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.
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