[HISTORY: Adopted by the Water Department of the Town of
Wayland 12-4-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A.
Protect the public potable water supply of Wayland from the possibility
of contamination or pollution by isolating within the customer's
internal distribution system or the customer's private water
system such contaminants or pollutants that could backflow into the
public water system;
B.
Promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential, between the customer's in-plant potable
water system and nonpotable water systems, plumbing fixtures and industrial
piping systems; and
C.
Provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control that will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination
or pollution of all potable water systems.
The Water Superintendent shall be responsible for the protection
of the public potable water distribution system from contamination
or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through
the water service connection. If, in the judgment of said Water Superintendent,
an approved backflow-prevention assembly is required at the customer's
water service connection or within the customer's private water
system for the safety of the water system, the Water Superintendent
or his/her designated agent shall give notice, in writing, to said
customer to install such an approved backflow-prevention assembly
at a specific location on his/her premises. The customer shall immediately
install such approved assembly at his/her own expense, and failure,
refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install, have
tested and maintain said assembly shall constitute grounds for discontinuing
water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily
met.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Accepted by the authority responsible as meeting an applicable
specification stated or cited in this chapter or as suitable for the
proposed use.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the purveyor's approved public water supply. These auxiliary
waters may include water from another purveyor's public potable
water supply or any natural source, such as a well, spring, river,
stream, harbor, and so forth, used waters or industrial fluids. These
waters may be contaminated or polluted or they may be objectionable
and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor
does not have sanitary control.
The undesirable reversal of flow in a potable water distribution
system as a result of a cross-connection.
An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
AIR GAPThe unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water or waste to a tank, plumbing fixture, receptor or other assembly and the flood level rim of the receptacle. These vertical, physical separations must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, never less than one inch (25 millimeters).
REDUCED-PRESSURE BACKFLOW-PREVENTION ASSEMBLYThe approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly consists of two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve. These units are located between two tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves as an assembly and equipped with properly located resilient-seated test cocks.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLYThe approved double check valve assembly consists of two internally loaded check valves, either spring loaded or internally weighted, installed as a unit between two properly located resilient-seated test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health-hazard (that is, a pollutant).
A pressure, higher than the supply pressure, caused by a
pump, elevated tank, boiler or any other means that may cause backflow.
Backflow caused by negative or reduced pressure in the supply
piping.
An impairment of a potable water supply by the introduction
or admission of any foreign substance that degrades the quality and
creates a health hazard.
A connection or potential connection between any part of
a potable water system and any other environment containing other
substances in a manner that under any circumstances would allow such
substances to enter the potable water system. Other substances may
be gases, liquids or solids, such as chemicals, waste products, steam,
water from other sources (potable or nonpotable) or any matter that
may change color or add odor to the water.
A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable
water system with an approved backflow-prevention assembly properly
installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection
commensurate with the degree of hazard.
The installation of an approved backflow-prevention assembly
at the water service connection to any customer's premises where
it is physically and economically unfeasible to find and permanently
eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within
the customer's water system; or
The installation of an approved backflow-prevention assembly
on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer's
water system where there are actual or potential cross-connections
that cannot be effectively eliminated or controlled at the point of
the cross-connection.
The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk
to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable
water system.
HAZARD, HEALTHA cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that could, if introduced in the potable water supply, cause death or illness, spread disease or have a high probability of causing such effects.
HAZARD, PLUMBINGA plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air gap or an approved backflow-prevention assembly.
HAZARD, NON-HEALTHA cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable if introduced into a potable water supply.
HAZARD, SYSTEMAn actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination that would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
Any system containing a fluid or solution that may be chemically,
biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration
such as would constitute a health, system, pollution or plumbing hazard
if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but
shall not be limited to, polluted or contaminated waters; all types
of process waters and used waters originating from the public potable
water system that may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals
in fluid form; plating acids and alkalis; circulating cooling waters
biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated
natural waters such as wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors,
seas, irrigation canals or systems and so forth; oils, gases, glycerin,
paraffin and caustic and acid solutions; and other liquid and gaseous
fluids used in industrial or other purposes for fire-fighting purposes.
The presence of any foreign substance in water that tends
to degrade its quality so as to constitute a non-health-hazard or
impair the usefulness of the water.
The terminal end of a service connection from the public
potable water system, that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
customer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of
the service connection, then the service connection shall mean the
downstream end of the meter. There should be no unprotected takeoffs
from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow-prevention assembly
located at the point of delivery to the customer's water system.
Service connection shall also include water service connection from
a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service
connections from the public potable water system.
Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of
questionable quality.
Water that is safe for human consumption as described by
the public health authority having jurisdiction.
The Superintendent in charge of the Water Department of Wayland,
who is invested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation
of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter.
Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public potable
water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed
through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary
control of the water purveyor.
A.
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the
utility system and the customer system.
B.
The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the
distribution system and shall include all those facilities of the
water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the
point where the customer's system begins.
C.
The source facilities shall include all components of the facilities
utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water
to the distribution system.
D.
The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used
for the delivery of water from the source to the customer's system.
E.
The customer's system shall include those parts of the facilities
beyond the termination of the utility distribution system that are
utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of
use.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed
or maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected
as required by state-provincial laws and regulations and this chapter.
Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the water
purveyor if a backflow-prevention assembly required by this chapter
is not installed, if the assembly has been removed or bypassed or
if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises. Service
will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.
The customer's system should be open for inspection at
all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the Water Department
to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary
hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such
a condition becomes known, the Water Superintendent shall deny or
immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for a
physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected
the condition(s) in conformance with state-provincial and town statutes
relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted
pursuant thereto.
An approved backflow-prevention assembly shall be installed
on each service line to a customer's water system at or near
the property line or immediately inside the building being served,
but in all cases before the first branch line leading off the service
line wherever the following conditions exist:
A.
