[R.O. 1991 § 710.330; Ord. No. 584 § 1, 7-11-1989]
The purposes of this Chapter, the
following terms shall be deemed to have the meaning indicated below:
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, and shall be at least double the diameter of the
supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel.
In no case shall the gap be less than one (1) inch.
The term "approved" as herein used in reference to a water
supply system or backflow prevention device (or method) shall mean
one that has been approved by the State Regulatory Agency.
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that may be available in the building or premises.
The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any
foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system
of a public water supply.
A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other
means that could create pressure within the system greater than the
supply pressure.
A form of backflow due to a negative or sub-atmospheric pressure
within a water system.
The owner or operator of a private potable-water system served
by a public potable-water system.
Any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is
connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system,
sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture,
or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water,
sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which
may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply
as a result of backflow. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, and other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
could occur are considered to be cross-connections.
The specific point or location in a public or a consumer's
potable-water system where a cross-connection exists.
An assembly composed of two (2) single, independently acting
check valves, including tightly closing shut off valves located at
each end of the assembly and suitable connections for in-line testing
the watertightness of each check valve.
Expresses the results of an evaluation of a health, system,
or plumbing hazard.
Any condition, device, or practice in a water supply system
and its operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health
and well-being of a consumer.
A cross-connection in a consumer's potable-water system that
may permit back siphonage in the event of a negative pressure in the
supply line. (Unprotected plumbing-type cross-connections are considered
to be health hazards. They include, but are not limited to, faulty
connections to fixtures such as toilets, sinks, tubs, lavatories,
wash trays, and domestic washing machines.)
Any fluid or solution that may chemically, biologically,
or physically degrade the approved water supply.
A separate water piping system serving water-using devices,
with a backflow preventer or air-gap separation on this line at the
point of takeoff from the potable-water line.
A system used by a consumer for transmission or storage of
anything (fluid, solid, or gas) other than the water supply intended
or used for human consumption or food processing. (Such a system would
include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment,
and appurtenances used to produce, convey, or store substances that
are or may be polluted.)
One that is approved by the appropriate health agency and
water laboratory and is properly staffed and equipped with pumps,
meters, measuring devices, and other equipment to test and evaluate
fully a backflow prevention device for design, materials, construction,
and operation.
Water not safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
The presence in water of any foreign substance (organic,
inorganic, radiologic, or biologic) that tends to degrade its quality
so as to constitute a hazard or to impair its potability or usefulness.
Water that is safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption
or other domestic uses, including sources, treatment, storage, transmission
and distribution facilities where water is furnished to any community,
collection or number of individuals, or is made available to the public
for human consumption or domestic use, but excluding water supplies
serving one (1) single-family residence.
A device incorporating two (2) or more check valves and an
automatically operating differential relief valve located between
the two (2) checks, two (2) shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary
appurtenances for in-line testing. The device shall operate to maintain
the pressure in the zone between the two (2) 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 (2 lb.) per square inch or less the relief valve shall
open to the atmosphere thereby providing an air-gap in the device.
The terminal end of a service from the public potable-water
system — that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
consumer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the
service connection, then the service connection means the downstream
end of the meter.
Any water supplied from a public potable-water system to
a consumer's water system after it has passed the point of delivery
and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water system operator.
The consumer or his deputy charged with the responsibility
of maintaining a consumer's water system free from cross-connections
and other sanitary defects. (A certified backflow prevention device
tester should not act as a water supervisor unless he is a full-time
employee of the consumer, having the day-to-day responsibility for
the installation and use of pipelines and equipment on the premises
for the avoidance of cross-connections.)
Any public or consumer's potable-water supply that has been
investigated and approved by the State agency having jurisdiction.
Any publicly owned domestic water system operated under public-health
supervision. Such a system includes all sources, facilities, and appurtenances
between the source and the point of delivery, such as valves, pumps,
pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances
used to produce, convey, treat, or store a potable water for public
consumption or use.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.340; Ord. No. 584 § 2, 7-11-1989]
A.
The purpose of this Article is to establish
a cross-connection control program to protect the health of water
consumers by the control of actual and/or potential cross-connections
through the proper installation and surveillance of backflow prevention
devices on service lines leading to premises where cross-connections
exist or are likely to occur and through the inspection and regulation
of plumbing within the premises to minimize the danger of contamination
of the water system on the premises or the public water supply itself.
1.
Protecting these supplies against
contamination or pollution resulting from backflow of objectionable
fluids through cross-connections.
2.
Protecting these supplies at the
service connection by isolating within the consumer's premises pollution
or contamination that may result from backflow through cross-connections.
3.
Providing means whereby an industrial
consumer may utilize a separate system for his industrial uses so
as to prevent possible pollution or contamination of his internal
potable-water system.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.350; Ord. No. 584 § 3, 7-11-1989]
The implementation of the program
to control cross-connections requires cooperation between the customer,
the City Water Department, the Health Officer and the plumbing authority.
