Ord 03-2019 Amending Chapter 106 Articles I, II, and VI 3/5/2019
Ordinance No. 03-2019
Ordinance amending Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances by
amending Articles I, III, and VI; providing a repealer clause; providing
for inclusion; providing for severability; and setting an effective date
WHEREAS, city staff has reviewed this proposal and recommends approval of
these amendments to the Code of Ordinances; and,
WHEREAS, city staff believes this will clarify the water and sewer extension policy
for new development; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council co
the Code of Ordinances at Chapter 106, amending Articles I, III, and VI, to clarify the
placement of public water and sewer lines in relation to property.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
Chapter 106 of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by the addition
of language in Article I, at Section 106-1, Article III, at Section 106-248 (b), and Article VI,
at Section 106-532 which shall hereafter read as follows:
ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL
Sec. 106-1. Definitions
Service Pipe/Line. A service pipe/line is a privately-owned and maintained water or sewer
pipe that connects the customer to a city utility main.
Section 106-2 106- 24. Reserved.
ARTICLE III. - SEWER SERVICE
Sec. 106-248. - Connections required.
a) No utilities shall be connected with any new building or construction until a proper
sewer connection has been made if the city sewer is available within 200 feet from
such new building or construction. If such city sewer is not available within such
distance, no utilities shall be connected until an approved septic tank and disposal
field has been constructed for the use of such new building or construction. The
septic tank shall be approved by the city/county public health district before such
utility clearances shall be issued.
b) All service pipes/lines from the sewer mains shall be in accordance with the city's
plumbing code. Service pipes/lines may not cross adjoining property lines. All
service pipes/lines must be adjacent to the property.
ARTICLE VI. - WATER AND SEWER MAIN EXTENSIONS
Sec. 106-532. - Extension policy.
a) Upon request of an applicant or group of applicants who are authorized to
receive water and/or sewer service, for the purpose of this article known as
"applicant," the city may extend water and gravity sanitary sewer mains in the
streets and alleys or easements within the city limits in order to permit
connections by persons desiring and seeking water service and sanitary sewer
service. All costs for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and
other actual costs for installation of the mains will be borne by the applicant as
the user of the service. All materials and construction methods for the
extension must be in compliance with city standards and specifications. The
applicant must provide engineering plans sealed by a state-registered
professional engineer for city approval. Any required state regulatory authority
approval needed for the extension must be obtained by the applicant or his
agent. Construction will be inspected by the city. The water and/or sewer lines
must be extended to the point on the property to be served where the applicant
is to make connection for service. Public water and sewer lines (main) must
be placed in the city-owned right-of-way or a city-owned easement.
b) When the requested extension is 100 feet or less, the applicant may request
that the city perform the engineering design and construction by paying a fee
established by separate ordinance.
c) When the requested extension is more than 100 feet or the applicant does not
want the city to construct extensions of 100 feet or less or the city chooses not
to construct a line upon request by an applicant, the applicant may engage a
private contractor to accomplish the installation work. The applicant is
responsible for the full cost of the extension of the water and/or sewer line up
to and including the size line required by the service requirement of the
property or eight inches in diameter, whichever is larger. If the requested
extension requires use of a sanitary sewer lift station and pressure line, the lift
station and pressure line must be sized to meet the service requirement of the
property or the minimum size requirements imposed by state regulatory
authorities, whichever is larger.
d) The minimum size line required for sewer and water line extensions shall be
eight inches unless approved by the city engineer. Water line extensions shall
conform to the size shown in the city master water plan. Water line extensions
shall be looped to eliminate dead ends unless approved otherwise.
e) Sewer lines shall be installed at minimum grade with no more than two inches
drop at manholes unless approved by the city engineer. Sewer line extensions
and lift stations shall be designed to maximize system gravity capability and
reduce the requirement for additional lift stations. Lift station pumps and
equipment shall be installed that are interchangeable with pumps stocked and
maintained by the city wastewater collection division.
f) Upon construction, the utility mains, lift stations, and all appurtenances shall
become the property of the city with no future interest retained by the applicant.
(Code 1966, § 32-69; Code 2001, § 106-532)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, that the
provisions of this ordinance shall become a part of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
Wichita Falls, Texas, and that sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered
to accomplish such intention.
Should any word, phrase, paragraph, section or portion of this ordinance or the
Code of Ordinances, as amended hereby, be held to be void or unconstitutional, the same
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of said ordinance or the Code of
Ordinances, as amended hereby, which shall remain in full force and effect.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 5th day of March, 2019.
______________________________
M A Y O R
ATTEST:
____________________
City Clerk