Utility Piping Systems
Work on utility piping systems must be permitted by Austin Water before discharging into the sanitary sewer, even if the building already holds a wastewater discharge permit.
Utility piping systems include chillers, boilers and condensers used by commercial and industrial buildings, high-rises, schools and universities to heat and cool their facilities. A permit is required to prevent excessive chemicals and metals from entering the sanitary sewer through the use of certain cleaners, detergents and corrosion inhibitors.
Work That Requires a Permit
The following activities require a permit:
- Cleaning, flushing and/or passivation of new utility piping systems
- Cleaning, coil cleaning, descaling, draining and/or flushing of existing utility piping systems
All work must be performed by a permitted Utility Piping Systems service provider (PDF).
Chemical and water treatment providers seeking a Utility Piping Systems Discharge Permit must submit an application (PDF) at least 30 days before the first planned discharge.
Operational Requirements
- Advance notification — A permittee must notify the Utility Compliance Services Division of a planned utility piping systems project at least 24 hours before operations begin.
- Standard operating procedures — A permittee must develop, implement and maintain an up-to-date standard operating procedure (SOP). A copy of the SOP must be kept at each job site.
- Spill prevention — A permittee must take all necessary measures to protect drains, cleanouts, manholes, retention ponds, diversion ditches and any other potential channels from accidental or slug discharges of chemicals to the sanitary sewer or watershed.
- Cross-connection prohibition — In accordance with Austin City Code Chapters 15-1 and 25-12 and the Uniform Plumbing Code, a reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RPBA) is required for any connection to a potable water supply during cleaning, passivating, conditioning and/or descaling of process piping. This requirement applies to both internal protection and premises isolation.
Reporting Requirements
Permittees must submit periodic Self-Monitoring Reports (SMRs) to the Utility Compliance Services Division indicating the nature and concentration of pollutants in effluent from utility piping systems projects.
| Monitoring Period | Report Due Date |
|---|---|
| July 1–December 31 | January 31 |
| January 1–June 30 | July 31 |
If analytical data shows one or more pollutants above permitted limits, the wastewater must be either hauled off site for proper disposal or treated on site to below the permit concentration limit before discharge.
- If hauling off site, a manifest from the waste hauler showing proper disposal must be submitted with the Self-Monitoring Report.
- If treating on site, the Utility Compliance Services Division must be notified of the treatment method. Analytical testing must be completed after treatment to confirm compliance before final discharge.