The purpose of this article shall be:
A. To protect the public potable water supply served by the Barre Water
Commission from the possibility of contamination of pollution by isolating
such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow or backsiphon
into the public water system.
B. To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connection,
actual or potential, between its customers' in-plant potable water
system and nonpotable systems.
C. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control which will effectively prevent the contamination or pollution
of all potable water systems by cross-connection.
The Water Commission shall be responsible for the protection
of the public potable water distribution system from contamination
or pollution due to the backflow or backsiphonage of contaminants
or pollutants. If, as a result of a survey of the premises, the Commission
determines that an approved backflow prevention device is required
at the Town's water service connection or as in-plant protection on
any customer's premises, the Commission, or its delegated agent, shall
issue a cross-connection violation form to said customer to install
approved backflow prevention devices. The customer shall, within a
time frame determined by the Commission, install such approved device
or devices at his own expense, and failure or refusal or inability
on the part of the customer to install said device or devices within
the specified time frame 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:
AIR GAP SEPARATION
The method of preventing backflow through the use of an 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.
APPROVED
Accepted by the reviewing authority as meeting an applicable
specification stated or cited in this regulation or as suitable for
the proposed use.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER
An approved backflow device used to prevent backsiphonage,
which is not designed for use under static line pressure.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply of unknown or questionable quality on or
available to the premises other than the supplier's approved public
potable water supply.
BACKFLOW
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances
into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source
other than the intended source.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER WITH INTERMEDIATE ATMOSPHERIC VENT
A device having two independently operating check valves
separated by an intermediate chamber with a means for automatically
venting it to the atmosphere, in which the check valves are force
loaded to a normally closed position and venting means is force loaded
to a normally open position.
BACK PRESSURE
Pressure created by mechanical means or other means which
causes water or other liquids or substances to flow or move in a direction
opposite to that which is intended.
BACKSIPHONAGE
A form of backflow due to reduced or subatmospheric pressure
within a water system.
BAROMETRIC LOOP
A loop of pipe raising at least 35 feet, at its topmost point,
above the highest fixture it supplies.
COMMISSION
The Town of Barre Water Commission or owner or operator of
a public water supply system.
CONTAMINANT
Any physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance
or matter in the water.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any actual or potential connection between a distribution
pipe of potable water from a public water system and any waste pipe,
soil pipe, sewer, drain, or other unapproved source.
CROSS-CONNECTION VIOLATION FORM
A violation form designated by the Department, Plumbing Inspectors
and Board of Health delineating cross-connection violations found
on the owner's premises and a procedure for corrective action.
DEPARTMENT
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
A backflow-preventing device which incorporates an assembly
of check valves, with shutoff valves at each end and appurtenances
for testing.
IN-PLANT PROTECTION
The location of approved backflow prevention devices in a
manner which provides simultaneous protection of the public water
system and the potable water system within the premises.
OWNER
Any person maintaining a cross-connection installation or
owning or occupying premises on which cross-connections can or do
exist.
PERMIT
A document issued by the Department which allows a cross-connection
installation.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, association, trust,
partnership, the Commonwealth, a municipality, district, or other
subdivision or instrumentality of the United States except that nothing
herein shall be constructed to refer to or to include any American
Indian tribe or the United States Secretary of the Interior in his
capacity as trustee of Indian lands.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER
An approved backflow prevention device designed to prevent
only backsiphonage and which is designed for use under static line
pressure and which has necessary appurtences for testing.
REDUCED PRESSURE BACKFLOW PREVENTER
An approved backflow prevention device incorporating (1)
two more check valves, (2) an automatically operating differential
relief valve located between the two checks, (3) two shutoff valves,
and (4) necessary appurtences for testing.
RESIDENTIAL DUAL CHECK
An assembly of two spring-loaded, independently operating
check valves without tightly closing shutoff valves and test cocks.
Generally employs immediately downstream of the water meter to act
as a containment device.
REVIEWING AUTHORITY
The Department, its designer, or the local Plumbing Inspector,
authorized by MGL c. 142 and licensed by the Board of State Examiners
of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, whichever is responsible for the review
and approval of the installation of an approved backflow prevention
device.
The Commission recognized the threat to the public water system
arising from cross-connections. As such, the Commission, whereas it
is responsible for the quality of the public water supply, may require
a containment device on the water service entrance to any customer
who, as a result of unprotected cross-connections, could contaminate
the public water supply system.
Any existing backflow preventer shall be allowed by the Commission
to continue in service unless the degree of hazard is such as to supersede
the effectiveness of the present backflow preventer or result in an
unreasonable risk to the public health. Where the degree of hazard
has increased, as in the case of a residential installation converting
to a business establishment, any existing backflow preventer must
be upgraded to a reduced pressure backflow preventer, or a reduced
pressure backflow preventer must be installed in the event that no
backflow device was present.