By: King of Zavala (Senate Sponsor - Jackson) H.B. No. 3372

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2011; April 27, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; May 12, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; May 12, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3372 By: Jackson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to rainwater harvesting systems that are connected to public water supply systems.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 341.042, Health and Safety Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (b-3), and (b-4) to read as follows:

(b) The commission by rule shall provide that if a structure is connected to a public water supply system and has a rainwater harvesting system for indoor use,[:

[(1)] the structure must have appropriate cross-connection safeguards[; and

[(2) the rainwater harvesting system may be used only for nonpotable indoor purposes].

(b-1) The commission shall work with the department to develop rules regarding the installation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems that are used for indoor potable purposes and connected to a public water supply system. The rules must contain criteria that are sufficient to ensure that:

(1) safe sanitary drinking water standards are met; and

(2) harvested rainwater does not come into communication with a public water supply system's drinking water at a location off of the property on which the rainwater harvesting system is located.

(b-2) A person who installs and maintains rainwater harvesting systems that are connected to a public water supply system and are used for potable purposes must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners as a master plumber or journeyman plumber and hold an endorsement issued by the board as a water supply protection specialist.

(b-3) A person who intends to connect a rainwater harvesting system to a public water supply system for use for potable purposes must give written notice of that intention to the municipality in which the rainwater harvesting system is located or the owner or operator of the public water supply system before connecting the rainwater harvesting system to the public water supply system.

(b-4) A municipally owned water or wastewater utility, a municipality, or the owner or operator of a public water supply system may not be held liable for any adverse health effects allegedly caused by the consumption of water collected by a rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a public water supply system and is used for potable purposes if the municipally owned water or wastewater utility, municipality, or public water supply system is in compliance with the sanitary standards for drinking water applicable to the municipally owned water or wastewater utility, municipality, or public water supply system.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.

* * * * *