The intent of this article is:
A.
To protect the public water supply served within the Village of Brewster
and the Districts in the Town of Southeast served by the water distribution
system, from the possibility of contamination or pollution which could
backflow or back-siphon into the water distribution system.
B.
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential, between its customers' in-plant potable
water system, and nonpotable systems.
C.
To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control which will effectively prevent the contamination or pollution
of all potable water systems by cross-connection.
D.
It is the intent of these regulations to recognize that there are
varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree
of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
Pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and
statutes promulgated in Article 2 of the Public Health Law and in
Chapter I, § 5-1.31, of the State Sanitary Code (10 NYCRR
1 et seq.), the New York State Department of Health has undertaken
a program for preventing water from unapproved sources from entering
the public potable water system. Subpart 5-1 of the State Sanitary
Code, § 5-1.32, requires that the supplier of all public
water shall protect the water distribution system by containing potential
contamination within the premises of each individual water consumer.
The requirement of this article, entitled "Cross-Connections,"
which safeguard potable water supplies by preventing backflow into
the water distribution systems, shall apply to all properties connected
to the Village of Brewster water distribution system.
A.
Owners and outside consumers shall be responsible for the protection
of the water distribution system from contamination or pollution due
to the backflow or back-siphon of contaminants or pollutants through
the water service connection and any other piping system within the
premises. If pursuant to 10NYCRR Part 5, § 5-1.31, a backflow
device is required at the Village's water service connection
to any owner or outside consumer's premises, it shall be the
responsibility of the owner or outside consumer to install such approved
device or devices at the owner or outside consumer's own expense.
Failure, refusal or inability on the part of the owner or outside
consumer to install said device or devices shall constitute grounds
for discontinuing water service until such device or devices have
been properly installed. Hazardous conditions shall be addressed immediately.
B.
The following measures shall be taken by any owner or outside consumer
required to do so by the Village of Brewster, which requirement shall
be based on the potential hazard to the water distribution system:
(1)
An approved backflow prevention device such as air gap, reduced pressure
zone device, double check valve assembly or approved equivalent protective
device shall be installed in potential backflow conditions, depending
on the degree of hazard posed by a service connection.
(2)
Owners and outside consumers shall submit an application on a form
approved by the State of New York Department of Health for plans for
the installation of protective devices to the Superintendent for approval.
(3)
All protective devices shall be tested initially and at least annually
thereafter. Such tests shall be conducted by certified backflow prevention
device testers.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A physical break between a supply line and a receiving vessel.
The air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply line,
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 or field use. Pins and bushings shall be of
bronze or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, machined for
easy, dependable operation. The closure element, e.g., clapper, shall
be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote
rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
An assembly of at least two independently acting 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 water-tightness of each valve. This device
must be approved as a complete assembly.
A device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically
operating differential relief valve located between the two checks,
two shutoff valves and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing.
The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between
the two check valves at less than the pressure on the public water
supply side of the device. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure
between 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. The enclosure must be self-draining,
so that the large amount of water which the relief valve may vent
will be disposed of reliably without submergence of the relief valve.
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 be subjected to static
line pressure.
A loop of line rising approximately 35 feet, at its topmost
point, above the highest fixture it supplies.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source
or system containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved
as equally safe, wholesome and potable for human consumption.
A vacuum breaker which is designated so as not to be subjected
to static line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
That owner, outside 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 owner or outside consumer's water system free from cross-connections
and other sanitary defects, as required by regulations and laws.
A.
Each service connection from the water distribution system for supplying
water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected
against backflow of water from the premises into the water distribution
system, unless the auxiliary water supply is approved as an additional
source by the Village Board of Trustees and is satisfactory to the
public health agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality and
safety.
B.
Each service connection from the water distribution system for supplying
water to premises on which any substance is handled under pressure,
in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system, shall be
protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the
public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and
waters originating from the water distribution system which may have
been subject to deterioration in sanitary or chemical quality.
C.
Each service connection from the water distribution system for supplying
water to premises on which a substance of unusually toxic concentration
or danger to health is handled in liquid form, even though it is not
under pressure, shall be protected against backflow of the water from
premises into the public system. Examples are plating factories using
cyanide, and hospitals. This is not intended to apply to normal household
installations.
