[CC 1983 §26-145; Ord. No. 620 §1, 12-7-1981]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have these
prescribed meanings:
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water
to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim
of the receptacle, and shall be at least double the diameter of the
supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel.
In no case shall the gap be less than one (1) inch.
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that may be available in the building or premises.
The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any
foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system
of a public water supply.
A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other
means that could create pressure within the system greater than the
supply pressure.
A form of backflow due to a negative or subatmospheric pressure
within a water system.
Any physical arrangements whereby a public water supply is
connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system,
sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture,
or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water,
sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which
may be capable of importing contamination to the public water supply
as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, and other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
could occur are considered to be cross-connections.
An assembly composed of two (2) single, independently acting
check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at
each end of the assembly and suitable connections for in-line testing
of the water-tightness of each check valve.
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption
or other domestic uses, including source, treatment, storage, transmission
and distribution facilities where water is furnished to any community,
collection or number of individuals, or is made available to the public
for human consumption or domestic use, but excluding water supplies
serving one (1) single-family residence.
A device incorporating two (2) or more check valves and an
automatically operating differential relief valve located between
the two (2) checks, two (2) shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary
appurtenances for in-line testing. The device shall operate to maintain
the pressure in the zone between the two (2) check valves, less than
the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. At cessation
of normal flow, the pressure between the check valves shall be less
than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve
the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain this reduced
pressure by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure
is two (2) pounds per square inch or less the relief valve shall open
to the atmosphere thereby providing an air-gap in the device.
[CC 1983 §26-146; Ord. No. 620 §2, 12-7-1981]
The purpose of this Article is to establish a cross-connection
control program to protect the health of water consumers by the control
of actual and/or potential cross-connections through the proper installation
and surveillance of backflow prevention devices on service lines leading
to premises where cross-connections exist or are likely to occur and
through the inspection and regulation of plumbing within the premises
to minimize danger of contamination of the water system on the premises
or the public water supply itself.
[CC 1983 §26-147; Ord. No. 620 §3, 12-7-1981]
The implementation of the program to control cross-connections
requires cooperation between the customer, the Department, the Health
Officer and the plumbing authority. The Department has primary responsibility
to prevent contamination of the public water supply through cross-connection.
The customers served and the Department are jointly responsible for
preventing contamination of the water system within the customer's
premises. An effective control program requires attention to both
of these. Backflow prevention devices are not a substitute for a continuing
and aggressive program of cross-connection investigation, surveillance
and control.
[CC 1983 §26-148; Ord. No. 620 §4, 12-7-1981]
The regulations set out in this Article will be reasonably interpreted
by the Department. It is the Department's intent to recognize the
varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle so that the degree
of protection shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
[CC 1983 §26-149; Ord. No. 620 §5, 12-7-1981]
All cross-connections, whether or not cross-connections are
controlled by automatic devices, such as check valves or by hand operated
mechanisms such as gate valves or stop cocks, are hereby prohibited.
[CC 1983 §26-150; Ord. No. 620 §6, 12-7-1981]
Failure on the part of persons to discontinue the use of any
and all cross-connections and to physically separate such cross-connections
will be sufficient cause for the discontinuance of the public water
service to the premises on which the cross-connection exists.
[CC 1983 §26-151; Ord. No. 620 §7, 12-7-1981]
The Department shall, in cooperation with the Health Officer
and/or the local plumbing inspection authority, make periodic inspections
of premises served by the water supply to check for the presence of
cross-connections. Any cross-connections found in such inspection
shall be ordered removed by the Department. If an immediate hazard
to health is caused by the cross-connection, water service to the
premises shall be discontinued until it is verified that the cross-connection
has been removed.
[CC 1983 §26-152; Ord. No. 620 §8, 12-7-1981]
A.
Backflow
prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection or
within any premises where in the judgment of the Department the nature
and extent of activities on the premises, or the materials used in
connection with the activities, or materials stored on the premises
would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health should a
cross-connection occur, even though such cross-connection does not
exist at the time the backflow prevention device is required to be
installed. This shall include, but not be limited to, the following
situations:
1.
Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of
the auxiliary supply is in compliance with local standards and is
acceptable to the Department.
2.
Premises having internal cross-connections that are not correctable,
or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to
ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.
3.
Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections
cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short
notice to assure that cross-connections do not exist.
4.
Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established
or re-established.
5.
Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to
permit entry into the public water supply, or where a cross-connection
could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling
of process waters and cooling waters.
6.
Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled
such that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard
may result.
7.
The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above
categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect
the public water supply. A backflow prevention device shall be installed
at these facilities unless the Department determines no hazard exists:
Hospitals; mortuaries; clinics; laboratories; piers and docks; sewage
treatment plants; food or beverage processing plants; chemical plants
using a water process; metal plating industries; petroleum processing
or storage plants; radioactive material processing plants or nuclear
reactors; laundry and dyeing facilities; paper processing plants;
auxiliary water systems; cooling systems; farming operations; fire
protection systems; sprinkler systems filled with anti-freeze solution;
film processing equipment; irrigation systems; storage tanks, cooling
towers, and circulating systems; and steam generating systems.
[CC 1983 §26-153; Ord. No. 620 §9, 12-7-1981]
The type of protective device required shall be determined by
the Department and shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists.
[CC 1983 §26-154; Ord. No. 620 §10, 12-7-1981]
An air-gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention device shall be installed where the water supply may be
contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature or other
contaminant which would cause a health or system hazard.
[CC 1983 §26-155; Ord. No. 620 §11, 12-7-1981]
In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not
hazardous to health, a double-check valve assembly, air-gap separation
or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be
installed.
[CC 1983 §26-156; Ord. No. 620 §§12 — 13, 12-7-1981]
A.
Backflow
prevention devices shall be installed at the meter, or at a location
designated by the Department. The device shall be located so as to
be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, and where no part
of the device will be submerged.
B.
Backflow
prevention devices shall be installed by the Department at the customer's
expense.
[CC 1983 §26-157; Ord. No. 620 §14, 12-7-1981]
Any protective device required in this Article shall be a model
approved by the Department. A double-check valve assembly or a reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention device will be approved if
it has successfully passed performance tests of the University of
Southern California Engineering Center and other testing laboratories
satisfactory to the Department.
[CC 1983 §26-158; Ord. No. 620 §15, 12-7-1981]
A.
Backflow
prevention devices shall be annually inspected and tested by the Department
at the customer's expense, or more often where successive inspections
indicate repeated failure.
B.
The
devices shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced by the Department
at the customer's expense whenever they are found to be defective.
Inspections, tests and repairs and records thereof shall be performed
by the Department at the customer's expense.
[CC 1983 §26-159; Ord. No. 620 §16, 12-7-1981]
Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance,
testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required in this
Article shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the
premises.
[CC 1983 §26-160; Ord. No. 620 §17, 12-7-1981]
Any customer who shall tamper with or remove any backflow prevention devices as may be required by this Article or installation under the provisions of this Article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished in accordance with Section 100.120 of this Code.
