A.
The
purposes of this article are:
1.
To
protect public water systems against actual or potential cross-connections
by isolating within premises, contamination or pollution that may
occur because of undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connections on
premises;
2.
To
eliminate existing connections between public water systems and other
sources of water that are not approved as safe and potable for human
consumption;
3.
To
eliminate cross-connections between drinking water systems and sources
of contamination;
4.
To
prevent the making of cross-connections in the future.
B.
These
regulations are adopted pursuant to the state of California Administrative
Code, Title 17—Public Health, entitled "Regulations Relating
to Cross-Connections."
C.
It
is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation at any time to make
or maintain or cause to be made or maintained, temporarily or permanently,
for any period of time whatsoever, any cross-connection between plumbing
pipes or water fixtures being served with water by the city or to
maintain any sanitary fixture or other appurtenances or fixtures which,
by reason of their construction, may cause or allow backflow of water
or other substances into the water supply system of the city and/or
the service of water pipes or fixtures of any water user of the city.
(Ord. 90-13)
The meanings of terms used in this article are as follows:
means a physical separation between the discharge end of
a potable water supply pipeline and an open or nonpressure receiving
vessel. An "approved air-gap separation" shall be at least double
the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow
rim of the receiving vessel and in no case shall be less than one
inch.
means an assembly which has passed laboratory and field evaluation
tests performed by a recognized testing organization which has demonstrated
their competency to perform such tests to the California Department
of Health Services.
means a water supply whose potability is regulated by a state
or local health agency.
means any water supply on or available to a customer's premises
other than an approved water supply.
means an official standard developed and approved by the
American Water Works Association.
means a flow condition, caused by a differential in pressure,
that causes the flow of water or other liquids, gases, mixtures or
substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water
from any source other than an approved water supply.
means a person who has been certified by the American Water
Works Association (AWWA) California-Nevada Section, or the Sacramento
County certification program, or have equivalent training in the opinion
of the director of public works and possesses a valid "certificate
of competence" issued by the department of public works.
means a degradation of the quality of the potable water by
any foreign substance which creates a hazard to the public health
or which may impair the usefulness or quality of the water.
means any unprotected actual or potential connection or structural
arrangement between any part of a public water system used or intended
to supply water for human consumption, and any source or system containing
used water, industrial fluid, gas or other substance that is not or
cannot be approved as safe, wholesome and potable for human consumption.
Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel
or changeover assemblies, or other assemblies through which backflow
could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.
means the department of public works for the city of West
Sacramento.
means the California Department of Health Services or the
local health agency with respect to a small water system.
means the city manager for the city or designee.
means the county of Yolo health authority.
means any and all areas on a water user's property which
are served or have the potential to be served by the public water
system.
means any potable water supply approved by, or under the
public health supervision of, a public health agency of the state
of California or the county of Yolo.
means an assembly incorporating two internally loaded, independently
operating check valves and an automatically operating differential
relief valve located between the two checks, including resilient seated
shut-off valves on each end of the assembly, and equipped with necessary
test cocks for testing the assembly.
refers to the point of connection of a water user's piping
to the water supplier's facilities.
means the city of West Sacramento who owns and operates the
approved water supply system.
means any person obtaining water from the city of West Sacramento
approved water supply system.
(Ord. 90-13; Ord. 95-1 § 1 (part))
A.
Where
Protection is Required.
1.
Protection
shall be required at each service connection from a public water system
that supplies water to premises having an auxiliary water system.
2.
Protection
shall be required at each service connection from a public water system
that supplies water to premises on which any substance is or may be
handled in such a manner as to permit entry into a public water system,
including water originating from public water system which is or may
be subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality.
3.
Protection
shall be required at each service connection to any premises that
has cross-connections unless such cross-connections are abated to
the satisfaction of the department.
4.
Protection
shall be required at each service connection from a public water system
that supplies water to premises for which the intended use is commercial,
industrial, or nonresidential.
B.
Type
of Protection. The type of protection required shall be commensurate
with the degree of hazard. In determining the degree of hazard and
the type of protection required, the following criteria shall be used:
1.
At
each service connection to any premises where there exists an auxiliary
water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
2.
At
each service connection to any premises on which an objectionable
but nonhazardous substance is, or may be, handled in such a manner
as to permit entry into a public water system, the public water system
shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly.
3.
At each service connection to any premises on which any hazardous substance is or may be handled in such a manner as to permit entry into a public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation. The air-gap shall be located as close as practicable to the service cock and all piping between the service cock and any receiving vessel shall be visible. If these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly; provided, that this alternative is in compliance with the provisions of this article and rules and regulations adopted per Section 13.04.1080 of this article.
4.
At each service connection to any sewage treatment plant or sewage pumping station, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation. The air-gap shall be located as close as practicable to the service cock and all piping between the service cock and any receiving vessel shall be visible. If these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, provided that this alternative is in compliance with the provisions of this article and rules and regulations as adopted per Section 13.04.1080 of this article.
