Borough of Westmont, PA Chapter 220 Water

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Westmont: Art. I, 10-11-1988 as Ord. No. 654. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Water Authority — See Ch. 59.

Sewers — See Ch. 172.

Article I Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention

[Adopted 10-11-1988 as Ord. No. 654]

§ 220-1 Purpose.

The purpose of this Article is:

A. To protect the public potable water supply of the Greater Johnstown Water Authority within the Borough of Westmont from the possibility of contamination by isolating within its customers' private water system(s) contaminants or pollutants which could backflow through the water service connections into the public water system; and

B. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination of the public potable water system within the Borough of Westmont.

§ 220-2 Responsibilities of Authority.

[Amended 9-10-1996 by Ord. No. 729]

The Greater Johnstown Water Authority, dispensing potable water within the Borough of Westmont, shall exercise reasonable vigilance to ensure that the consumer has taken proper steps to protect said public potable water supply system against pollution or contamination through cross-connections in new installations as well as existing facilities.

§ 220-3 Definitions.

As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

APPROVED

Accepted as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this Article or as suitable for the proposed use.

AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY

Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the generally recognized public potable 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, etc., or used waters or industrial fluids. They may be polluted or contaminated or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.

BACKFLOW

The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source or sources other than its intended source. Back-siphonage is one type of "backflow."

BACKFLOW PREVENTER

A device or means to prevent backflow.

A. Air-gap primary prevention. 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 the receptacle.[1]

B. Reduced pressure principal primary prevention. The term "approved reduced pressure principal backflow prevention device" means a device approved by a recognized and city-approved testing agency for backflow prevention devices.[2]

CONTAMINATION

An impairment of the quality of the water by sewage or industrial fluids or waste to a degree which creates an actual hazard to the public health, such as but not limited to poisoning or through the spread of disease. (See "pollution.")

CROSS-CONNECTION

Any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and other nonpotable water or industrial fluids of questionable safety, through which or because of which backflow may occur. A water service connection between a public potable water distribution system and a customer's water distribution system which cross-connected to a contaminated fixture, industrial fluid system or with a potentially contaminated supply or auxiliary water system constitutes one type of "cross-connection." Other types of "cross-connections" include connectors such as swing connections, removable sections, four-way plug valves, spools, dummy sections of pipe, swivel or changeover devices, sliding multiport tube, etc.

CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL BY CONTAINMENT

The installation of an approved backflow prevention device immediately after the meter on any customer's premises where an actual or potential cross-connection exists on a customer's water system.

CROSS-CONNECTION, CONTROLLED

A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable water system with an approved built-in backflow preventer that will continuously afford protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.

DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY SECONDARY PREVENTION

An assembly of at least two independently acting approved check valves including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check valve assembly and suitable leak detector drains plus connections available for testing the watertightness of each valve.

HAZARD, DEGREE OF

The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect upon the potable water system.

A. HAZARD, HEALTH Any condition, device or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create or, in the judgment of the official head, may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer. An example of a "health hazard" is a structural defect, including cross-connections, in a water supply system.

B. HAZARD, PLUMBING A plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by a vacuum breaker, air-gap separation or other device. Unprotected plumbing-type cross-connections are considered to be a health hazard.

C. HAZARD, POLLUTIONAL An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system, but which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances but would not be dangerous to health.

D. HAZARD, SYSTEM An 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 which would have protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS SYSTEM

Any system containing a fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, system, pollutional or plumbing hazard if introduced into a public potable water supply. This may include but not be limited to polluted or contaminated waters; all types of process waters and used water originating from the public potable water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; plating acids and alkalies; circulated cooling waters that are connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling waters that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, etc.; oils, gases, glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes or for fire-fighting purposes.

POLLUTION

The presence of any foreign substances (organic, inorganic, radiological or biological) in water which tends to degrade its quality as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health, but does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use. (See "contamination.")

PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM

A system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least 15 service connections or regularly services at least 25 individuals.

THE GREATER JOHNSTOWN WATER AUTHORITY

The utility in charge of supplying potable water to consumers within the City of Johnstown, which 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 Article.

WATER, NONPOTABLE

Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable potability.

