(a)

Required. A person commits an offense if he constructs, alters or removes any public improvement without a permit for the work from the city.

(b)

Application procedures. The developer shall submit an application for the permit on standard forms provided by the city. The application shall be accompanied by three complete sets of proposed construction documents. Such plans and one set of construction cost estimates shall bear the seal of an engineer registered in the state, and shall be prepared in accordance with the latest city standards.

(c)

Issuance and fees. A permit for construction, alteration or removal of public improvements can be issued upon approval of the engineered documents and cost estimates for the work and payment of a plan checking and inspection fee in accordance with the duly adopted schedule of fees.

(d)

Construction documents.

(1)

Utility layout plan. The developer shall submit at least three copies of a plat of the development showing the proposed location of all utilities to be provided and their relation to all other utilities (see also section 14-55(2)). The utility layout plan shall bear the signature of approval of the appropriate representative of each utility company proposed to serve the development.

(2)

Sanitary sewer and water construction documents. The developer shall submit separate sewer system plans with a plan and profile of proposed sanitary sewers, with grades and pipe sizes indicated and showing locations of manholes, cleanouts, etc., and a separate plan of the proposed water distribution system showing pipe sizes and location of valves, fire hydrants and fittings, etc., in conformance with the city's criteria. A profile is required for all water lines. Existing public improvements (streets, sewer, water, etc.), public easements and existing and proposed topography shall be shown on each plan. Each plan shall show the seal and signature of the registered professional civil engineer who prepared the plans. Each sheet shall include north point, scale, date and benchmark description of sea level datum.

(3)

Design summary. The developer shall submit a separate report entitled "Engineering Design Summary" with final plans and specifications for construction of public improvements and shall summarize calculations and such other engineering information pertaining to the major items of design significance as may be necessary in the city's review of the plans and specifications to determine whether the facilities proposed for construction have been designed in accordance with the intent of the city's design criteria. Calculations shall include drainage facilities, water demand, sewage flows and any others considered necessary by the city.

(4)

Format.

a.

The developer shall submit all improvement plans to the city on sheets 24 inches by 36 inches. A binding margin shall be provided of not less than 1½ inches on the left side of the sheet and margins not less than one-half inch on the three other sides.

b.

Upon approval by the city of the engineering plans and conditional approval of the final plat (see section 14-55(2)), the developer will be issued a permit to construct public improvements.

c.

Upon completion of the required public improvements, the developer's engineer registered in the state shall present to the city high quality, reproducible drafting film (four mils thick) of complete as-built plans for all paving, drainage structures, storm drains, water lines and sewer lines within 30 days of the completion of each contract. The engineer registered in the state shall confirm in writing that the as-built plans are in fact true representations of the actual construction.

d.

The city shall not accept ownership or maintenance of any public improvements until the developer submits all final plats, all as-built drawings and a one-year maintenance bond.

(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1(700), 2-20-95)

The developer shall design and construct all water supply, distribution, pumping and storage improvements in accordance with this article, the city's "Construction Specifications for Public Improvements," the standards promulgated by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the state water commission regulations. The developer shall design and construct sanitary sewer improvements in accordance with this article, the city's "Construction Specifications for Public Improvements," and the state water commission regulations.

(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1(701), 2-20-95)

(a)

Construction to city standards. The developer shall design and construct all water and sanitary sewer lines placed in public rights-of-way or easements according to city standards.

(b)

Provision for future extensions. The developer shall extend public water and sanitary sewer lines where necessary, to the borders of the development for future extensions of the distribution or collection system. In the case of sanitary sewer lines, the developer shall design all such facilities to serve both the subject property and the full drainage area tributary to the sewer system.

(c)

Public easements required. All publicly owned water and/or sanitary sewer lines shall be placed in public easements as described in article VI of this chapter.

(d)

Dedication of public utility easements. If the city approves an alternative to publicly owned water or sewer facilities installation, the developer shall dedicate utility easements for the future installation of publicly owned utility improvements. Such easements shall comply with the criteria of article VI of this chapter.

(e)

Metallized location tape. The developer shall install a metallized tape in the trench above all new nonmetallic public utility lines and service connections. This tape shall be for the purpose of future main line location via a metal detection device.

(f)

Individual service connections. A developer shall install service connections (taps) for each property in the development. If individual utility connections for multifamily housing are desired, the developer shall install service connections for each dwelling unit at the time of construction. Service connections shall be the appropriate size to serve the intended use of the property, as approved by the city, and shall extend from the public utility line to the lot property line or utility easement line, as the case may be. All corporation stops, service piping, curb stops, meter boxes, vaults, cleanouts and any other material required for the connection shall be included in the service connection installation.

(g)

Irrigation meter installation.

(1)

A homeowner may request permission to tap into an existing service line that serves their property if the water main that services their property is on the opposite side of the street, provided that the existing service line is properly sized to accommodate the additional connection without compromising the service to existing properties. If the water main that services the homeowners property is on the same side of the street as their property a direct tap into the main is required for the irrigation meter installation.

