[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Hammondsport 4-9-1996 as L.L. No. 2-1996.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water — See Ch. 118.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as "Local Law No. 2 of the year 1996 of the Village of Hammondsport,
Steuben County, New York."
The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard
potable water supplies from potential contamination by preventing
backflow from a water user's system into the public water system.
It is the intent of this chapter to recognize that there are varying
degrees of hazard and to apply the principal that the degrees of protection
should be commensurate with the degrees of hazard. Further, it is
the intent of the Village of Hammondsport, New York, to comply with
the requirements of New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5, Section
5-1.31, which section mandates the requirement that the supplier of
water protect their water system in accordance with procedures acceptable
to the Commissioner of Health. These mandated requirements are as
set forth in the Cross Connection Control Manual published by the
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and to that extent the
terms, conditions and provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code,
Part 5, Section 5-1-31, and the Cross Connection Control Manual are
incorporated in this chapter by reference as if more fully stated.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel.
The air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe,
measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, in no case less
than one inch.
A check valve that seats readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured water
tightness. The face of the closure element and valve seat must be
bronze, composition or other noncorrodible material which will seat
tightly under all prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings
shall be of bronze and other noncorrodible, nonsticking material,
machined for easy dependable operation. The closure element shall
be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote
rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
Two single independently acting check valves, including tightly
closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable
test connections. This device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A minimum of two independently acting check valves, together
with automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located
between the two check valves. 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 checks 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. This device must also be approved
as a complete assembly.
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public water supply.
An individual who has successfully completed a New York State
Department of Health approved course in the testing of backflow prevention
devices and has been issued a certificate by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to be used as a supply of water for drinking purposes
in a source or systems containing water or substance that is not or
cannot be approved as equally safe, wholesome and potable for human
consumption.
A vacuum breaker which can only be used for internal plumbing
control and, therefore, not acceptable as a containment device.
The consumer or a person on the premises charged with the
responsibility of complete knowledge and understanding of the water
supply piping within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's
water system free from cross connections and other sanitary defects,
as required by this chapter and all other required regulations and
laws.
A.
Where protection is required. The water system shall
be required to maintain a degree of protection commensurate with the
degree of hazard regardless of whether the hazard is immediate or
potential. To that extent, the Cross Connection Control Manual published
by NYSDOH shall be used, as a guide, to determine where protection
is required. It shall be the responsibility of the water user to provide
and maintain such required protection devices, and such devices shall
be of a type acceptable to the New York State Department of Health.
B.
Type of protection. The protective device required
shall depend on the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
(1)
At the service connection to any premises where there
is an auxiliary water supply handled in a separate piping system with
no known cross connection, the public water supply shall be protected
by an approved reduced pressure zone device.
(2)
Residential dwellings will require an approved check
valve system.
(3)
At the service connection to any premises on which
a substance that would be objectionable (but not necessarily hazardous
to health if introduced into the public water supply) is handled so
as to constitute a cross connection, the public water supply shall
be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
(4)
At the service connection to any premises on which
a substance of unusual toxic concentration or danger to health is
or may be handled, but not under pressure, the public water supply
shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced
pressure zone backflow prevention device. If an air gap is installed,
it shall be located as close as practical to the water meter, and
all piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely
visible. A reduced pressure zone device when installed shall be located
as close as possible to the property line.
(5)
At the service connection to any premises on which
any material dangerous to health, or toxic substance and toxic concentration,
is or may be handled under pressure, the public water supply shall
be protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located
as close as practical to the water meter, and any piping between the
water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these
conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply shall
be protected with an approved reduced pressure zone backflow prevention
device and it shall be located as close as possible to the property
line.
(6)
At the service connection to any sewage treatment
plant or sewage pumping station, the public water supply shall be
protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as
close as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the
water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these
conditions cannot be reasonably met, the public water supply shall
be protected by an approved reduced pressure zone backflow prevention
device and it shall be located as close as possible to the property
line.
C.
Frequency of inspection of protective devices. It
shall be the duty of the water user on any premises which requires
this use of a double check valve assembly, on account of which backflow
protective devices are installed, to have competent inspections made
at least once a year or more often in instances where successive inspections
indicate repeated failure. Devices shall be repaired, overhauled or
replaced at the expense of the water user whenever they are found
to be defective. These tests shall be performed by a qualified backflow
prevention device tester, and all test results will be provided to
the water user within 72 hours after the test is made. Records of
such tests, repairs and overhaul shall also be kept and made available
to the water user and the local health department upon request.
A.
No water service connection to any premises shall
be installed or maintained by the water user unless the water supply
is protected as required by this chapter and such other applicable
local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
B.
If any facility served by a water system denies a
water department person access to their premises for the purposes
of determining if protection to the public water system is necessary,
then the maximum protection condition shall be imposed with the requirement
that the number of devices shall equal the number of service lines.
C.
The following penalties shall be applicable for a
violation of this chapter:
(1)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow prevention
device within a prescribed time frame after first notice: $250.
(2)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow prevention
device within prescribed time frames after second notice: termination
of service.
(3)
Failure to at least annually test the backflow prevention
device: $300 and/or termination of water service.
(4)
Failure to replace or repair a backflow prevention
device as required: $1,000 and/or termination of water service.
This chapter shall take affect upon filing with
the New York State Department of State.
