As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AIR GAP SEPARATION
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between
the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying pure water to a tank,
plumbing fixture, or other device and the rim of the receptacle.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM
Any water system on or available to the premises other than the waterworks.
These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's waterworks,
or water from a source such as wells, lakes or streams, or process fluids,
or used water. They may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute
a water source or system over which the water purveyor does not have control.
BACKFLOW
The flow of contaminants, pollutants, process fluids, used water,
untreated waters, chemicals, gases, or nonpotable waters into any part of
a waterworks.
CONSUMER
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by or in
any manner connected to a waterworks.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM
Any water system located on the consumer's premises, supplied by
or in any manner connected to a waterworks.
CONTAMINATION
Any introduction into pure water of microorganisms, wastes, wastewater,
undesirable chemicals, or gases.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any connection or structural arrangement, direct or indirect, to
the waterworks whereby backflow can occur.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
This is a term derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to
health and the adverse effect upon the waterworks.
DOUBLE GATE-DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
An approved assembly composed of two single, independently acting
check valves including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end
of the assembly and petcocks and test gauges for testing the watertightness
of each check valve.
HEALTH HAZARD
Any condition, device, or practice in a waterworks or its operation
that creates, or may create, a danger to the health and well-being of the
water consumer.
POLLUTION
The presence of any foreign substance (chemical, physical, radiological,
or biological) in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute
an unnecessary risk or impair the usefulness of the water.
POLLUTION HAZARD
A condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading
material may enter the waterworks or a consumer's water system.
PROCESS FLUIDS
Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise
contaminated or polluted which would constitute a health, pollutional, or
system hazard if introduced into the waterworks. This includes, but is not
limited to:
A.
Polluted or contaminated waters;
C.
Use waters originating from the waterworks which may have deteriorated
in sanitary quality;
E.
Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams, or irrigation
systems;
F.
Chemicals in solution or suspension; and
G.
Oils, gases, acids, alkalis, and other liquid and gaseous fluids used
in industrial or other processes, or for fire-fighting purposes.
PURE WATER or POTABLE WATER
Water fit for human consumption and use which is sanitary and normally
free of minerals, organic substances, and toxic substances, and toxic agents
in excess of reasonable amounts for domestic usage in the area served and
normally adequate in supply for the minimum health requirement of the persons
served.
REDUCED-PRESSURE-PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION
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
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 between the check valves at less than the supply 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.
These devices must be of the approved type.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The terminal end of a service line from the waterworks. If a meter
is installed at the end of the service, then the service connection means
the downstream end of the meter.
SYSTEM HAZARD
A condition posing an actual or threat of damage to the physical
properties of the waterworks or a consumer's water system.
USED WATER
Any water supplied by a water purveyor from waterworks to a consumer's
water system after it has passed through the service connection.
WATER PURVEYOR
An individual, group of individuals, partnership, firm, association,
institution, corporation, municipal corporation, county or authority which
supplies water to any person within this state from or by means of any waterworks.
WATERWORKS
All structures and appliances used in connection with the collection,
storage, purification and treatment of water for drinking or domestic use
and the distribution thereof to the public or residential consumers as set
forth in Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 32.1, Code of Virginia, as amended.
It shall be the duty of the Mineral Town Council to cause inspections
to be made of properties served by the waterworks where cross-connection with
the waterworks is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections, and reinspections,
based on potential health hazards involved, shall be established by Mineral
Town Council in the Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention Program
and as approved by the Virginia Department of Health.
The representative of the Town of Mineral shall have the right to enter
at any reasonable time properties served by a connection to the waterworks
of Mineral for the purpose of inspecting the piping system or systems for
cross-connections. Upon request, the owner, or occupants, of property served
shall furnish to the inspection agency pertinent information regarding the
piping system or systems on such property. The refusal of such information
or refusal of access, when requested, shall be deemed evidence of the presence
of cross-connection.
The water purveyor may deny or discontinue the water service to a consumer
if the required backflow prevention device is not installed. If it is found
that the device(s) has been removed or bypassed or if a cross-connection exists
on the premises, or if the pressure in the waterworks is lowered below 10
psi gauge, the purveyor shall take positive action to ensure that the waterworks
is adequately protected at all times. Water service to such premises shall
not be restored until the deficiencies have been corrected or eliminated in
accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia Waterworks Regulations and to
the satisfaction of the purveyor.
The potable water made available on the properties served by the waterworks
shall be protected from possible contamination or pollution by enforcement
of this article and the County of Louisa Plumbing Code. Any water outlet which
could be used for potable or domestic purposes and is not supplied by the
potable system must be labeled as "Water Unsafe for Drinking" in a conspicuous
manner.
This article is a supplement to the applicable plumbing codes.
Any person or customer found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this article, or any written order of the Town of Mineral in pursuance thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in §
1-3 of this Code. Each day upon which a violation of the provisions of this article shall occur shall be deemed a separate and additional violation for the purposes of this article.