(2)

The city's utility department shall evaluate the homeowner's request and assess whether the existing service line has the capacity to accommodate the additional connection. This assessment shall consider the size of the existing service line, water pressure, and other relevant factors.

(3)

If the city determines that the existing service line can support the additional connection without detriment to existing properties or the city's water supply system, the homeowner shall be granted permission to proceed with the tap.

(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1(702), 2-20-95; Ord. No. 2019-36, § 2, 10-14-19; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 2, 1-22-24)

(a)

Minimum size; looped. All water mains shall be a minimum of six inches in size and looped.

(b)

Fire hydrants. The developer shall install fire hydrants as part of the water distribution system. The developer shall locate a fire hydrant within 300 feet for commercial structures and 600 feet for residential structures of all portions of buildings, based upon a clear path of travel. Fire hydrants shall be served by supply lines of at least six inches in size.

(c)

Valves. The developer shall install valves at the intersections of all water mains. The developer shall install in-line valves at approximately 1,000-foot intervals.

(d)

Depth of cover. The depth of cover of water mains shall be a minimum of 36 inches below finished grade, except that the depth of cover shall be at least 48 inches in roadways.

(e)

Air relief valves. The developer shall install air relief valves and/or air and air vacuum relief valves at critical water line profile summits. Sizing shall be in accordance with city standards.

(f)

Flush valves. The developer shall install blowoffs or flushing valves at water line profile low points so that the water discharged by draining the line can be readily disposed of if required for repairs or flushing.

(g)

Alternative water facilities. Alternative potable water facilities shall consist of individual lot water wells or a common water well with a distribution system to provide service to each lot.

(1)

Variance required. A variance from the requirement to provide public water facilities may be granted by the city at the time of preliminary plat approval if it is determined that the public water system cannot be feasibly made available to the area of development (see also section 14-10). The developer shall provide the city with sufficient technical data (topography, water demand, existing water systems, etc.) and construction cost figures to demonstrate the proposed development's need for an alternative to public water facilities. The developer shall not design or construct a separate water treatment/distribution system or on-site individual facilities unless such separate facilities are more beneficial to the city than constructing an adequate system extended from and connected to the existing public system.

(2)

Approval of water wells. The city shall not approve the final plat until the developer submits documentation of approval of the water wells by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and Harris Galveston Coastal Subsidence District.

(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1(703), 2-20-95)

(a)

Minimum size. No public sewer line shall be less than six inches to the inside diameter.

(b)

Manholes. The developer shall install manholes at all intersections of other sewers six inches in diameter or larger and at intermediate spacings along the line. The maximum spacing shall be in accordance with state department of health "Sewage System Design Criteria." The developer shall install manholes at all changes in grade and at the ends of all sewers that can be extended.

(c)

Alignment. The developer shall design sewers with straight alignment. If horizontal curvatures must be used, the smallest radius shall not exceed that recommended by the pipe manufacturer; provided, however, that any radius shall not be less than 100 feet.

(d)

Hydraulic slopes. The developer shall design all sewers with hydraulic slopes sufficient to give mean velocities, when flowing full or half full, of not less than two feet per second on Kutter's or Manning's formulas using a minimum "n" value of 0.013.

(e)

Surface water and nondomestic waste. The developer shall make no connection to any sanitary sewer system that permits the entrance of surface water or waste of other than domestic sewage characteristics without the specific authorization by the city (see also chapter 70).

(f)

Backfill. The developer shall install and backfill all lines, including all service laterals, below proposed paved areas to city specifications prior to compaction of subgrade and placement of the paving.

(g)

Lift stations. The developer shall not design or construct lift stations or separate treatment facilities unless such lift stations or separate facilities are more beneficial to the city than constructing an adequate outfall or approach sewer from the existing system. In determining benefit, the city shall consider power cost for operation, land costs and all other costs of lift stations based on a ten-year life.

(h)

Alternative sewage treatment facilities. Alternative sanitary sewage treatment facilities shall consist of individual on-site sewage treatment systems or a common collection and treatment system providing service to each lot. If the developer proposes a separate sanitary sewage treatment system, the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) shall approve the plans for such system prior to the final plat approval by the city. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permission to install on-site sewage treatment systems (including septic tanks).

(1)

Variance required. A variance from the requirement to provide a public sewage system may be granted by the city at the time of preliminary plat approval if it is determined that the public sewage system cannot be feasibly made available to the area of development (see section 14-10). The developer shall provide the city with sufficient technical data (topography, soils, existing sewer system and construction costs) to demonstrate the proposed development's need for an alternative to the public sanitary sewage treatment facilities. The developer shall not design or construct such alternative sewage treatment systems unless such facilities are more beneficial to the city than constructing an adequate system extended from and connected to the existing public system.

(2)

Approval by Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC). The city shall not approve a final plat until the developer submits an engineered sewage disposal plan approved by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC).

(Ord. No. 95-04, § 1(704), 2-20-95)