The camp shall be so located as to promote at all times the
health, safety, and well-being of persons accommodated.
(1) Housing site.
(A) All campsites shall be well drained and free from
depressions in which water may stand. Natural sinkholes, pools, swamps,
or other surface collectors of water within 200 feet of the periphery
of the camp shall be either drained or filled to remove the still
surface water. Mosquito breeding shall be prevented in such area containing
water not subject to such drainage or filling.
(B) Housing shall not be subject to or in proximity
to conditions that create or are likely to create offensive odors,
flies, noise, traffic, or any similar hazards.
(C) Grounds within the housing site shall be free
from debris, noxious plants (poison ivy, etc.) and uncontrolled weeds
or brush.
(D) The housing site shall provide a space for recreation
reasonably related to the size of the facility and the type of occupancy.
(2) Water supply.
(A) When drinking water supply system is to be established
for a camp, plans are to be submitted to the Texas State Department
of Health for review and approval prior to construction thereof. All
water systems serving camps are to be constructed in conformance to
the Board of Health's current "Rules and Regulations for Public Water
Systems' and maintained and operated in accordance with the following
minimum acceptable operating standards, which are based upon state
statutes, regulations, and good operating practices.
(B) The use of a common drinking cup shall not be permitted.
(C) The camp shall be connected to an acceptable existing
public water supply system if at all possible. Should a camp have
its own source of water supply, then the following requirements are
to be met:
(i) Water systems serving camps shall submit a minimum
of four water samples each month the camp is in operation to the Texas
State Department of Health or one of its regional laboratories for
bacteriological analysis (be sure to check with the laboratory to
see what days of the week they will accept these samples).
(ii) Annually every camp shall submit a one-half gallon
water sample for chemical analysis and, in addition, an eight-ounce
sample collected in a glass bottle for iron and manganese determination.
(iii) A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 ppm must
be maintained throughout the distribution system at all times. In
this connection, a chlorine test kit should be obtained so the chlorine
residuals can be checked. Test results should be recorded.
(iv) When repairs are made to existing mains or when
new main extensions are provided, they must be disinfected by water
department personnel using such amounts of chlorine or chlorine compounds
as to fill the repaired or new mains and appurtenances with water
containing 50 ppm chlorine. 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 at least
24 hours, the water shall be replaced with water to be transported
normally, and samples of water from the new or repaired main submitted
to laboratories for bacteriological examination so as to be assured
that the disinfection procedure was effective. When it is necessary
to return repaired mains to service as rapidly as possible, doses
may be increased to 500 ppm and the contact time reduced to 1/2 hour.
(v) A supply of calcium hypochlorite disinfectant shall
be kept on hand for use when making repairs and repairing line breaks.
(vi) Continuous efforts shall be made by camp personnel
to locate possible interconnections between privately owned water
systems and the camp water system. As these undesirable interconnections
are located, they shall be eliminated so as to prevent possible
contamination of the water supplied by the camp water facilities.
Water lines and sanitary sewers shall be installed no closer to each
other than nine feet, nor closer than 10 feet to septic tank drainfields.
(vii) All dead-end mains should be flushed at monthly
intervals or more frequently if necessary to maintain water quality.
(viii) No tile or concrete sanitary sewers or septic
tanks shall be allowed within a distance of 50 feet, and no cesspool
or septic tank open-jointed drainfields shall be allowed within a
distance of 150 feet of the well.
(ix) 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.
(x) No physical connection between the distribution
system of a camp water supply and that of any other supply shall be
permitted unless such other water is of safe sanitary quality and
the interconnection is approved by the State Department of Health.
(3) Excreta and liquid waste disposal.
(A) Adequate and safe sewerage facilities with flush
toilets shall be provided if water supply is available. Raw or treated
liquid waste shall not be discharged or allowed to accumulate on the
ground surface.
(B) Where public sewer systems are available, all
facilities for disposal of sewage or wastewater shall be connected
thereto.
(C) Where public sewers are not available, a subsurface
septic tank-seepage system or other type of liquid waste treatment
and disposal system shall be provided. If wastewater plant is to be
utilized and discharge is to occur, a waste control order must be
secured from the Texas Water Quality Board.
(D) Where water supply is not available, sanitary-type
privies or portable toilets shall be provided. All such facilities
shall be constructed as required by the Texas State Department of
Health. Privies, if provided, shall be constructed according to standards
set forth in the department's "Texas Community Sanitation Handbook,"
and maintained so to prevent access of flies and animals to the
contents therein, to prevent fly breeding, and to prevent contamination
of water supply.
(E) All facilities provided for excreta and liquid
waste disposal shall be maintained and operated in a sanitary manner
to eliminate possible health or pollution hazards.
(4) Housing.
(A) Housing shall be structurally sound, in good repair,
maintained in a sanitary condition, and shall provide protection to
the occupants against the elements.
(B) Housing shall have flooring constructed of rigid
materials, smooth finished, readily cleanable, and so located as to
prevent the entrance of ground and surface water.
(C) Each habitable room shall be adequately ventilated.
(D) Therapeutic camps shall have an annual pressure
test for all gas pipes, to be performed by the local gas company or
a licensed plumber.
(E) A balcony, upper story, attic, or loft is not recommended
for sleeping or group assembly and can only be used when recommended
minimum safety requirements for emergency exits are met (two or more
exits remote from each other; exits to ground level by stairs, not
ladders; one or more exits by outside stairs; walls with well-secured
handrails or guards on both sides of stairs, minimum width of 36
inches for stairs; minimum width of 34 inches for doorways giving
access to stairs; doors that swing open in direction exit travel;
a landing, at least as wide and as long as the door width, between
door and stairs).
(5) Screening.
(A) All outside openings shall be protected with screening
of 16 mesh or less.
(B) All screen doors shall be tight, in good repair
and equipped with self-closing devices.
(6) Heating.
(A) All living quarters and service rooms shall be
provided with properly installed, operable heating equipment capable
of maintaining a temperature of at least 68° F if during the period
of normal occupancy the temperature in such quarters falls below 68°
F.
(B) Any stoves or other sources of heat utilizing combustible
fuel shall be installed and vented in such a manner as to prevent
fire hazards and a dangerous concentration of gases. No portable heaters
other than those operated by electricity shall be provided. If a solid
or liquid fuel stove is used in a room with wooden or other combustible
flooring, there shall be a concrete slab, insulated metal sheet, or
other fireproof materials on the floor under each stove, extending
at least 18 inches beyond the perimeter of the base of the stove.
(C) Any wall or ceiling within 18 inches of a solid
or liquid fuel stove or a stovepipe shall be of fireproof material.
A vented metal collar shall be installed around a stovepipe, or vent
passing through a wall, ceiling, floor, or roof. Such vent or chimney
shall extend above the peak of the roof.
Cont'd... |