SECTION 265.13. Site and Physical Facilities

(a) Safety of camp facility. The buildings, structures, and grounds shall not present a fire, health, or safety hazard.

(b) Accumulation of refuse and debris. The premises of each camp shall be kept free of accumulations of refuse and debris.

(c) Compliance with building, plumbing, electrical and life safety codes. All camp buildings shall comply with applicable building, plumbing, electrical, life safety, and similar codes.

(d) Permanent living or sleeping structures. All permanent structures used for living or sleeping purposes in the camp shall be provided with walls, floors, and ceilings that shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(e) Separate beds, bunks or cots. A separate bed, bunk, or cot shall be required for each person. Beds shall be spaced in a manner that is free of obstruction for entering and exiting.

(f) Bunk bed guardrails. In all rooms housing campers, all bunk beds shall have at least two guardrails, one on each side of the bed for each bed having the underside of its foundation more than 30 inches from the floor in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 16 CFR, Part 1513.3. Bunk beds securely attached to a wall may utilize the wall as one guardrail.

(g) Location of sleeping quarters. Sleeping shall not be permitted in kitchens or in rooms used for food preparation, storage, or service.

(h) Bedding provided by the camp. All articles of bedding provided by the camp, including mattresses and mattress covers, shall be kept clean and in good repair. Any bedroll provided by the camp and used by campers must be properly cleaned between use by different individuals.

(i) Toilets and urinals. The camp shall provide at least one toilet for every 15 females and one toilet for every 15 males. In each male toilet facility, up to 70% of the toilets required may be urinals. In facilities with more than one toilet, some means of privacy must be provided for each toilet.

(j) Lavatories. The camp shall provide at least one lavatory adjacent to toilet facilities. In facilities with more than five toilets or urinals in a room, there must be a minimum of two lavatories.

(k) Hand cleanser required. Each lavatory shall be equipped with one of the following methods to sanitize hands:

(1) lavatories with hot and cold running water shall have soap or hand cleanser available at all times;

(2) lavatories with only cold running water shall have hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial soap available at all times; or

(3) portable toilet facilities not equipped with lavatories providing water shall have waterless hand sanitizer available at all times.

(l) Shower facilities. Resident youth camps shall provide at least one shower for every 15 females and one shower for every 15 males. Each shower shall be equipped with water to meet the needs of the campers. There shall be soap or body cleanser available at all times.

(m) Cleanliness and sanitation of toilets, lavatories and bathing facilities. All toilets, lavatories, and bathing facilities shall be maintained in good repair and kept clean at all times. Every shower room floor shall be washed daily with a suitable detergent or sanitizing agent.

(n) Availability of toilet tissue. Toilet tissue shall be available at all times for each toilet.

(o) Lighting and ventilation in toilet and bathing facilities. All permanent toilets and bathing structures shall be adequately ventilated and properly lighted.

(p) Public water supply. If a youth camp water supply meets the definition of a public water system, then all water used for human consumption or which may be used in the preparation of foods or beverages or for the cleaning of any utensil or article used in the course of preparation or consumption of food or beverages for human beings, or which is used for bathing, swimming in a pool or spa, or any other use in which incidental ingestion may occur, shall come from a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved drinking water source that meets all applicable standards of 30 TAC Chapter 290, Subchapter D (relating to Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems) and Subchapter F (relating to Drinking Water Standards Governing Drinking Water Quality And Reporting Requirements for Public Water Systems), as amended.

(q) Private water supply. Youth camps having water supplies that do not meet the definition of a public water system or that are not regulated by the TCEQ shall comply with the following requirements when the camp is open or operational unless otherwise indicated.

(1) Water supply. An adequate supply of water shall be available at all times in each camp in accordance with the following table.

Attached Graphic

(2) Water pressure. The system shall be designed to maintain a minimum pressure of 35 pounds per square inch (psi) at all points within the distribution network at flow rates of at least 1.5 gallons per minute per connection. When the system is intended to provide fire fighting capability, it shall also be designed to maintain a minimum pressure of 20 psi under combined fire and drinking water flow conditions. Minimum distribution pressure shall not be less than 20 psi at any time.

(3) Bacteriological properties.

(A) Water systems serving camps shall submit a minimum of one water sample for testing for total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, or other fecal indicator organisms, for the month prior to camp opening and each month the camp is in operation.

(B) Testing for microbial contaminants shall be performed at a laboratory certified by TCEQ.

(C) If a routine distribution coliform sample is coliform-positive, then the camp shall issue a written boil water notification to all camp staff and volunteers. The notification shall state, "To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making shall be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water shall be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, purchased bottled water, water obtained from some other suitable source, or ice obtained from an approved source may be used."

(D) The boil water notification shall remain in effect until a repeat distribution coliform sample is coliform-negative.

(E) Records of all bacteriological tests and of any boil water notification shall be kept on site.

(4) Chemical properties.

(A) Camps shall submit a water sample obtained from the entry point to the distribution system to a laboratory for chemical analysis at least once every three years.

(B) The chemical analysis shall be for secondary constituent levels.

(C) Maximum secondary constituent levels are as described in the following table.

Attached Graphic

(D) Records of all chemical testing shall be kept on site.

(5) Minimum residual disinfectant concentrations and maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs).

(A) The minimum residual disinfectant concentration in the water entering the distribution system and the water within the distribution system shall be 0.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) free chlorine or 0.5 mg/L chloramine.

(B) The MRDL of chlorine dioxide in the water entering the distribution system shall be 0.8 mg/L.

(C) The MRDL of free chlorine or chloramine in the water within the distribution system shall be 4.0 mg/L based on a running annual average.

