Reuse Water Distribution System Connection Installation Requirements – Residential Application

Purpose and Background

This document is to advise and guide property owners and/or their contractors who perform the work of the requirements regarding permitting, design, installation, and inspection of a residential connection to the Lakeway Municipal Utility District (LMUD) reuse/recycled/reclaimed water distribution system (“reuse system”) for irrigation purposes. Once installed, these systems shall be regarded as a part of the residence’s plumbing system. As with water supply, LMUD’s responsibility is the main distribution system and stops at the reuse water meter.

HISTORY

In the 1980s, the Texas Water Commission (the predecessor of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ) adopted the Watershed Protection Rules, as described in Chapter 311 of the Texas Administrative Code, subchapters A, B, E and F, outlining the Highland Lakes discharge ban rule that prevents the discharge of pollutants and treated wastewater effluent into the Highland Lakes. According to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), there are other water bodies that have watershed protection rules in place, but no other lakes in Texas have a similar ban on wastewater discharges. LMUD, as well as most of the other water utilities that service communities around the Highland Lakes, is subject to this discharge ban. However, even before this ban, since the 1970s, LMUD has been using treated wastewater (known as “reuse”, “reclaimed” or “recycled” water) to irrigate golf courses, common areas, parkland, and cedar breaks. As such, LMUD has been recognized as a leader in the beneficial reuse of reclaimed water for land application which is a massive conservation effort.

TYPE 1 RECLAIMED WATER

Municipal reclaimed water is treated water that is primarily derived from permitted wastewater treatment plants. These plants primarily treat human waste and wastewater from activities involving personal hygiene and food preparation. These wastes are then treated to the extent at which they are safe and suitable for reuse as reclaimed water. Reuse of untreated wastewater is prohibited.

Under TCEQ Chapter 210 Authorization, LMUD rigorously tests and treats reclaimed water to the highest standards, known as “Type I reclaimed water”, which is regularly monitored, tested, and known to be safe and environmentally friendly. Application of Type I reclaimed water is permitted for use in areas where public contact is likely. Examples of Type I uses include irrigating public parks, school yards, residential lawns, and athletic fields. Type I reclaimed water can also be used for fire protection, food-crop irrigation, and application to pastures grazed by milking animals.

CONSERVATION

With an expanding population, the demand for water is increasing at a rapid rate while the supply of readily available fresh water is becoming scarcer. The use of reclaimed water has been proven to be a viable solution to significantly conserve the supply of potable water, as well as save on the associated treatment cost for those raw water supplies that would be needed without access to reclaimed water. Type 1 reclaimed water is known to be perfectly safe and an environmentally friendly option for irrigation, which typically attributes about 60% of total residential water use. As we expand our reuse system to more residential locations, it decreases the demand on our potable water treatment plant and saves the amount of water we have to pull out of Lake Travis.

REUSE SYSTEM EXPANSION FOR RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION

Launched in 2018, LMUD’s Out of District Wastewater (ODWW) Project is an ongoing effort to extend the utility’s public wastewater collection system into the first 17 sections of Lakeway (“Old Lakeway”) to protect Lake Travis from contamination by nearby failing septic systems. LMUD’s General Manager, Earl Foster, had the foresight to install reclaimed water lines alongside the new wastewater lines which will allow approximately 300 homes around the Live Oak Golf Course and along the Airpark the option to connect to the Reuse System for irrigation purposes.

Steps for Obtaining a Residential Connection to LMUD’s Reuse System

STEP 1: HOMEOWNER

For homeowners interested in and eligible for connecting their residential property to the LMUD recycled water system:

Before applying for a connection:

