As used in this article, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ACCEPTABLE DEVICES
Those devices or assemblies found to be acceptable for containment
control in New York State in accordance with the Genesee County Department
of Health requirements, as outlined in Section 8 of the Cross-Connection
Control Guide, January 1981 (see appendix for determination of acceptability
as taken from this section).
AESTHETICALLY OBJECTIONABLE FACILITY
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-protection systems in which no chemical additives
are used, etc.
AIR GAP SEPARATION
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 rim of the
receptacle. The differential distance shall be at least double the
diameter (d) of the supply pipe. In no case shall the air gap be less
than one inch. (See Figure 1-A.)
Figure 1-A
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APPROVED CHECK VALVE
A check valve that seats readily and completely and meets
the New York State Department of Health list of acceptable devices,
as outlined in Section 8-1 of the Cross-Connection Control Guide,
January 1981.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises, other than
the approved public water supply.
BACKFLOW
A condition induced by a differential in pressure that causes
the flow of water or other liquids and/or gases into the distribution
pipes of a public water supply from any source other than its intended
source.
BACKPRESSURE
The resulting backflow of contaminated, polluted or otherwise
unacceptable quality water from a plumbing fixture or other customer
source(s) into a public water supply system due to a greater pressure
within the customer's water system. (See Figure 1-B.)
Figure 1-B
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EXAMPLE
Only the valve at A separates the potable and the fire tank
water in a large factory. The factory's potable water system, at B,
is being filled from the public water supply system at C, which is
delivering water at a pressure of 60 pounds per square inch. At the
same time the firefighting system is activated, which provides potentially
stagnant tank water at a pressure of 120 pounds per square inch. If
valve A is open or leaks, the tank water will be forced into the public
water supply system.
BACKSIPHONAGE
The backflow of contaminated or polluted water or water of
questionable quality from a plumbing fixture or other customer source(s)
into a public water supply system main due to a temporary low or subatmospheric
pressure within the public water supply system. (See Figure 1-C.)
Figure 1-C
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EXAMPLE: A hose is submerged in a laboratory sink at A. Both
buildings are connected to the same public water supply system C.
This main could develop a low pressure due to a main break elsewhere
in the system. The building on the right has installed a booster pump
in the basement at B in order to augment available pressures. The
booster pump could deplete the water in main C, thereby subjecting
the customer's water system to a pressure less than atmospheric, thus
causing a reversal of flow from the laboratory in the opposite building.
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CERTIFIED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE TESTER
A person who is New York State Department of Health certified
and found competent for the testing of backflow prevention devices.
He or she shall be provided with an appropriate unexpired identification
card. Failure to perform his or her duties competently and conscientiously
will result in prompt withdrawal of his or her authority to test devices
under this article.
CONTAINMENT
Cross-connection control which isolates the customer's entire
facility from the public water system so as to provide the protection
necessary to prevent contamination of the public water supply in the
event of backflow from the customer's facility.
CONTAMINATION
The presence in water of a substance that tends to degrade
its quality.
CROSS-CONNECTION
A physical connection between the public water system and
a customer water system.
CUSTOMER
A water user served by a public water system; all water districts,
including individual private users outside the district limits, as
well as all outside-of-district customers.
CUSTOMER'S WATER SYSTEM
The piping used to convey water supplied by a public water
supply system from the point of supply throughout the customer's facility.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
Whether a facility is rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable
or nonhazardous.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE (DCV) ASSEMBLY, ACCEPTABLE
Two single independently acting check valves, including tightly
closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly, and suitable
connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This
device must be approved as a complete assembly and listed on the New
York State Department of Health list of acceptable devices in Section
8 of the Cross-Connection Control Guide. (See Figure 1-D.)
Figure 1-D
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HAZARDOUS FACILITY
A facility 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: laboratories;
sewage treatment plants; chemical plants; hospitals; mortuaries.
INTERCONNECTION
A joining of two independently operated public water supply
distribution systems.
NONHAZARDOUS FACILITY
A facility which does not require the installation of an
acceptable backflow prevention device.
PLUMBING CONTROL
Prevention and elimination of cross-connections within the
customer's water system by enforcement of building or plumbing codes.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
A New York State approved supplier of water, including the
source, treatment works, transmission mains, distribution system and
storage facilities serving the public.
REDUCED-PRESSURE-ZONE (RPZ) DEVICE
A device which is acceptable if found on the New York State
Department of Health list of devices as described in Public Section
8 of the Cross-Connection Control Guide, January 1981. 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. This device must be approved as a complete assembly. (See Figure
1-E.)
Figure 1-E
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SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that is available within the water customer's facility.
SUPPLIER OF WATER
The owner or operator of a New York State approved public
water system.
WATER SUPERVISOR
The 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 consumer's
water system free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects,
as required by regulations and laws.
Whenever possible, cross-connection control will be achieved
by the containment method. Any user employing a device which will
achieve control by any other method will make written application
to the Highway Superintendent to request such authorization. The Highway
Superintendent, the Town Board and the Genesee County Department of
Health will be the final authority determining the applicability of
any and all devices so used.
A. The containment method. Using the containment approach to cross-connection
control results in totally isolating a facility with a potential hazard
from the public water supply system. Each water service line to such
a facility will be protected in a manner commensurate with the degree
of hazard. When any portion of a consumer's water supply system is
rated hazardous, then the entire system receives the same rated degree
of hazard. That includes piping for potable as well as nonpotable
water.
B. Under certain conditions, fire sprinkler system connections to the
public water supply system may warrant a separate evaluation of the
type of protective device required.
The protective device required shall depend on the degree of
hazard, as tabulated below:
A. For any premises on which there is an auxiliary water supply, the
public water supply system shall be protected by an air gap separation
or an approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention device.
B. At the service connection to any premises on which a substance that
would be objectionable (but not 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.
C. 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 at or as
near the point of entry into the facility as possible, immediately
downstream of the water meter, and all piping between the water meter
and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
D. 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 property line, 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 this alternative is acceptable to
the Highway Superintendent and the Genesee County Department of Health.
E. 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 property line, and all piping between the water meter and receiving
tanks 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.
F. At the service connection to any premises not covered by Subsections
A through
E above, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved single check valve assembly at the discretion of the Department of Public Works Superintendent or his designee.