[Res. No. 129-92, § 2, 8-25-1992]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
An acceptable 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 state department of health list of acceptable
devices.
A facility 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 adversely affect 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.
Accepted by the director of public works as meeting an applicable
specification stated or cited in this article, or as suitable for
the proposed use.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the 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,
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.
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 supply system any source other than its intended source.
That individual or firm approved to accomplish the necessary
inspections and operational tests of backflow prevention devices.
The presence in water of a substance that tends to degrade
its quality.
A water user served by the supply system.
The piping used to convey water supplied by the City supply
system throughout a customer's facility. The customer's
water system shall include all those parts of the piping beyond the
control point of the customer's service. 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 city distribution
system.
Whether a facility is rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable
or nonhazardous.
The director of public works.
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
water tightness of each check valve.
Is 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.
Is one which does not require the installation of an acceptable
backflow prevention device.
The city system including the source, treatment works, transmission
mains, distribution system and storage facilities. This includes the
distribution system up to its connection with the customer's
water system.
A device containing a minimum of two independently acting
check valves, together with an automatically operated pressure differential
relief valve located between two check valves. During the 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.
[Res. No. 129-92, § 1, 8-25-1992]
The purpose of this article is to:
(1)
Protect the public potable water supply of the city from the possibility
of contamination by isolating within its customers' internal
distribution systems or its customers' private water systems
such contaminations or pollutants which could backflow into the public
water supply system; and
(2)
To comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code
§ 5-1.31.
[Res. No. 129-92, § 1.2, 8-25-1992]
The director of public works shall be responsible for the protection
of the city distribution system from contamination due to the backflow
of contaminants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment
of the director, an acceptable backflow prevention device is required
at the city's water service connection to any customer's
premises for the safety of the water system, the director shall give
notice in writing to the customer to install such an acceptable backflow
prevention device at each service connection to the premises. The
customer shall immediately install such approved device or devices
at the customer's own expense; and failure, refusal or inability
on the part of the customer to install the device or devices immediately
shall constitute a ground for discontinuing water service to the premises
until such device or devices have been properly installed.
[Res. No. 129-92, § 3, 8-25-1992]
(a)
The customer's water system shall be open for inspection at
all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the city.
(b)
The director shall rate a customer's water system according
to its degree of hazard to the public water supply system.
(c)
An acceptable backflow prevention device 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, as follows:
(d)
The design of the installation of an acceptable backflow prevention
device must be prepared in accordance with state laws and regulations.
The design must be approved by the director and all agencies required
by the applicable state laws and regulations.
(e)
It shall be the duty of the customer at any premises where backflow
prevention devices are installed to have certified inspections and
operational tests made at least once a year. In those instances where
the director deems the hazard to be great enough, he may require certified
inspections at more frequent intervals. Certified inspections and
operational tests must also be made when any backflow prevention device
is to be installed, repaired, overhauled or replaced, in addition
to the requirement of an annual certified inspection and operational
test. All inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the customer
and shall be performed by the device manufacturer's representative,
or by a certified tester approved by the state department of health.
It shall be the duty of the director to see that certified inspections
and operational tests of the backflow prevention devices are made.
These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense
of the customer whenever the devices are found to be defective. Records
of such test, repairs and overhaul shall be kept and also made available
to the director. Copies of all testing and maintenance records shall
be sent to the director immediately after the work is performed.
(f)
All presently installed prevention devices which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described in this section at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under subsection (e) of this section, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the director 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 the director deems it constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this section.
(g)
No water service connection to any customer's water system shall
be installed 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 city if a backflow prevention device
required by this chapter is not installed, tested or maintained, or
if it is found that a backflow prevention device has been removed
or bypassed. Service will not be restored until such conditions or
defects are corrected.
[Res. No. 129-92, § 4, 8-25-1992]
(a)
In accordance with Sanitary Code § 5-1.31, all users of
a public water system shall prevent cross connections between the
potable water piping system and any other piping system within the
customer's premises. The plumbing inspector shall direct customers
to make necessary modifications to internal plumbing systems whenever
protection of potability of water within the premises against water
quality degradation is required.
(b)
Where a residential customer maintains an auxiliary water supply
in addition to the public water supply, the two systems must not be
interconnected. Where the two systems are interconnected, the following
options will be deemed appropriate and within the requirements of
existing state laws and regulations and with this article:
(1)
Disconnection of the auxiliary water supply from the public
water supply. An inspection to determine compliance will be made initially
and at least every three years thereafter or whenever the property
is sold. The inspection may be made by the water supplier or the local
building codes inspector.
(2)
Installation of an acceptable reduced pressure zone (RPZ) device
on the public water supply connection.
(3)
Proper abandonment of the auxiliary water supply.
(4)
Sampling for the auxiliary water supply to determine quality
in accordance with New York State Sanitary Code §§ 5-1.50
and 5-1.51. Sampling frequency will be specified by the state or local
health department. Where water quality does not meet the standards,
one of the first three alternatives would apply.
[Res. No. 129-92, § 6, 8-25-1992]
In addition to any other remedy provided by this article at
law or in equity, the director of public works may order disconnection
of water service at the service entrance for the affected premises.