  • Considerations:
    • Initial cost will be approx. $400 to LMUD to set the new meter and approx. $3,000 to a licensed irrigator to reroute existing inground irrigation. This requires some construction work and landscaping repair work will be needed.
    • Recycled water can only be used for inground irrigation systems. No above ground irrigation or hose bibs/faucets will be allowed to connect to this water source.
    • Once connected, the customer will receive two separate bills with two separate account numbers from LMUD: 1. for water/wastewater services and 2. for recycled water. Unlike water/wastewater, recycled water does not incur a base change or have a tiered rate structure. Cost of recycled water is $2.50 per 1,000 gallons. You may see a savings on your water bills if you consistently use over 15,000 gallons per bill cycle (2 months).
    • Customer must continue to follow the current watering schedule restrictions unless otherwise notified by LMUD. See Application for additional obligations.
Example of the required RPZ backflow device, located next to the potable water meter. Attached to it is the backflow report; behind it is a green cover, used to help insulate the pipes in the winter.
Example of the required expansion tank (blue tank) on the water heater. The RPZ serves as a check valve. See 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code for additional details or contact your licensed plumber.
  • Before applying, in order to help protect the public water supply from potential contamination, homeowners must confirm that they have an RPZ backflow device on their potable (drinking) water service line to the house which requires an expansion tank on their water heater (you must submit proof, such as a passed inspection or photos of these two components, with your application). If these two components do not exist, before applying, the homeowner will need to hire a licensed plumber to install them. A Plumbing Permit, completed by the licensed plumber, is required prior to any work being done as well as payment of an inspection fee of $75 (additional fees apply for a failed inspection).
  • We suggest that the homeowner contact a licensed irrigator to get a quote from them for the installation; we have a few referrals upon request, if needed. Expect to pay approx. $3,000 for rerouting existing irrigation from the potable water meter. They must follow LMUD installation specifications as well as applicable plumbing code. Consider where LMUD will be setting the new meter: behind the property, near either side of the shared property line with a neighbor, since the main recycled water line is run along the Live Oak golf course and airpark.

If interested in applying, the eligible homeowner should fill out the application form on the LMUD website  and pay the tap fee of $400 after the application is processed (online or over the phone by credit/debit card with a $2 convenience fee added or mail in/drop off a check payable to Lakeway MUD Attn: recycled water tap).

STEP 2: LMUD

The LMUD field team will be responsible for drawing up a site assessment indicating where we will set the new meter. It can be reviewed by email or in person. Once approved, the homeowner will need to wait for the LMUD field team to install the new recycled water meter, which can take between 2 weeks to 2 months. Once installed, a metal purple sign that indicates the water is not for drinking will be installed next to the new meter box (by law, this must remain placed, visible to any passersby, near the meter box at all times); the homeowner will be provided with a second sign that they can place in their front yard if they choose to do so or use as a replacement if the other one is damaged. The meter will be locked until the remaining work is completed by a licensed irrigator and is approved by the LMUD field team.

Hand-written site assessment indicating where the new recycled water meter will be placed in comparison to the reuse main line, the house, and the property line. Drawing is not to scale.
Example of the purple-painted lid on the recycled water meter box and the metal sign that is required to remain posted next to it indicating the water source is not for drinking.

STEP 3: LICENSED IRRIGATOR

Homeowner is responsible for hiring a licensed irrigator to reroute existing or install new inground irrigation to their new recycled water meter (no above ground irrigation or hose bibs/faucets will be allowed to connect to this water source). Before any work begins, an application for an LMUD Plumbing Permit must be submitted online by the licensed irrigator and payment of a $75 inspection fee must be paid. The permit must be posted near the potable water meter during work until they receive a final passed inspection.

Example of a physical air gap. This must remain unburied until both the LMUD team and third-party inspection, IO Inspections, inspects and approved the install. Contact your licensed irrigator for details.
All above ground components related to the reclaimed water line must be purple (replace or spray paint existing elements with “OSHA safety purple”-colored paint or similar).

The install must follow LMUD specifications as laid out in the Standard Details. See R-1 for specs on recycled/reclaimed water irrigation line. An airgap/physical disconnect is required by removing backflow device from existing potable water line (see WR-1). Where the two ends are disconnected, cap both ends and paint irrigation line with “OSHA safety purple”-colored paint. All work must be left unburied until the LMUD field team and a separate third-party inspector, IO Inspections, gives a final pass on the install. The irrigator will need to be present for the inspection with the LMUD team since the irrigation system will need to be tested.

STEP 4: LMUD

The irrigator should contact Stephanie Threinen at the LMUD office (512-261-6222 ext. 175 or stepht@lakewaymud.org) to confirm they have completed their install (left unburied) and are ready for inspection. Pick a date/time (M – F as early as 8am, as late as 3pm, noon – 1pm reserved for lunch break) for when the irrigator is available to meet at the property. Allow for at least 24 hours’ notice. LMUD field team will:

  • turn off the homeowner’s potable water and then will ask the irrigator to run the irrigation system to confirm it is tied to the recycled water meter.
  • visually inspect the unburied airgap/disconnected from potable water line, ensuring there is “OSHA safety purple”-paint on the irrigation line and that the two ends are capped.
  • confirm that any hose bibs/faucets tied to the recycled water system are capped.

