Before continuous water service for new construction is established, Texas law requires an inspection of the private water-distribution system as a way to ensure that the water is safe to drink. This type of customer service inspection is required in Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Subsection 290.46(j).
What Is a Customer Service Inspection?
A customer service inspection is an examination of the private water distribution facility for the purpose of providing or denying water service. The inspection is limited to the identification and prevention of cross-connections, potential contaminant hazards, and illegal lead materials. Customer service inspections are completed before providing continuous water service to new construction, on any existing service where there is reason to believe that cross-connections or other potential contaminant hazards exist, or after any material improvement, correction, or addition to private water distribution facilities. (TCEQ)
When Are Customer Service Inspections Required?
An inspection must occur in the following situations:
- When there is new construction.
- When there is a material improvement, correction, or addition to the private water distribution system (defined as plumbing work that requires a permit and involves a major modification to the private water distribution system). The private water system refers to the facilities on the owner’s side of the meter. For areas where no permitting system is in place, examples of modifications that require a customer service inspection include remodeling or expansion of household plumbing or water-using devices, customer request for installation of a larger meter, drilling of a private well, or installation of a rainwater harvesting system.
- When the water supplier believes that a cross connection or other potential contamination hazard exists. In such a case, the water supplier must provide written justification to the customer for requiring an inspection by specifically identifying the threat that is believed to exist. ( *Example No CSI on record)
- Prior to a property receiving recycled /re-use water.
What Will They Be Looking For?
- The inspector will need access to the outside of the property to look for cross-connection
- The inspector will need to access the interior of the residence to look at all the plumbing including under sinks, behind toilets, behind the washing machine and the hot water heater for any evidence of lead or lead soldering.
How Is The Reporting Taken Care Of?
- Please Submit a copy of your CSI to SAWS
- Use “TCEQ CSI Notice” in the address or subject line of your submittal
- Email: cs-tceq_csi@saws.org
- Fax: (210) 233-4749
- Mail: P.O. Box 2449, San Antonio, TX 78298