D.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection
to any premises that have internal cross-connections, unless such
cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the water purveyor.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner or outside consumer to
provide and maintain these prospective devices, and each one must
be of a type acceptable to the State Health Department.
E.
Potable water pipelines connected to equipment for industrial processes
or operations shall be protected by a suitable backflow prevention
device located beyond the last point from which drinking water may
be taken, which device shall be provided on the feed line to process
piping or equipment. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or
outside consumer to install such device. In the event that the particular
process liquid is especially corrosive or apt to prevent reliable
action of a backflow prevention device, air gap separation shall be
provided. These devices shall be tested by the owner or outside user
at least once a year, or more often in those instances where successive
inspections indicate repeated failure. These devices shall be repaired,
overhauled or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. These
tests must be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device
tester and records of tests, repairs and replacement shall be kept
and made available to the water purveyor and the Health Department
upon request.
The protective device required shall depend on the degree of
hazard as tabulated below:
A.
At any 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 double check
valve assembly.
B.
At the service connection on any premises on which there is an auxiliary
water supply where cross-connections are known to exist which cannot
be presently eliminated, the water distribution system shall be protected
by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle
backflow prevention device.
C.
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.
D.
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 principle
backflow prevention device. This device 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.
E.
At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous
to health, or toxic substance in 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
practicable to the water meter, and all 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 principle backflow prevention device,
provided that the alternative is acceptable to the water purveyor.
F.
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 shall be entirely visible. If these conditions
cannot be reasonably met, the public water supply shall be protected
with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
It shall be the duty of the owner or outside consumer on any
premises on account of which backflow protective devices are installed
to have competent inspections made at least one time per year, or
more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate
repeated failure. These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced
at the expense of the owner or outside consumer 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 purveyor within 72 hours after the tests are made. Records
of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall also be kept and made available
to the water purveyor and the local Health Department upon request.
Whenever the Superintendent determines that it is not practical
to protect drinking water systems on premises against entry of water
from a source or piping system or equipment that cannot be approved
as safe or potable for human use, an entirely separate drinking water
system shall be installed by the owner or outside consumer.
Water systems for fighting fire, derived from a supply that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use shall, wherever practicable, be kept wholly separate from drinking water pipelines and equipment. In cases where the domestic water system is used for both drinking and fire-fighting purposes, approved backflow prevention devices shall be installed to protect such individual drinking water lines as are not used for fire-fighting purposes. An auxiliary fire-fighting water supply which is not approved for the potable purposes, but which is so connected that it may be introduced into potable water piping during an emergency, shall be equipped with an approved automatic chlorination machine. It is the responsibility of the person or entity causing the introduction of said unapproved or unsafe water into the pipelines to see that a procedure be developed and carried out to notify and protect users of this piping system during the emergency and that special precautions be taken to disinfect thoroughly and flush out all pipelines which may become contaminated before they are again used to furnish drinking water. In the event that the means of protection of water users is by disinfection of the auxiliary fire-fighting supply, the installation and its use shall be thoroughly reliable. The public water supply must be protected against backflow from the dual domestic fire systems, as detailed in Article V of this chapter.
A.
Where the premises contain dual or multiple water systems and piping,
the exposed portions of pipelines shall be painted, banded or marked
at sufficient intervals to distinguish clearly which water is safe
and which is contaminated. All outlets from secondary or other potentially
contaminated systems shall be posted as being contaminated and unsafe
for drinking purposes. All outlets intended for drinking purposes
shall be plainly marked to indicate that fact.
B.
The Health Department and the Village shall be kept informed of the
identity of the person responsible for the water piping on all premises
concerned with these regulations. At each property where it is necessary,
in the opinion of the Village, a water supervisor shall be designated.
This water supervisor shall be responsible for the installation and
use of pipelines and equipment and for the avoidance of cross-connections.
C.
In the event of the contamination or pollution of the water distribution
system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the Health Department
and the Village shall be promptly advised by the person responsible
for the water system so that appropriate measures may be taken to
overcome the contamination.