Additional inspection items will be inspected by IO Inspections at final inspection (see below). Once the LMUD field team approves the install, LMUD will remove the lock from the meter and the homeowner is approved to begin operating the system. Note: recycled water should not be sprayed directly on edible crops, should not spray across property lines, and homeowner should continue to follow current irrigation schedule/watering restrictions unless otherwise specified by LMUD.

STEP 5: IO INSPECTIONS

Once the LMUD field team passes their inspection of the install, LMUD will be responsible for scheduling an initial final inspection with IO Inspections. IO Inspections will be checking for:

  • LMUD plumbing permit posted at street.
  • all valve boxes, sprinkler heads and other unburied components tied to the recycled water/irrigation line are painted purple (OSHA Safety Purple or similar equivalent).
  • metal purple “no drinking” signage posted by recycled water meter.
  • all pipes have been left unburied where connections/disconnects have been made, including clear separation/air gap between potable and reuse line with capped lines and irrigation line painted purple.
  • PRV and double-check valve installed at recycled water meter (per LMUD Standard Detail specs WR-1).
LMUD install specification: Standard Detail WR-1 showing required system components on the potable water line when there is a reclaimed water connection at the property. See below for full details.
LMUD install specifications: Standard Detail R-1 showing required system components on the reclaimed water line. See below for full details. All system components will be checked at final inspection.

If the initial inspection by IO Inspections does not pass, the irrigator is responsible for correcting any errors and rescheduling an inspection via the IO Inspections online form an additional $75 will be owed to LMUD for each inspection by calling customer service at 512-261-6222. If inspections are not paid until a passed inspection is on file, the homeowner will be responsible for the additional inspection fees and the possibility of a penalty fee added to their account. Once IO Inspections sends a final passed inspection, all components left unburied for inspection purposes can be buried and cleanup work completed.

Prior to Construction

Prior to any construction that requires digging, Texas811 (800-344-8377 or texas811.org) should be contacted to locate all underground utilities. Damage to any marked utility shall be repaired to utility owner’s satisfaction and at the property owner or contractor’s expense.

Purple Pipe

For new irrigation lines being run for a reuse water connection, it is recommended that service lateral pipelines be purple made from Polyethylene (PE) or Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.

Customer Side Shut Off

It is illegal to tamper with, obstruct access to, or remove a water meter, including the utility-owned shutoff valve. It is advised to install a customer-side shut off valve with knob or a ball valve handle requiring a quarter turn to shut off or turn on water.

Reuse Irrigation Signage

Prior to initiating service, a sign provided by LMUD indicating the water is not to be used for drinking purposes must be installed and remain visible at all times. The sign should be placed near the meter box, facing the direction of the most on-looker traffic (ie: the golf course or airstrip). If this sign is destroyed, a new sign may be requested by contacting LMUD.

System Testing, Fees, & Inspection Schedule

Inground irrigation systems connected to LMUD’s reuse water distribution system will require a plumbing permit and one (1) inspection. A failed inspection may incur additional inspection fees. A Plumbing Permit is available at www.LakewayMUD.org. Inspections should be scheduled before being buried directly by the irrigator with LMUD’s Chief Plumbing Inspector: Troy Gray, IO Inspections (www.ioinspections.com). Most inspection requests require a minimum 48-hour turn-around time.

REUSE WATER TAP FEE
5/8” meter$400
SERVICE FEE
(applies to existing taps only)$50
IRRIGATION SYSTEM PLUMBING PERMIT INSPECTION FEES
Minimum one (1) S/S inspections$75
Each additional S/S inspection$75

Customer Rates

Customers will receive a separate bill with a separate account number from their regular potable water/wastewater bill for their reuse meter.

REUSE WATER – RETAIL
Per 1,000 gallons$2.50

Standard Details R-1 and WR-1

R-1: Reclaimed Water Irrigation Service

R-1-r3


WR-1: Potable Water Service with Reclaimed Water Irrigation

WR-1