Customer's Rights
The state of Texas has made many laws concerning sprinkler systems installed and maintained by professionals. Some of them are geared toward protecting the consumer, others are for protecting the public water supply and still others are geared toward water conservation. Below is a summary of these laws as well as items that you, the customer, should expect from a licensed irrigator. If you choose to have someone work on your sprinkler system that is not licensed and you pay them to do so, they are breaking the law and you take on some liabilities to protect the city water supply. Please read through the list below to give you a better understanding of regulatory environment of this industry and many of your rights as a customer.
- To become a licensed irrigator or installer, one must pre-qualify by completing a course approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) prior to sitting for the licensing exam.
- Anyone exempt from the licensing requirements must comply with the standards set out in Chapter 34 of the Texas Water Code.
- Every person holding a certificate of registration is required to display it at his/her place of business and document that the certificate is current.
- Beginning in 1997, the yearly license renewal will not only require the payment of the regular renewal fee, but also proof of completing 8 hours of Commission approved continuing education credits.
- A licensed irrigator must sign his or her legal name and affix the imprint of his/her authorized seal or rubber stamp to all professional documents and accept all responsibility for those documents and the work pursuant to the documents.
- In the event that a local code or regulations are absent when installing an irrigation system, a proper backflow device must be installed anywhere in the state of Texas.
- It is TCEQ’s policy that all irrigation systems be designed, installed, maintained, repaired, and serviced in a manner that will promote water conservation.
- An irrigator must comply with the minimal standards set forth in the rules for spacing of all types of heads, water pressure, wind de-rating, precipitation rates in various zones of the state (In Houston this means precipitation rates must be at least 0.25" per hour), depth coverage of pipe and wiring of all irrigation systems.
- If it is determined that an irrigator is in violation of the Texas Water Code, Chapter 34, or related rules of the commission, the executive director may initiate a formal enforcement action that could cause loss of license, suspension, or an assessment of an administrative penalty.
- Any advertisement, or business card must have the irrigator's license number included. Any vehicles used for installation, repair or service must list the irrigator's license number on both sides.
- A customer must be given a written guarantee for materials and labor furnished in the installation of all new irrigation systems.
- All written contracts and bills to install irrigation systems must include the statement, "Irrigation in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087." If there is no written agreement, a written document with the above statement must be given to the other party.
- It is the responsibility of the Irrigator to discuss water conservation with customer. This includes but is not limited to rain sensors, drip irrigation techniques, soil moisture sensors and wind sensors.