[R.O. 2012 §520.010; Ord. No. 2075 §1]
As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
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.
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that may be available in the building or premises.
The 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 subatmospheric pressure
within a water system.
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 pressure or prevent back-siphonage.
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, bypass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, and other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
could occur are considered to be cross-connections.
The Bloomfield Water Department as designated by the Board
of Aldermen, and if no such department has been designated, the Board
of Aldermen becomes the Department.
An assembly composed to two (2) single, independently acting
check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at
each of the assembly and suitable connections for in-line testing
the watertightness of each check valve.
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.
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.
[R.O. 2012 §520.020; Ord. No. 2075 §2]
The purpose of this Chapter 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 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 the water system on the premises
or the public water supply itself. This inspection is done to minimize
the danger of contamination in the public water system.
[R.O. 2012 §520.030; Ord. No. 2075 §3]
The implementation of the program to control cross-connection
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-connections.
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.
[R.O. 2012 §520.040; Ord. No. 2075 §4]
These regulations 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 that the degree of protection
shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
[R.O. 2012 §520.050; Ord. No. 2075 §5]
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. 2012 §520.060; Ord. No. 2075 §6]
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. 2012 §520.070; Ord. No. 2075 §7]
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 inspections
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. 2012 §520.080; Ord. No. 2075 §8]
A.
Backflow-prevention devices shall be installed at the service
connection or within any premises where in the judgement 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 reestablished.
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:
a.
Auxiliary water systems.
b.
Chemical plants using a water process.
c.
Cooling systems.
d.
Farming operations.
e.
Film processing equipment.
f.
Fire protection systems.
g.
Food or beverage processing plants.
h.
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics.
i.
Irrigation systems.
j.
Laboratories.
k.
Laundry and dyeing facilities.
l.
Metal plating industries.
m.
Paper processing plants.
n.
Petroleum processing or storage plants.
o.
Piers and docks.
p.
Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear
reactors.
q.
Sewage treatment plants.
r.
Sprinkler systems filled with antifreeze solution.
s.
Steam-generating systems.
t.
Storage tanks, cooling towers, and circulating
systems.
[R.O. 2012 §520.090; Ord. No. 2075 §§9 — 11]
A.
The type of protective device required shall be determined
by the 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 a 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.
[R.O. 2012 §520.100; Ord. No. 2075 §12]
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.
[R.O. 2012 §520.110; Ord. No. 2075 §13]
Backflow-prevention devices shall be installed by the customer
at the customer's expense.
[R.O. 2012 §520.120; Ord. No. 2075 §14]
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 if it has successfully
passed performance tests of the University of Southern California
Engineering Center and other testing laboratories satisfactory to
the Department.
[R.O. 2012 §520.130; Ord. No. 2075 §15]
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. The devices
shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced by the customer at the
customer's expense whenever they are found to be defective. Inspections,
tests and records thereof shall be performed by the Department at
the customer's expense.
[R.O. 2012 §520.140; Ord. No. 2075 §16]
Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance,
testing or inspection of backflow-prevention devices required in this
Chapter shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the
premises.