The City Water Department has primary responsibility to prevent contamination
of the water system within the customer's premises. An effective control
program requires attention to both of these. Backflow prevention devices
are not a substitute for a continuing and aggressive program of cross-connection
investigation, surveillance and control.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.360; Ord. No. 584 § 4, 7-11-1989]
These regulations will be reasonably
interpreted by the City Water Department. It is the Department's intent
to recognize the varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle
that the degree of protection shall be commensurate with the degree
of hazard.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.370; Ord. No. 584 § 5, 7-11-1989]
All cross-connections, whether or
not such cross-connections are controlled by automatic devices, such
as check valves or by hand operated mechanisms such as gate valves
or stop cocks, are hereby prohibited.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.380; Ord. No. 584 § 6, 7-11-1989]
Failure on the part of persons, firms,
or corporations to discontinue the use of any and all cross-connections
and to physically separate such cross-connections will be sufficient
cause for the discontinuance of the public water service to the premises
on which the cross-connection exists.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.390; Ord. No. 584 § 7, 7-11-1989]
The City Water Department shall,
in cooperation with the Health Officer and/or the local plumbing inspection
authority, make periodic inspections of premises served by the water
supply to check for the presence of cross-connections. Any cross-connections
found in such inspection shall be ordered removed by the Department.
If an immediate hazard to health is caused by the cross-connection,
water service to the premises shall be discontinued until it is verified
that the cross-connection has been removed.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.400; Ord. No. 584 § 8, 7-11-1989]
A.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed
at the service connection or within any premises where in the judgment
of the City Water Department the nature and extent of activities on
the premises, or the materials used in the connection with the activities,
or materials stored on the premises would present an immediate and
dangerous hazard to health should a cross-connection occur, even though
such cross-connection does not exist at the time the backflow prevention
device is required to be installed. This shall include but not be
limited to the following situations:
1.
Premises having an auxiliary water
supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is in compliance
with local standards, and is acceptable to the Department.
2.
Premises having internal cross-connections
that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which
make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross-connections
exist.
3.
Premises where entry is restricted
so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient
frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure that cross-connections
do not exist.
4.
Premises having a repeated history
of cross-connections being established or re-established.
5.
Premises on which any substance is
handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water
supply, or where a cross-connection could reasonably be expected to
occur. This shall include the handling of process waters and cooling
waters.
6.
Premises where materials of a toxic
or hazardous nature are handled such that if back siphonage should
occur, a serious health hazard may result.
7.
The following types of facilities
will fall into one (1) of the above categories where a backflow prevention
device is required to protect the public water supply. A backflow
prevention device shall be installed at these facilities unless the
Department determines no hazard exists (Partial List):
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Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics
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Laboratories
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Schools with laboratory
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Nursing homes
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Sewage treatment plants
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Food or beverage processing plants
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Chemical plants using a water process
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Metal plating industries
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Petroleum processing or storage plants
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Radioactive material processing plants
or nuclear reactors
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Laundry and dyeing facilities
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Paper processing plants
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Auxiliary water systems
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Cooling systems
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Farming operations
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Fire protection systems
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Sprinkler systems filled with anti-freeze
solution
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Film processing equipment
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Irrigation systems
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Storage tanks, cooling towers &
circulating systems
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Steam generating systems
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Water treatment plants
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[R.O. 1991 § 710.410; Ord. No. 584 § 9, 7-11-1989]
A.
The type of protective device required
shall be determined by the City Water Department and shall depend
on the degree of hazard which exists.
B.
An air-gap separation or a reduced pressure
principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the
water supply may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of
a toxic nature or other contaminant which would cause a health or
system hazard.
C.
In the case of a substance which may be
objectionable but not hazardous to health, a double-check valve assembly,
air-gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention
device shall be installed.
D.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed
at the meter, or at a location designated by the Department. The device
shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and
testing, and where no part of the device will be submerged.
E.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed
by the Department at the customer's expense.
F.
Any protective device required in this
Section shall be a model approved by the Department. A double-check
valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention
device will be approved.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.420; Ord. No. 584 § 10, 7-11-1989]
A.
Backflow prevention devices shall be annually
inspected and tested by the City Water Department at the customer's
expense, or more often where successive inspections indicate repeated
failure. The devices shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced by
the Department at the customer's expense whenever they are found to
be defective. Inspections, tests and repairs and records thereof shall
be performed by the Department at the customer's expense.
B.
Failure of the customer to cooperate in
the installation, maintenance, testing or inspection of backflow prevention
devices required in this Section shall be grounds for the termination
of water service to the premises.
[R.O. 1991 § 710.430; Ord. No. 584 § 11, 7-11-1989]
Any persons or businesses violating
the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less
than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five hundred dollars
($500.00) and/or ninety (90) days imprisonment in the City or County
Jail, and each day shall constitute a separate violation of this Chapter.
