February 2009

Dear Valued Customer,

American Waterboys Inc. has been in business for 25 years. You are receiving this letter because we have either installed your sprinkler system or have serviced it through the years, perhaps with a different homeowner.

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has enacted new laws that will affect your sprinkler system. These changes are statewide and if you have any questions we will be happy to try and answer them for you or you may call the TNRCC in Austin at (512) 239-1000.

The following is a list of the changes that the TNRCC has passed and by law, all irrigation companies will have to abide by these rules. These rules are to be enforced state wide and they are for your protection and well being.

Subchapter E: Backflow Prevention and Cross Connections
30 TAC ∫∫ 344.50 – 344.52

∫∫344.50 Backflow Prevention Methods
Any irrigation system that is connected to a public or private potable water supply must be connected through a commission approved backflow prevention method. The backflow prevention device must be approved by the American Society of Sanitary Engineers; or the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California; or the Uniform Plumbing Code; or any laboratory that has equivalent capabilities for both the laboratory and field evaluation of backflow prevention assemblies. The backflow prevention device must be installed in accordance with the laboratory approved standards or if the approval does not include specific installation information, the manufactures current published recommendations.

If a double check valve is installed below ground:

1. test cocks must be plugged, except when the double check valve is being tested;
2. test cock plugs must be threaded, water tight, and made of non-ferrous materials;
3. a Y-type strainer is installed on the inlet side of the double check valve;
4. there must be clearance between any fill material and the bottom of the double check valve to allow space for testing and repair; and
5. there must be space on the side of the double check valve to test and repair the double check valve.

∫∫344.52   Installation of the Backflow Prevention Device:

If an irrigation system is connected to a potable water supply and requires major maintenance, alteration, repair, or service, the system must be connected to the potable water supply through an approved, properly installed backflow prevention method as defined in this title before any major maintenance, alteration, repair, or service is performed.

Subchapter F: Standards for Designing, Installing, and Maintaining Landscape Irrigation Systems
30 TAC ∫∫344.60-344.65

∫∫344.60 Water Conservation

(k) Isolation Valve: All new irrigation systems must include an isolation valve between the water meter and the backflow prevention device.

(n) Water contained within the piping of the irrigation system is deemed to be non-potable. No drinking or domestic water usage, such as, but not limited to, filling swimming pools or decorative fountains, shall be connected to an irrigation system. If a hose bib (an outdoor water faucet that has hose threads on the spout) is connected to an irrigation system for the purpose of providing supplemental water to an area, the hose bib must be installed using a quick coupler key on a quick coupler installed in a covered purple box and the hose bib and any hoses connected to the bib must be labeled “non-potable, not safe for drinking.” An isolation valve must be installed upstream of a quick coupler connecting a hose bib to an irrigation system.

If you would like to schedule a time for us to come out and upgrade your sprinkler system to State code, please contact our office at (903) 839-0967 or (800)232-2000.

Sincerely,

Joe McElligott
LI # 1756