Home and business owners who use an irrigation system could be negatively impacted by a bill currently working its way through the Texas House of Representatives.

Bill 2179 places all backflow control under the exclusive governance of Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE). What this means is that if you have to install a backflow inhibitor in your irrigation system to prevent (possibly contaminated) water from flowing backwards into the municipal water supply, you will need to contract with a plumber rather than a licensed irrigator.

This bill is bad for two major reasons. First, it will be a public heath and safety redundancy. Water cross-connections – that is, physical links (through pipes, valves, etc.) between potable water and any source of contamination – are already regulated by the state.

Second, it will create a monopoly for plumbers who work in backflow services. This will in turn almost guarantee an end to competition from specialists with the expertise to deal with the irrigation (rather than plumbing) system issues.

Once that happens, costs for everything from backflow to irrigation services will go up. And if, as the plumbing industry projects, the number of plumbers decreases over the next decade, then those costs could go up even higher.

At South Austin Irrigation, we care about our clients. We also believe that knowledge is power. Our technicians have years of training and experience in everything related to landscaping, from horticulture to water conservation to the latest in irrigation system technology. When you need irrigation services you can trust, contact us and show your support for licensed irrigators today!