The purpose of this article is to:
A. Protect the public potable water supply of the Town of
Wheatfield from the possibility of contamination by isolating within its customers'
internal distribution system or its customers' private water system such contaminations
or pollutants which could backflow into the public water supply system.
B. Comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary
Code § 5-1.31.
The Town of Wheatfield Water Superintendent shall be responsible for
the protection of the District's distribution system from contamination due
to the backflow of contaminants through the water service connection. If,
in the judgment of said Superintendent, an acceptable backflow prevention
device is required at the District's water service connection to any customer's
premises for the safety of the water system, the Superintendent or his or
her designated agent shall give notice, in writing, to said customer to install
such an acceptable backflow prevention device at each service connection to
the premises. The customer shall immediately install such approved device
or devices at his or her own expense, and failure, refusal or inability on
the part of the customer to install said device or devices immediately shall
constitute a ground for discontinuing water service to the premises until
such device or devices have been properly installed.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ACCEPTABLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
An acceptable air gap, reduced pressure zone device or double-check
valve assembly as used to contain potential contamination within a facility.
In order for the reduced pressure zone device or the double-check assembly
to be acceptable, it must be listed on the most current version of the New
York State Department of Health List of Acceptable Devices.
AESTHETICALLY OBJECTIONABLE FACILITY
One in which substances are present which if introduced into the
public water supply system could be a nuisance to other water customers but
would not adversely affect human health. Typical examples of such substances
are food-grade dyes, hot water, stagnant water from fire lines in which no
chemical additives are used, etc.
AIR GAP
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between
the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing
fixtures or other device and the floor level rim of said vessel. An approved
air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured
vertically above the top of the rim of the vessel, and in no case less than
one inch.
APPROVED
Accepted by the Town of Wheatfield Water Superintendent as meeting
an applicable specification stated or cited in this chapter or as suitable
for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the Town
of Wheatfield approved public water supply. These auxiliary waters may include
water from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural source
such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, etc., or used waters. These
waters may be contaminated or they may be objectionable and constitute an
unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary
control.
BACKFLOW
A flow condition induced by a differential in pressure that causes
the flow of water or other liquids and/or gases into the distribution pipes
of the Town of Wheatfield's supply system from any source other than its intended
source.
CERTIFIED TESTER
That individual or firm approved to accomplish the necessary inspections
and operational tests of backflow prevention devices.
CONTAMINATION
The presence in water of a substance that tends to degrade its quality.
CUSTOMER
A water user served by the Town of Wheatfield supply system.
CUSTOMER'S WATER SYSTEM
The piping used to convey water supplied by the Town of Wheatfield
supply system throughout a customer's facility. The system shall include all
those parts of the piping beyond the control point of the Water District.
The control point is either the curb valve or the main valve located in the
public right-of-way that isolates the customer's facilities from the District
distribution system.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
Whether a facility is rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable
or nonhazardous.
DOUBLE-CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY, ACCEPTABLE
A device consisting of two independently acting check valves internally
force loaded to a normally closed position, designed and constructed to operate
under intermittent or continuous pressure conditions; also, when specified,
would include tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly
and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve.
HAZARDOUS FACILITY
One in which substances may be present which if introduced into the
public water system would or may endanger or have an adverse effect on the
health of other water customers. Typical examples are laboratories, sewage
treatment plants, chemical plants, hospitals and mortuaries.
NONHAZARDOUS FACILITY
One which does not require the installation of an acceptable backflow
prevention device.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The Town of Wheatfield system, including the source, treatment works,
transmission mains, distribution system and storage facilities serving the
public. This includes the distribution system up to its connection with the
customer's water system.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE DEVICE, ACCEPTABLE
A device containing a minimum of two independently acting check valves,
together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve
located between the two check valves. During normal flow and at the cessation
of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the
upstream (supply) pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the
differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate
to maintain the pressure. The unit must include tightly closing shutoff valves
located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with properly
located test cocks.