixed air gap or backflow assembly mounted either on the vehicle or piping. (b) The failure of the owner or operator of the vehicle to comply with this division shall be grounds for the city to revoke any permit or license required under the city code to operate the vehicle or the business for which such vehicle is used. (c) The director may deny a use permit to any person who is not in compliance with this division or who has a history of violating the requirements of this section. (d) A person commits an offense if the person operates or causes to be operated a vehicle in violation of this section. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-537 WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS.

§ 12.5-537 WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS. Every wholesale customer that has a contract for water services with the city shall have an active, ongoing cross-connection program approved by the director. The city reserves the right to require a reduced pressure principle assembly or air gap at the interconnect. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-538 RIGHT-OF-WAY ENCROACHMENT.

§ 12.5-538 RIGHT-OF-WAY ENCROACHMENT. (a) No person shall install or maintain a backflow prevention assembly upon or within any city right-of-way except as provided by this section. (b) No encroachment agreement as required by the buildings chapter of the city code will be necessary, but all other permits required by the city code to perform work in the right-of-way shall be obtained. (c) A backflow prevention assembly required by this division may be installed upon or within any city right-of-way only if the owner proves to the city that there is no other feasible location for installing the assembly, and installing it in the right-of-way will not interfere with traffic or utilities. The city retains the right to approve the location, height, depth, enclosure and other requisites of the assembly prior to its installation. (d) Any assembly or portion of an assembly which extends aboveground shall be located no closer than 18 inches to the face of the curb. (e) A property owner shall, at the request of the city and at the owner’s sole expense, relocate a backflow prevention assembly which encroaches upon any city right-of-way when such relocation is necessary for street or utility construction or repairs or for purposes of public safety. (f) A person commits an offense if the person installs or maintains a backflow prevention assembly in violation of this section. (g) A person commits an offense if the person fails to relocate a backflow prevention assembly located in or upon any city right-of-way after receiving a written order from the city to do so. (h) A backflow prevention assembly installed or maintained in city right-of-way in violation of this section or an order issued pursuant to this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance. (Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)

Fort Worth City Code § 12.5-539 through 12.5-542 RESERVED.

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-14561Fetched: 10/26/2026