The purpose of this article is to safeguard
the potable water supply from potential contamination by preventing
backflow from a water user's system into the public water supply system
and to comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary
Code, Title 10 New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, Part 5, § 5-1.31.
This is to be accomplished by:
A. Requiring an approved air gap, reduced pressure zone
device, double check valve assembly or equivalent protective device
consistent with the degree of hazard posed by any service connection.
B. Requiring the users of such connections to submit
plans for the installation of protective devices to the Building Inspector
for approval; and
C. Assuring that all protective devices be tested at
least annually, records of which shall be submitted by the property
owner to and maintained by the Building Department.
Any preexisting system that does not contain
a backflow prevention device shall be upgraded so as to comply with
the current requirements of this article and of the New York State
Department of Health and the Orange County Department of Health within
120 days following the service of notice by certified mail to install
said device.
The testing of backflow prevention devices shall
be performed on an annual basis by the owner of any system requiring
same, and the cost of such testing shall be borne by the owner of
the system. The testing procedures shall conform to the requirements
of the New York State Department of Health and the Orange County Department
of Health. Test results shall be submitted to the Building Inspector.
The Building Inspector shall enforce this article
and the cross-connection and backflow prevention requirements, specification,
guidelines, and facilities classifications of the New York State Department
of Health and the Orange County Department of Health. Specification,
guidelines, facilities classifications and other administrative requirements
and information which shall be used to implement the requirements
shall be on file in the Building Inspector's office.
In addition to, and not in lieu of, any other
penalty set forth in this chapter, any person who violates a provision
of this article shall be subjected to a fine not to exceed $250 for
each day the violation continues after notice by the Building Inspector.
In addition, the service of water to any premises may be discontinued
by the Town if backflow prevention devices required by this article
or regulations adopted pursuant thereto are not installed, tested,
and maintained; if any defects are found in an installed backflow
prevention device; if it is found that the backflow prevention device
has been removed or bypassed; or if an unprotected cross-connection
exists on the premises; and water service shall not be restored until
such condition or defect is corrected.