(Ord. 90-13)
It shall be the responsibility of each water user to furnish,
and install in a manner approved by the department, and keep in good
working order and safe condition, any and all backflow prevention
assemblies as required by this article. The city shall not be responsible
for any loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from or caused
by any improper or negligent installation, operation, use, repair
or maintenance of, or interfering with, any backflow prevention assembly,
required by this article, by any water user or any other person.
(Ord. 90-13)
Any person desiring certification as a backflow prevention assembly
tester shall make written application to the department on a form
provided by, and in a manner prescribed by the department. Each application
shall be accompanied by a fee, in an amount to be established by resolution
of the city council. Said fee shall not be refundable or transferable.
(Ord. 90-13)
The department will issue a "certificate of competence" to those
persons who have satisfied the minimum requirements for certification
as a tester for approved backflow prevention assemblies. Every person,
after receiving a certificate of competence from the department shall
be issued such identification as the department shall deem appropriate;
and such identification shall be kept in the immediate possession
of every person holding a certificate of competence while said person
is testing any backflow prevention assembly within the city. Said
certificate shall be valid for a period of one year and may be revoked,
suspended, or not renewed by the department of public works for improper
testing, repairs and/or reporting.
(Ord. 90-13)
A certificate of competence may be renewed within ninety days
from the date of expiration. Any person desiring certification renewal
shall make written application to the department on a form provided
by, and in a manner prescribed by the department. Each application
shall be accompanied by a fee, in an amount to be set by resolution
of the city council. Said fee shall not be refundable or transferable.
(Ord. 90-13)
A.
If
the department determines that a certificate holder has failed to
comply with any requirement of this article, the department shall
issue to the certificate holder, a written notice setting forth the
acts or omissions with which the certificate holder is charged, and
informing the certificate holder of their right to a hearing to show
cause why the certificate of competence should not be suspended or
revoked. A written request for a hearing shall be made by the certificate
holder within fifteen calendar days after receipt of the notice shall
be deemed a waiver of the right to hearing and the certificate of
competence may be suspended or revoked.
B.
The
hearing shall be conducted within fifteen calendar days of the receipt
of a request for a hearing. Upon written request of the certificate
holder, the department of public works may postpone any hearing date,
if circumstances warrant such action.
C.
At
the conclusion of the hearing, the hearing officer shall issue a written
notice of decision to the certificate holder within five working days
following the hearing. In the event of a suspension or revocation,
the notice shall specify the acts or omissions with which the certificate
holder is charged, and shall state the terms of the suspension or
that the certificate of competence has been revoked.
D.
Upon
revocation of a certificate of competence, the former certificate
holder shall not be allowed to make application for a certificate
of competence for a period of three years after the revocation date.
(Ord. 90-13)
The water user's premises shall be available for inspection
at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the department
to determine if protection of the public water system is required
at the service connection(s).
(Ord. 90-13)
A.
Any
water user at whose service connection(s) any backflow prevention
assemblies are installed, shall have each such assembly tested at
the time of installation and annually thereafter or more often as
the department may require. All such tests shall be conducted by a
certified backflow prevention assembly tester possessing a valid "certificate
of competence" issued by the department of public works. Backflow
prevention assemblies shall be repaired or replaced at the expense
of the water user whenever they are found to be defective.
B.
Reports
of tests of backflow prevention assemblies shall be filed with the
department within twenty calendar days after said tests are conducted.
The department shall accept said reports from only those persons who
possess a valid certificate of competence as issued by the department.
The water user shall pay a fee to the city for each test report filed
with the city. Said fee shall be established by resolution of the
city council.
(Ord. 90-13)
A.
Backflow
prevention assemblies in service at the time of adoption of this article
which do not comply with the provisions of this article may continue
in use until such time as the assembly is determined to be defective
or a building, plumbing or electrical permit is issued to construct
improvements on the premises; provided, that such improvements exceed
five thousand dollars, as determined by the department.
B.
Any
such assembly that is determined to be defective shall be replaced
by an assembly that complies with the provisions of this article.
(Ord. 90-13)
A.
The
city manager or designee shall have the authority to enforce this
article.
B.
The
city may require discontinuance of water service to any premises wherein
violations of this article exist. Any water user who violates any
of the provisions of this article, or later bypasses or renders inoperative
any backflow prevention assembly installed under the provisions of
this article may, in addition to other penalties prescribed, be subject
to discontinuance of water service. Water service will not again be
rendered until such violations have been corrected as ascertained
by the city. Any violation of the provisions of this article or rules
and regulations promulgated thereof, shall be an infraction, punishable
by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five
hundred dollars. Each day that a violation exists shall constitute
a separate and distinct offense.
(Ord. 90-13; Ord. 95-1 § 1)
The city is authorized to make all necessary and reasonable
rules and regulations with respect to the enforcement of this article.
All such rules and regulations shall be consistent with the provisions
of this article and shall be effective thirty days after being filed
with the city clerk of the city.
(Ord. 90-13; Ord. 95-1 § 1)
