From Texas Section of the American Water Works Association

The TCEQ will conduct stakeholder meetings across the state in January to solicit informal comments on rulemaking for 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 334, Subchapter F, Landscape Irrigation - Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection.

This rulemaking is the result of petitions approved at the Oct. 4, 2017, Commissioner’s Agenda. The petitions seek to amend acceptable methods for backflow prevention in 30 TAC 344.52, Installation of Backflow Prevention Devices, including:

• eliminating authorization of double check valves,
• adding spill resistant vacuum breakers as an allowable alternative,
• including requirements for the use of in-line filters or strainers, and
• changing terminology from backflow prevention “devices” to “assemblies” to align with 30 TAC 290, Public Drinking Water.

Additionally, the petitions seek to revise 30 TAC 344.50, Backflow Prevention Methods, to align current TCEQ rules with existing national and international standards concerning the health hazard classification of irrigation systems, the backflow assemblies acceptable for use in protection against an irrigation system, and the terminology used to refer to a backflow prevention assembly. 

Information on cross-connection and backflow prevention, a link to the current TCEQ rules, and copies of the Commission’s decision on the petitions can be found on the Landscape Irrigation Regulation Stakeholder page on the TCEQ’s website.

Stakeholder meetings are an opportunity for the public to provide informal comments to staff prior to the start of formal rulemaking. While staff will review all comments received, the TCEQ will not formally respond to any informal comments. 

Stakeholder meetings will be held at following locations and times:

Jan. 16, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
Tesoro Building
8700 Tesoro Drive, 1st Floor Conference Room
San Antonio, Texas 78217

Jan. 17, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Region 14
TAMUCC-NRC Building
6300 Ocean Drive
Corpus Christi, Texas 78412

Jan. 18, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.
Harlingen Water Works Building
114 North L Street
Harlingen, Texas 78550

Jan. 22, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
El Paso Public Library
501 North Oregon Street
El Paso, Texas 79901

Jan. 23, 2018, at 6:00 p.m.  
Wolfforth Public Library Community Room
508 East Hwy 62/82
Wolfforth, TX 79382

Jan. 29, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Region 11
12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Room 201S
Austin, Texas 78753
* Please note: The Austin meeting will also be webcast.

TCEQ will accept comments through Feb. 28, 2018. Written comments should reference Rule Project Number 2018-004-344-CE and be submitted to:

Derek Baxter
TCEQ - Office of Legal Service
P.O. Box 13087 – MC205
Austin TX 18177-3087

Or faxed to 512-239-4808.

Electronic comments may be submitted via the TCEQ eComments system. 

For additional information please contact Melissa Keller, Program Support Section, at 512-239-1768 or the Program Support Section Main Line 512-239-0400