The purpose of this Part is to protect the public
potable water supply of the City of North Tonawanda from the possibility
of contamination by isolating within its customers' internal distribution
system(s) or its customers' private water system(s) such contaminations
or pollutants which could backflow into the public water supply system;
and to comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary
Code § 5-1.31.
[Amended 7-7-1987]
The City of North Tonawanda Water Superintendent
shall be responsible for the protection of the distribution system
from contamination due to the backflow of contaminants through the
water service connection. An acceptable backflow device is required
on all water service connections to any customer's premises for the
safety of the water system. The Superintendent or his designated agent
shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such an acceptable
backflow prevention device at each service connection to this premises.
The customer shall immediately install such approved device or devices
at his own expense, and failure, refusal or inability on the part
of the customer to install said device or devices immediately shall
constitute a ground for discontinuing water service to the premises
until such device or devices have been properly installed. The requirement
of an acceptable backflow prevention device applies to any new water
service connection installation and to any remodeling work done upon
an existing premises that did not have a prior acceptable backflow
prevention device as required by this ordinance.
As used in this Part 3, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCEPTABLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
An acceptable air gap, reduced pressure zone device or double
check valve assembly as used to contain potential contamination within
a facility. In order for the reduced pressure zone device or the double
check valve assembly to be acceptable, it must be listed on the most
current version of the New York State Department of Health List of
Acceptable Devices.
AESTHETICALLY OBJECTIONABLE FACILITY
One in which substances are present which, if introduced
into the public water supply system, could be a nuisance to other
water customers but would not adversly effect human health. Typical
examples of such substances are; food-grade dyes, hot water, stagnant
water from fire lines in which no chemical additives are used, etc.
AIR GAP
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 said vessel. An approved "air gap" shall be at least double the
diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically, above the top of
the rim of the vessel, and in no case less than one inch.
APPROVED
Accepted by the City of North Tonawanda Water Superintendent
as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this Part,
or as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the City Superintendent approved public water supply. The auxiliary
waters may include water from another purveyor's public potable water
supply or any natural source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream,
harbor, etc., or used waters. These waters may be contaminated or
they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source
over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.
BACKFLOW
A flow condition, induced by a differential in pressure,
that causes the flow of water or other liquids and/or gases into the
distribution pipes of the City of North Tonawanda supply system from
any source other than its intended source.
CERTIFIED TESTER
That individual or firm approved to accomplish the necessary
inspections and operational tests of backflow prevention devices.
CONTAMINATION
The presence in water of a substance that tends to degrade
its quality.
CUSTOMER
A water user served by the City of North Tonawanda supply
system.
CUSTOMER'S WATER SYSTEM
The piping used to convey water supplied by the City of North
Tonawanda supply system throughout a customer's facility. The system
shall include all those parts of the piping beyond the control point
of the water main. The control point is either the curb valve or the
main valve located in the public right of way that isolates the customer's
facilities from the district distribution system.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
Whether a facility is rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable
or nonhazardous.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY, ACCEPTABLE
An assembly composed of two single, independently acting
check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at
each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the
watertightness of each check valve.
HAZARDOUS FACILITY
One in which substances may be present which, if introduced
into the public water system, would or may endanger or have an adverse
effect on the health of other water customers. Typical examples are:
laboratories, sewage treatment plants, chemical plants, hospitals
and mortuaries.
NONHAZARDOUS FACILITY
One which does not require the installation of an acceptable
backflow prevention device.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
The City of North Tonawanda system, including the source,
treatment works, transmission mains, distribution system and storage
facilities serving the public. This includes the distribution system
up to its connection with the customer's water system.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE DEVICE, ACCEPTABLE
A device containing a minimum of two independently acting
check valves, together with an automatically operated pressure differential
relief valve located between the two check valves. During normal flow
and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two
checks shall be less than the upstream (supply) pressure. In case
of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve, by
discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the 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 ordinance will be effective upon its proper
filing as required by law.