[CC 1983 §26-145; Ord. No. 620 §1, 12-7-1981]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have these prescribed meanings:
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 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.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply, that may be available in the building or premises.
BACKFLOW
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.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
BACK PRESSURE
Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other means that could create pressure within the system greater than the supply pressure.
BACK SIPHONAGE
A form of backflow due to a negative or subatmospheric pressure within a water system.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any physical arrangements 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 importing contamination to the public water supply as a result of backflow. Bypass 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.
DOUBLE-CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
An assembly composed of two (2) single, independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for in-line testing of the water-tightness of each check valve.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic uses, including source, 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.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPAL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
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 (2) pounds per square inch or less the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere thereby providing an air-gap in the device.
[1]
Cross Reference — Definitions and rules of construction generally, §100.020.
[CC 1983 §26-146; Ord. No. 620 §2, 12-7-1981]
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 danger of contamination of the water system on the premises or the public water supply itself.
[CC 1983 §26-147; Ord. No. 620 §3, 12-7-1981]
The implementation of the program to control cross-connections requires cooperation between the customer, the Department, the Health Officer and the plumbing authority. The Department has primary responsibility to prevent contamination of the public water supply through cross-connection. The customers served and the Department are jointly responsible for preventing 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.
[CC 1983 §26-148; Ord. No. 620 §4, 12-7-1981]
The regulations set out in this Article will be reasonably interpreted by the Department. It is the Department's intent to recognize the varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle so that the degree of protection shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
[CC 1983 §26-149; Ord. No. 620 §5, 12-7-1981]
All cross-connections, whether or not 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.
[CC 1983 §26-151; Ord. No. 620 §7, 12-7-1981]
The 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.
[CC 1983 §26-152; Ord. No. 620 §8, 12-7-1981]
A. 
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection or within any premises where in the judgment of the Department the nature and extent of activities on the premises, or the materials used in 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 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: Hospitals; mortuaries; clinics; laboratories; piers and docks; sewage treatment plants; food or beverage processing plants; chemical plants using a water process; metal plating industries; petroleum processing or storage plants; radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors; laundry and dyeing facilities; paper processing plants; auxiliary water systems; cooling systems; farming operations; fire protection systems; sprinkler systems filled with anti-freeze solution; film processing equipment; irrigation systems; storage tanks, cooling towers, and circulating systems; and steam generating systems.
[CC 1983 §26-156; Ord. No. 620 §§12 — 13, 12-7-1981]
A. 
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.
B. 
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed by the Department at the customer's expense.
[CC 1983 §26-157; Ord. No. 620 §14, 12-7-1981]
Any protective device required in this Article shall be a model approved by the Department. A double-check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device will be approved if it has successfully passed performance tests of the University of Southern California Engineering Center and other testing laboratories satisfactory to the Department.
[CC 1983 §26-158; Ord. No. 620 §15, 12-7-1981]
A. 
Backflow prevention devices shall be annually inspected and tested by the Department at the customer's expense, or more often where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
B. 
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.
[CC 1983 §26-160; Ord. No. 620 §17, 12-7-1981]
Any customer who shall tamper with or remove any backflow prevention devices as may be required by this Article or installation under the provisions of this Article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished in accordance with Section 100.120 of this Code.