WATER, POTABLE

Any water which, according to recognized standards, is safe for human consumption.

WATER, SERVICE CONNECTIONS

The terminal end of a service connection from the potable water system, i.e., where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer's water system. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow prevention device located at the point of delivery to the consumer's water system. "Service connection" shall also include water service connection from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service connection from the public potable water system.

WATER SYSTEM

The "water system" shall be considered as made up of two parts: the utility system and the customer system.

A. 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.

(1) The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system.

(2) The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for the delivery of water from the source to the customer's system.

B. The customer system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the utility distribution system which are utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of use.

WATER, USED

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.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.

[2] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.

§ 220-4 Regulations.

A. No water service connection to any premises shall be approved by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations and this Article. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the water purveyor if a backflow prevention device required by this article is not installed, tested and maintained, or if it is found that a backflow preventive device 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.

B. The customer system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the water purveyor 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 Purveyor 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 in conformance with state, county and city statutes relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

C. An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each service line to a customer's water system at or near the property line or immediately after the meter inside the building being served, but in all cases before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever the following conditions exist:

(1) In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply which is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and which is not acceptable as an additional source by the water purveyor, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing a backflow prevention device in the service line.

(2) In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substance is 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 a backflow prevention device in the service line. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the utility system which have been subject to deterioration in quality.

(3) 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 have primary maximum protection against backflow from the premises by installing a backflow prevention device in the service line.

D. The type of protection device required under § 220-4C(1), (2) and (3) shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists as follows:

(1) In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in § 220-4C(1) 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 device.

(a) An approved air-gap separation 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. When an air-gap is used to prevent contamination of the public potable water system, an approved reduced pressure device shall be installed in the bypass.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.

(b) An approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall incorporate two or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two checks and two tightly closing shutoff valves and be equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air gap in the device. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part of the valve will be submerged.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.

(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 system shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the specifications and approval of a recognized and city-approved testing agency for backflow prevention devices. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance and testing.[3]

[3] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.

(3) In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health which is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, this system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. Examples of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries and plating works.

(4) In the case of any premises where there are uncontrolled cross-connections, either actual or potential, the public water system must be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device 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 installing a backflow prevention device in the service line. In this case, maximum protection will be required; that is, an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed in each service to the premises.

E. Any backflow prevention required herein shall be of a model approved by the water purveyor. The term "approved backflow preventer" shall mean a device that has been manufactured in full conformance with standards established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) entitled "AWWA C506-69 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices." Said AWWA standards have been adopted by the official head. Final approval, however of the reduced pressure principle backflow preventer and the double check valve assembly shall be evidenced by a certificate of full approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with said AWWA standards.

F. It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where backflow prevention devices are installed to have thorough inspections and operational tests made at least once a year, or more often in those instances where inspections indicate a need. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and be performed by the device manufacturer's representative, by the water purveyor's personnel or by a person approved by the head of the water purveyor or his authorized representative as a competent device tester. It shall be the duty of the water purveyor to see that these tests are made. The customer-user shall notify the water purveyor in advance when the test is to be undertaken so that he or his representative may witness the test if it is so desired. These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the customer-user whenever they are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall be kept and made available to the water purveyor.

G. All presently installed backflow prevention devices which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under Subsection F, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the water purveyor is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the water purveyor finds that the maintenance of the device constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this section.

H. No consumer shall alter, bypass or render inoperative any backflow device approved and installed under these regulations.

§ 220-5 Violations and penalties.

A. Notification of violation. The water purveyor shall notify, in writing, the owner or authorized agent of the owner of the premises in which there is found to be a violation of the provisions of this Article. Failure of the owner to remove or correct the violation within the time provided will constitute cause for the water purveyor to discontinue water service to said premises.

B. Penalties for violation. Any person, firm, association or corporation who violates any provision of this Article shall, upon the judgment of any District Magistrate determining such violation, be subject to a fine not exceeding $600 and costs for each offense, plus any additional expenses encountered by the water purveyor to restore the water quality that it is safe for human consumption. In default of such payment of fine and costs, the violator shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 30 days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each calendar day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.