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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to rainwater harvesting systems that are connected to |
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public water supply systems. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 341.042, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1), |
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(b-2), (b-3), and (b-4) to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission by rule shall provide that if a structure |
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is connected to a public water supply system and has a rainwater |
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harvesting system for indoor use,[:
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[(1)] the structure must have appropriate |
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cross-connection safeguards[; and
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[(2)
the rainwater harvesting system may be used only
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for nonpotable indoor purposes]. |
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(b-1) The commission shall work with the department to |
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develop rules regarding the installation and maintenance of |
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rainwater harvesting systems that are used for indoor potable |
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purposes and connected to a public water supply system. The rules |
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must contain criteria that are sufficient to ensure that: |
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(1) safe sanitary drinking water standards are met; |
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and |
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(2) harvested rainwater does not come into |
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communication with a public water supply system's drinking water at |
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a location off of the property on which the rainwater harvesting |
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system is located. |
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(b-2) A person who installs and maintains rainwater |
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harvesting systems that are connected to a public water supply |
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system and are used for potable purposes must be licensed by the |
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Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners as a master plumber or |
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journeyman plumber and hold an endorsement issued by the board as a |
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water supply protection specialist. |
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(b-3) A person who intends to connect a rainwater harvesting |
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system to a public water supply system for use for potable purposes |
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must give written notice of that intention to the municipality in |
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which the rainwater harvesting system is located or the owner or |
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operator of the public water supply system before connecting the |
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rainwater harvesting system to the public water supply system. |
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(b-4) A municipally owned water or wastewater utility, a |
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municipality, or the owner or operator of a public water supply |
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system may not be held liable for any adverse health effects |
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allegedly caused by the consumption of water collected by a |
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rainwater harvesting system that is connected to a public water |
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supply system and is used for potable purposes if the municipally |
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owned water or wastewater utility, municipality, or public water |
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supply system is in compliance with the sanitary standards for |
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drinking water applicable to the municipally owned water or |
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wastewater utility, municipality, or public water supply system. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |