[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Seneca Falls 10-1-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2014. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Water — See Ch. 285.
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A. 
Protect the public potable water supply of the Town of Seneca Falls from the possibility of contamination by isolating within its customers' internal distribution system(s) or its customers' private water system(s) contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water supply system; and
B. 
Comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code § 5-1.31.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CERTIFIED TESTER/INSPECTOR
That individual or firm approved by the Town Board to accomplish the necessary inspections and operational tests of backflow prevention devices.
CLERK
The Town Clerk of the Town of Seneca Falls.
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.
A. 
The Town of Seneca Falls shall be responsible for the protection of the water distribution system from contamination due to the backflow of contaminants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of the Town Board, an acceptable backflow prevention device is required at the Town's water service connection to any customer's premises, for the safety of the water system, the Clerk or his or her designated agent shall give notice, in writing, to said customer to install such backflow prevention device approved of by the Town Board at each service connection to this premises.
B. 
Consumer responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of each consumer, at his or her own expense, to furnish, install and keep in good working order and safe condition any and all protective devices required by this chapter. The Town shall not be responsible for any loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from or caused by the improper or negligent installation, operation, use, repair or maintenance of or interfering with any protective device by any customer or any other person.
C. 
Design and approval. The design for the installation of a backflow prevention device must be prepared in accordance with New York State laws and regulations and must be approved by the Town Board and all agencies required by state laws and regulations.
It shall be the duty of the customer at any premises where backflow prevention devices are installed to contact the Town's certified tester/inspector to have certified inspections and operational tests made at least once a year. In those instances where the Town Board deems the hazard to be great enough, it 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 Town's certified tester/inspector or any other qualified firm or persons approved of in advance by the Town. These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced by and at the expense of the customer whenever said devices are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhauls shall be maintained. Copies of all testing and maintenance records shall be sent to the Town immediately after the work is performed.
All presently installed prevention devices which do not meet the requirements of this chapter 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 this chapter, be excluded from the requirements of these rules, so long as the Town 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 constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this chapter.
No water service connection to any customer's water system shall be installed or maintained by the Town unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations and this chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued if a backflow prevention device required by this chapter is not installed, tested and 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.
An offense against the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.