Texas Administrative Code › Title 30 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Part 1 - TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY › Chapter 344 - LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION › Subchapter A - DEFINITIONS › Section 344.1 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter,
					 have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
					 otherwise.
(1) Air gap--The
				  unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest
				  opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water to a tank, fixture, receptor,
				  sink, or other assembly and the flood level rim of the receptacle. The
				  vertical, physical separation must be at least twice the diameter of the water
				  supply outlet, but never less than 1.0 inch.
(2) As-built drawing--The final irrigation
				  plan produced at the completion of an irrigation system installation and
				  provided to the irrigation system's owner or the owner's representative. The
				  as-built drawing(s) will reflect all changes made to the original irrigation
				  plan and/or specifications during the construction process and show all aspects
				  of the irrigation system including the dimensions, geometry, and location of
				  all elements of the irrigation system. May be referred to as "record drawings"
				  or "as-builts."
(3) Backflow
				  prevention--The prevention of the reversal of flow, due to back siphonage or
				  backpressure, of nonpotable water from an irrigation system into the potable
				  water supply.
(4) Backflow
				  prevention assembly--A mechanical assembly used to prevent backflow into a
				  potable water system. The type of assembly used is based on the degree of
				  hazard (health hazard or non-health hazard) and hydraulic conditions.
(5) Completion of irrigation system
				  installation--When the landscape irrigation system has been installed, all
				  minimum standards met, all tests performed, and the irrigator is satisfied that
				  the system is operating correctly.
(6) Consulting--The act of providing advice,
				  guidance, review or recommendations related to landscape irrigation
				  systems.
(7) Cross-connection--A
				  physical connection between a public water system and either another supply of
				  unknown or questionable quality, any source which may contain contaminating or
				  polluting substances, or any source of water treated to a lesser degree in the
				  treatment process.
(8) Design--The
				  act of determining the various elements of a landscape irrigation system that
				  will include, but not limited to, elements such as collecting site specific
				  information, defining the scope of the project, defining plant watering needs,
				  selecting and laying out emission devices, locating system components,
				  conducting hydraulic calculations, identifying any local regulatory
				  requirements, or scheduling irrigation work at a site. Completion of the
				  various components will result in an irrigation plan.
(9) Design pressure--The pressure that is
				  required for an emission device to operate properly and in conjunction with the
				  head-to-head spacing requirement. Design pressure is the sum of the minimum
				  operating pressure of an emission device to the total of all pressure losses
				  accumulated from the emission device to the water source.
(10) Double Check Valve Assembly--An assembly
				  that is composed of two independently acting, check valves, including tightly
				  closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly
				  and fitted with properly located resilient seated test cocks. Also known as a
				  Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly.
(11) Emission device--Any device that is
				  contained within an irrigation system and that is used to apply water. Common
				  emission devices in an irrigation system include, but are not limited to, spray
				  and rotary sprinkler heads, and drip irrigation emitters.
(12) Employed--The state of being engaged or
				  hired to provide irrigation services and of being in an employer-employee
				  relationship as defined by Internal Revenue Code, 26 United States Code
				  Service, §3212(d) based on the behavioral control, financial control, and
				  the type of relationship involved in performing employment related
				  tasks.
(13) Exempt business
				  owner--an owner of a business who employs a licensed irrigator to supervise the
				  irrigation services performed by the business as referenced in Texas
				  Occupations Code, Chapter 1903.
(14) Graywater--wastewater from showers,
				  bathtubs, handwashing lavatories, sinks that are used for disposal of household
				  or domestic products, sinks that are not used for food preparation or disposal,
				  and clothes-washing machines. Graywater does not include wastewater from the
				  washing of material, including diapers, soiled with human excreta or wastewater
				  that has come into contact with toilet waste.
(15) Head-to-head spacing--The spacing of
				  emission devices such that the distance between them is within the
				  manufacturer's published radius range and the water spray reaches from device
				  to device. A deviation of 10% or less is acceptable.