In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply that is
not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and
that is not acceptable as an additional source by the Water Superintendent,
the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the
premises by installing an approved backflow-prevention assembly in
the service line, appropriate to the degree of hazard.
B.
In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other
objectionable substances are handled in such a fashion as to create
an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing
an approved backflow-prevention assembly in the service line, appropriate
to the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process
waters and waters originating from the utility system that have been
subject to deterioration in quality.
C.
In the case of premises having internal cross-connections that cannot
be permanently corrected and controlled or intricate plumbing and
piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises
is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable
or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections
exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow
from the premises by installing an approved backflow-prevention assembly
in the service line.
A.
The type of protective assembly required under § 401-7 shall depend upon the degree of hazard that exists as follows:
(1)
In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in § 401-7A of this chapter and it is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly.
(2)
In the case of any premises where there is water or a substance that
would be objectionable but not hazardous to health if introduced into
the public water system, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved double check valve assembly.
(3)
In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous
to health that is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual
or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system
shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved
reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly. Examples
of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment
plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals,
mortuaries and plating plants.
(4)
In the case of any premises where there are uncontrolled cross-connections,
either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow-prevention assembly at the service connection.
(5)
In the case of any premises where, because of security requirements
or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical
to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either
an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow-prevention assembly on each service to the premises.
(6)
In the case of any premises where, in the opinion of the Water Superintendent,
an undue health threat is posed because of the presence of an extremely
toxic substance, the Water Superintendent may require an air gap at
the service connection to protect the public water system. This requirement
will be at the discretion of the Water Superintendent and is dependent
on the degree of hazard.
B.
Any backflow-prevention assembly required herein shall be a model
and size approved by the Water Superintendent.
(1)
The term "approved backflow-prevention assembly" shall mean an assembly
that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards
established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), titled
"AWWA C510-89, Standard for Double Check Valve Backflow-Prevention
Assembly" and "AWWA C511-89, Standard for Reduced-Pressure-Principle
Backflow-Prevention Assembly," and has met completely the laboratory
and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection
Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCHR) of the University of Southern
California established by the Specification of Backflow-Prevention
Assemblies, Section 10 of the most current issue of the Manual of
Cross-Connection Control.
(2)
Said AWWA and FCCHR standards and specifications have been adopted
by the Water Superintendent. Final approval shall be evidenced by
a certificate of approval issued by an approved testing laboratory
certifying full compliance with said AWWA standards and FCCHR specifications.
In addition, backflow prevention devices must be approved for use
by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
(3)
The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the Water
Superintendent to test and certify backflow preventers:
|
Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and
Hydraulic Research
University of Southern California
University Park
Los Angeles, CA 90089
|
(4)
Testing laboratories, other than the laboratory listed above, will
be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the Water Superintendent.
(5)
Backflow preventers that may be subjected to backpressure or backsiphonage
that have been fully tested and have been granted a certificate of
approval by said qualified laboratory and are listed on the laboratory's
current list of approved backflow-prevention assemblies may be used
without further testing or qualification.
[Amended 10-15-1997]
A.
Beginning on January 1, 1988, all testing of backflow-prevention
devices conducted in accordance with these regulations must be conducted
by a person who is a certified backflow-prevention device tester.
B.
Within 14 days after the installation of devices in accordance with
plans reviewed and approved by the reviewing authority, the owner
or owner's agent shall notify the reviewing authority to arrange
inspection of the installation by the reviewing authority.
C.
Reduced-pressure backflow preventers, double check-valve assemblies,
pressure-type vacuum breakers and air-gap separations may be inspected
and tested by the Department or the supplier of water at any item.
D.
The supplier of water shall test each reduced-pressure backflow preventer
and double check-valve assembly and shall inspect air-gap separations
with tank and pump arrangements semiannually. If the supply is used
less than six months of the year, these devices shall be inspected
and tested by the supplier of water once each year. The test shall
be conducted by a certified backflow-prevention device tester and
recorded on the Department's inspection and maintenance report
form. Copies of the inspection forms shall be submitted to the Department
and the owner.
E.
The owner shall test each reduced-pressure backflow preventer and
double check-valve assembly once each year. The test shall be conducted
by a certified backflow-prevention device tester and recorded on the
Department's inspection and maintenance report forms. One copy
of the inspection and maintenance report form shall be submitted to
the Department along with the annual permit application form and permit
fee.
F.
Devices failing a test or found defective shall be overhauled, repaired
or replaced by a plumber licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
to the extent required by 248 CMR 2.04(3). These devices must be reinspected
within two weeks of the initial inspection date, and a report of the
failure and repair shall be submitted by the owner or owner's
agent to the Department on the Department's inspection and maintenance
report form within two weeks of the repair.
G.
No two routine tests required by this section shall be conducted
within three months of each other without the written approval of
the Department.
H.
The owner or owner's agent must maintain on the premises a spare
parts kit and any special tools required for removal and reassembly
of devices which are to be tested. The presence of these materials
must be recorded on the inspection and maintenance report form.
I.
The owner or owner's agent must provide labor on the premises
as necessary to allow inspection and testing of devices by the Department,
the supplier of water or certified backflow-prevention device testers.
J.
The owner or owner's agent shall notify the Department and the
supplier of water, in writing, no later than 30 days prior to the
removal from service of any permitted device, and such notification
shall include the reason for removal and must indicate if the cross-connection
has been eliminated.
All presently installed backflow-prevention assemblies that do not meet the requirements of this chapter but were approved assemblies for the purpose described herein at the time of installation and that have been properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under § 401-9, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the Water Superintendent is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing assembly is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Water Superintendent finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow-prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this chapter.
