Farmersville, TX Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 74-156, Farmersville Code
- Required sign
- 8-inch by 8-inch, English and Spanish
- Pipe color
- Purple components required
- Backflow
- Air gap or reduced-pressure device
- Crop contact
- Barred unless crop is pasteurized
- Permit
- Required under § 74-148, valid 6 months
- Max fine
- $2,000 per day, class C misdemeanor
Summary
Farmersville allows reclaimed water in landscape irrigation only when six conditions in Sec. 74-156 are met, covering purple pipe components, backflow protection on the potable line, no spray across property lines, no direct edible-crop contact, and a bilingual eight-inch warning sign. Installation still requires the city's regular irrigation permit and a licensed irrigator.
Reclaimed water may be utilized in landscape irrigation systems if:(1)There is no direct contact with edible crops, unless the crop is pasteurized before consumption;(2)The irrigation system does not spray water across property lines that do not belong to the irrigation system's owner;(3)The irrigation system is installed using purple components;(4)The domestic potable water line is connected using an air gap or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, in accordance with 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 290.47(i).(5)A minimum of an eight-inch by eight-inch sign, in English and Spanish, is prominently posted on/in the area that is being irrigated, that reads, "RECLAIMED WATER—DO NOT DRINK" and "AGUA DE RECUPERACIÓN—NO BEBER"; and(6)Backflow prevention on the reclaimed water supply line shall be in accordance with the city's plumbing code.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 74-156 sets the terms under which reclaimed (recycled) water may feed a landscape irrigation system: no direct contact with edible crops unless the crop is pasteurized first, no spraying across neighboring property lines, mandatory purple-coded irrigation components so the non-potable line is never mistaken for drinking water, and the potable water line kept isolated through an air gap or reduced-pressure principle backflow device meeting 30 Tex. Admin. 47(i). A minimum eight-inch by eight-inch sign must be posted in the irrigated area reading "RECLAIMED WATER, DO NOT DRINK" and "AGUA DE RECUPERACION, NO BEBER" in English and Spanish, and backflow prevention on the reclaimed supply line itself must follow the city's plumbing code.
This sits inside the city's broader irrigation licensing division: Sec. A. Occupations Code ch. 1903 (a homeowner working on their own residence is exempt but must still meet the spacing, pressure and shutoff standards of 30 Tex. Admin. Code ch. 344), and Sec. 74-148 requires a city permit valid six months from issuance, obtained through the city manager or a designated representative, with renewal required if installation and inspection are not both completed in that window. A city irrigation inspector verifies permits, licensing and backflow testing under Sec.
74-157, and any irrigation item not addressed in this division falls back to the Texas Occupations Code, Water Code, and TCEQ rules under Sec. 74-158.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 74-160 makes any violation of the irrigation division, including the reclaimed water conditions, a nuisance and a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00, with each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense. The city manager or designee can also pursue injunctive relief and other civil remedies in addition to criminal prosecution, and enforcement runs through the licensed city irrigation inspector who investigates complaints and checks permits, licensing, and backflow test results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I irrigate my lawn with reclaimed water in Farmersville?
Do I have to post a warning sign for a reclaimed water system?
Do I still need a permit if I use reclaimed water instead of city tap water?
What happens if my reclaimed water irrigation setup does not meet code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Farmersville
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Farmersville to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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