(16) Health hazard--A cross-connection,
				  potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving any substance that
				  can cause death, illness, spread of disease, or has a high probability of
				  causing such effects if introduced into the potable drinking water
				  supply.
(17) Hydraulics--The
				  science of dynamic and static water; the mathematical computation of pressure
				  losses and/or pressure requirements of an irrigation system.
(18) Irrigation inspector--A water district
				  operator, governmental entity, or licensed irrigation inspector who inspects
				  irrigation systems and performs other enforcement duties for a municipality or
				  water district and is required to be licensed under Chapter 30 of this title
				  (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations) or a licensed plumbing
				  inspector.
(19) Irrigation plan--A
				  scaled drawing of a new landscape irrigation system to be installed. The
				  irrigation plan shall meet all the requirements in §§
										344.60-
				  344.65
				  of this title (relating to Water Conservation; Minimum Standards for the Design
				  of the Irrigation Plan; Minimum Design and Installation Requirements;
				  Completion of Irrigation System Installation; Maintenance, Alteration, Repair,
				  or Service of Irrigation Systems; and Reclaimed Water) and is provided as an
				  as-built drawing to the owner or owner's representative upon completion of the
				  irrigation system installation.
(20) Irrigation services--All activities
				  involving an irrigation system including, selling, designing, installing,
				  maintaining, altering, repairing, servicing, permitting, consulting services,
				  or connecting an irrigation system to a water supply.
(21) Irrigation system--A system permanently
				  installed on a site and that is composed of an assembly of component parts for
				  the controlled distribution and conservation of water to irrigate, reduce dust,
				  and control erosion in any type of landscape vegetation in any location. This
				  term includes sprinklers and sprinkler systems used for irrigation. This term
				  does not include a system that is used on or by an agricultural operation as
				  defined by Texas Agricultural Code, §251.002.
(22) Irrigation technician--A person who
				  works under the supervision of a licensed irrigator to perform irrigation
				  services including the connection of an irrigation system to a private or
				  public, raw or potable water supply system or any other water supply, and who
				  is required to be licensed under Chapter 30 of this title (relating to
				  Occupational Licenses and Registrations).
(23) Irrigation zone--A subdivision of an
				  irrigation system with a matched precipitation rate based on plant type (turf,
				  shrubs, or trees), microclimate (sun/shade ratio), topographic features, soil
				  type (sand, loam, clay, or combination), and hydrological control.
(24) Irrigator--A person who performs
				  irrigation services and/or supervises the installation of an irrigation system,
				  including the connection of such system to a private or public, raw or potable
				  water supply system or any water supply, and who is required to be licensed
				  under Chapter 30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and
				  Registrations).
(25)
				  Irrigator-in-Charge--The irrigator responsible for all irrigation work
				  performed by an exempt business owner, including, but not limited to obtaining
				  permits, developing design plans, supervising the work of other irrigators or
				  irrigation technicians, and installing, selling, maintaining, altering,
				  repairing, or servicing a landscape irrigation system.
(26) Landscape irrigation--The science of
				  applying the necessary amount of water to promote or sustain healthy growth of
				  plant material or turf.
(27)
				  License--An occupational license that is issued by the commission under Chapter
				  30 of this title (relating to Occupational Licenses and Registrations) to an
				  individual that authorizes the individual to engage in an activity that is
				  covered by this chapter.
(28)
				  Mainline--A pipe within an irrigation system that delivers water from the water
				  source to the individual zone valves.
(29) Maintenance checklist--A document made
				  available to the irrigation system's owner or owner's representative that
				  contains information regarding the operation and maintenance of the irrigation
				  system, including, but not limited to: checking and repairing the irrigation
				  system, setting the automatic controller, checking the rain or moisture sensor,
				  cleaning filters, pruning grass and plants away from irrigation emitters, using
				  and operating the irrigation system, the precipitation rates of each irrigation
				  zone within the system, any water conservation measures currently in effect
				  from the water purveyor, the name of the water purveyor, a suggested seasonal
				  or monthly watering schedule based on current evapotranspiration data for the
				  geographic region, and the minimum water requirements for the plant material in
				  each zone based on the soil type and plant material where the system is
				  installed.