(6) Backflow prevention. The plumbing system shall preclude backflow of a solid, liquid, or gas contaminant into the water supply system at each point of use, including on a hose bib, by:

(A) providing an air gap between the water supply inlet and the flood level rim of a plumbing fixture, equipment, or nonfood equipment that is at least twice the diameter of the water supply inlet and not less than 25 mm (1 inch); or

(B) installing an approved backflow prevention device that meets the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) standards for construction, installation, maintenance, inspection, and testing for that specific application and type of device.

(7) Disinfection of new or repaired water system facilities.

(A) When repairs are made to existing mains or when new main extensions are installed, they shall be disinfected using such amounts of chlorine compounds as to fill the repaired or new mains and appurtenances with water containing 50 ppm chlorine.

(B) After the water containing this amount of chlorine, which is greater than that normally present in drinking water, has been in contact with the pipe and appurtenances for at least 24 hours, the main shall be flushed until the free chlorine or chloramine in the water within the new or repaired distribution system is less than 4.0 mg/L.

(C) A sample of water from the new or repaired main shall be submitted to a laboratory certified by TCEQ for bacteriological examination so as to be assured that the disinfection procedure was effective.

(8) Calcium hypochlorite. A supply of calcium hypochlorite disinfectant shall be kept on hand for use when making repairs and repairing line breaks.

(9) Lead control. Use of pipes and pipe fittings that contain more than 8.0% lead or solders and flux that contain more than 0.2% lead is prohibited for installation or repair of any water supply and for installation or repair of any plumbing in a residential or nonresidential facility providing water for human consumption. This requirement may be waived for lead joints that are necessary for repairs to cast iron pipe.

(10) Flushing of water system mains. All dead-end mains should be flushed at monthly intervals or more frequently to maintain water quality.

(11) Collection system location.

(A) No sanitary sewers or septic tanks shall be allowed within a distance of 50 feet of any well used for drinking water. No cesspool or septic tank open-jointed drain field shall be allowed within a distance of 150 feet of any well used for drinking water.

(B) Storm sewers located within specified distances for sanitary sewers shall be constructed so as to prevent leakage from them.

(C) Water lines and sanitary sewers shall be installed no closer to each other than nine feet.

(12) Well logs. Copies of well material setting data, geological log, sealing information (pressure cementing and surface protection), disinfection information, bacteriological sample results, and a chemical analysis report of a representative sample of water from the well shall be kept on file.

(13) Interconnection. No physical connection between the distribution system of a camp water supply and that of any other water supply shall be permitted.

(14) Abandoned wells. Abandoned water supply wells owned by the camp shall be plugged with cement according to 16 TAC Chapter 76 (relating to Water Well Drillers and Water Well Pump Installers). Wells that are not in use and are non-deteriorated as defined in those rules shall be tested every five years to demonstrate that they are in a non-deteriorated condition. Deteriorated wells shall be either plugged with cement or repaired to a non-deteriorated condition.

(r) Disposal of youth camp wastewater. All camp wastewater shall be disposed of into a community sanitary sewage system or an approved On-site Sewage Facility in accordance with 30 TAC Chapter 285 (relating to On-Site Sewage Facilities). In remote areas, the use of chemical toilets is allowed, if the facilities are built and maintained in accordance with manufacturer designs.

(s) Disposal of solid waste. Solid wastes shall be disposed of at a TCEQ approved sanitary landfill or other disposal facility approved by TCEQ under 30 TAC Chapter 330 (relating to Municipal Solid Waste).

(t) Permanent food preparation, storage and service areas. Permanent food preparation, storage and service areas shall be maintained in compliance with Chapter 228 of this title (relating to Retail Food). Items inspected may include, but are not limited to:

(1) proper cooling for cooked/prepared food;

(2) cold hold (41 degrees Fahrenheit/45 degrees Fahrenheit);

(3) hot hold (135 degrees Fahrenheit);

(4) proper cooking temperatures;

(5) rapid reheating (165 degrees Fahrenheit in 2 hours);

(6) personnel with infections restricted/excluded;

(7) proper/adequate hand washing;

(8) good hygienic practices (eating/drinking/smoking/other);

(9) approved source/labeling;

(10) sound condition - food is not from unapproved sources or in unsound condition;

(11) proper handling of ready-to-eat foods;

(12) no cross-contamination of raw/cooked foods/other;

(13) approved systems (HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plans/time as public health control);

(14) water supply - approved sources/sufficient capacity/hot and cold water under pressure;

(15) equipment adequate to maintain product temperature;

(16) hand wash facilities adequate and accessible;

(17) hand wash facilities equipped with soap and towels;

(18) no evidence of insect contamination;

(19) no evidence of rodents/other animals;

(20) toxic items properly labeled/stored/used;

(21) manual/mechanical ware washing and sanitizing at proper ppm/temperature;

(22) manager demonstration of knowledge of safe food handling procedures;

(23) approved sewage/wastewater disposal system, proper disposal;

(24) thermometers provided/accurate/properly calibrated (±2 degrees Fahrenheit);

(25) food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils cleaned/sanitized/good repair; and

(26) posting of consumer advisories (abdominal thrust/disclosure/reminder/buffet plate).

(u) Playgrounds and equipment. Playgrounds and playground equipment shall meet the standards set forth in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Publication Number 325, "Public Playground Safety Handbook," November 2010. Equipment that does not meet these standards may not be used by campers.

Source Note: The provisions of this §265.13 adopted to be effective April 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 3049; amended to be effective May 16, 2010, 35 TexReg 3815; amended to be effective March 13, 2014, 39 TexReg 1713; amended to be effective February 18, 2018, 43 TexReg 580; amended to be effective June 25, 2020, 45 TexReg 4202