(30) Major maintenance,
				  alteration, repair, or service--Any activity that involves opening to the
				  atmosphere the irrigation main line at any point prior to the discharge side of
				  any irrigation zone control valve. This includes, but is not limited to,
				  repairing or connecting into a main supply pipe, replacing a zone control
				  valve, or repairing a zone control valve in a manner that opens the system to
				  the atmosphere.
(31) Master
				  valve--A control valve located after the backflow prevention assembly that
				  controls the flow of water to the irrigation system mainline.
(32) Matched precipitation rate--The
				  condition in which all sprinkler heads within an irrigation zone apply water at
				  the same rate
(33) New
				  installation--An irrigation system installed at a location where one did not
				  previously exist or is a complete replacement of an existing irrigation
				  system.
(34) Non-health hazard--A
				  cross-connection, potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving
				  any substance that generally will not be a health hazard but will constitute a
				  nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable if introduced into the public water
				  supply.
(35) Non-potable
				  water--Water that is not suitable for human consumption. Non-potable water
				  sources include, but are not limited to, irrigation systems, lakes, ponds,
				  streams, gray water, water condensate from cooling towers, reclaimed water, and
				  harvested rainwater.
(36)
				  Pass-through contract--A written contract between a contractor or builder and a
				  licensed irrigator or exempt business owner to perform part or all of the
				  irrigation services. A pass-through contract is also referred to as a
				  sub-contract.
(37) Potable
				  water--Water that is suitable for human consumption and meets the definition of
				  drinking water in §
										290.38(23)
				  of this title (relating to Definitions)).
(38) Pressure Vacuum Breaker--An assembly
				  that contains an independently operating internally loaded check valve and an
				  independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of
				  the check valve. Also known as a Pressure Vacuum Breaker Back-siphonage
				  Prevention Assembly.
(39) Reclaimed
				  water--Domestic or municipal wastewater which has been treated to a quality
				  suitable for beneficial use, such as landscape irrigation.
(40) Records of landscape irrigation
				  activities--The irrigation plans, contracts, warranty information, invoices,
				  copies of permits, and all other documents that relate to irrigation
				  services.
(41) Reduced Pressure
				  Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly--An assembly containing two
				  independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically
				  operating mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located
				  between the two check valves and below the first check valve.
(42) Static water pressure--The pressure of
				  water when it is not moving. Generally, this is the pressure available to the
				  irrigation system.
(43)
				  Supervision--The on-the-job oversight and direction by a licensed irrigator who
				  is fulfilling his or her professional responsibility to the client and/or
				  employer in compliance with local and state requirements. Also performed by a
				  licensed irrigation technician who is working under the direction of a licensed
				  irrigator to perform irrigation services.
(44) Temporary Irrigation System - A
				  temporarily installed, above ground system of pipes and component parts used to
				  distribute water to the landscaping of a site for the establishment of plant
				  growth, reduction of dust, and erosion control. Temporary irrigation systems
				  must meet the requirements in § 344.66 of this title (relating to
				  Temporary Irrigation Systems).
(45)
				  Water conservation--The design, installation, service, and operation of an
				  irrigation system in a manner that prevents the waste of water, promotes the
				  most efficient use of water, and applies the least amount of water that is
				  required to maintain healthy individual plant material or turf, reduce dust,
				  and control erosion.
(46) Zone
				  flow--A measurement, in gallons per minute or gallons per hour, of the actual
				  flow of water through a zone valve, calculated by individually opening each
				  zone valve and obtaining a valid reading after the pressure has stabilized. For
				  design purposes, the zone flow is the total flow of all nozzles in the zone at
				  a specific pressure.
(47) Zone
				  valve--An automatic valve that controls a single zone of a landscape irrigation
				  system.