[R.O. 1997 §705.050; CC 1989 §15-57 — 15-59; Ord. No. 1096 §1A — 1C, 5-11-1992]
A. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to:
1.
To protect the public potable water supply from contamination
or pollution by containing within the consumer's internal distribution
system or private water system contaminants or pollutants which could
backflow through the service connection into the public potable water
supply system.
2.
To promote the elimination, containment, isolation, or control
of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the public
or consumer's potable water system and non-potable water systems,
plumbing fixtures, and industrial-process systems.
3.
To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination
or pollution of all potable water systems.
B. Application. This Article shall apply to all premises
served by the public potable water system of the City.
C. Policy.
1.
This Article will be reasonably interpreted by the Water Purveyor.
It is the Water Purveyor'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.
2.
The Water Purveyor shall be primarily responsible for protection
of the public potable water distribution system from contamination
or pollution due to backflow or contaminants or pollutants through
the water service connection. The cooperation of all consumers is
required to implement and maintain the program to control cross-connections.
The Water Purveyor and consumer are jointly responsible for preventing
contamination of the water system.
3.
If, in the judgment of the Water Purveyor or his/her authorized
representative, cross-connection protection is required through either
piping modification or installation of an approved backflow prevention
device, due notice shall be given to the consumer. The consumer shall
immediately comply by providing the required protection at his/her
own expense. Failure, refusal, or inability on the part of the consumer
to provide such protection shall constitute grounds for discontinuing
water service to the premises until such protection has been provided.
[R.O. 1997 §705.060; CC 1989 §15-60; Ord. No. 1096 §2, 5-11-1992]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
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 overflow 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, but in no case less than one (1) inch.
AUXILIARY WATER 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.
CONSUMER
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by
or in any manner connected to a public water system.
CONTAINMENT
Protection of the public water supply by installing a cross-connection
control device or air-gap separation on the main service line to a
facility.
CONTAMINATION
An impairment of the quality of the water by sewage, process
fluids, or other wastes to a degree which could create an actual hazard
to the public health through poisoning or through spread of disease
by exposure.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any physical link between a potable water supply and any
other substance, fluid, or source, which makes possible contamination
of the potable water supply due to the reversal of flow of the water
in the piping or distribution system.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF
An evaluation of the potential risk to public health and
the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.
1.
HAZARD, HEALTHAny condition, device, or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create or may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer.
2.
HAZARD, PLUMBINGA plumbing type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by a vacuum breaker, air-gap separation or backflow prevention device.
3.
HAZARD, POLLUTIONALAn actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or to the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system but which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances, but would not be dangerous to health.
4.
HAZARD, SYSTEMAn actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system, or of a pollution or contamination which would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
INDUSTRIAL PROCESS SYSTEM
Any system containing a fluid or solution, which may be chemically,
biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration
such as would constitute a health, system, pollutional, or plumbing
hazard if introduced into a potable water supply.
ISOLATION
Protection of a facility service line by installing a cross-connection
control device or air-gap separation on an individual fixture, appurtenance,
or system.
POLLUTION
The presence of any foreign substance, organic, inorganic,
or biological, in water which tends to degrade its quality so as to
constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water to a degree
which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which
does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
PUBLIC POTABLE WATER SYSTEM
Any publicly or privately owned water system supplying water
to the general public which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary,
and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the State Department
of Natural Resources.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The terminal end of a service line from the public water
system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then the
service connection means the downstream end of the meter.
WATER PURVEYOR
The owner, operator, or individual in responsible charge
of a public water system.
[R.O. 1997 §705.070; CC 1989 §15-61; Ord. No. 1096 §3, 5-11-1992]
A. No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any
premises where actual or potential cross-connections to the public
potable or consumer's water system may exist unless such actual or
potential cross-connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction
of the Water Purveyor, and as required by the laws and regulations
of the State Department of Natural Resources.
B. No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby an auxiliary
water supply may enter a public potable or consumer's water system
unless such auxiliary water supply and the method of connection and
use of such supply shall have been approved by the Water Purveyor
and the State Department of Natural Resources.
C. No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any
premises in which the plumbing system, facilities, and fixtures have
not been constructed and installed using acceptable plumbing practices
considered by the Water Purveyor as necessary for the protection of
health and safety.
[R.O. 1997 §705.080; CC 1989 §15-62; Ord. No. 1096 §4, 5-11-1992]
A. The consumer's premises shall be open at all reasonable times to
the Water Purveyor, or his/her authorized representative, for the
conduction of surveys and investigations of water use practices within
the consumer's premises to determine whether there are actual or potential
cross-connections to the consumer's water system through which contaminants
or pollutants could backflow into the public potable water system.
B. On request by the Water Purveyor or his/her authorized representative,
the consumer shall furnish information on water use practices within
his/her premises.
C. It shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to conduct periodic
surveys of water use practices on his/her premises to determine whether
there are actual or potential cross-connections to his/her water system
through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow into his/her
or the public potable water system.
[R.O. 1997 §705.090; CC 1989 §15-63; Ord. No. 1096 §5, 5-11-1992]
A. The type of protection required by this Article shall depend on the
degree of hazard which exists, as follows:
1.
An approved air-gap separation shall be installed where the
public potable water system may be contaminated with substances that
could cause a severe health hazard.
2.
An approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow prevention device shall be installed where the public potable
water system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause
a system or health hazard.
3.
An approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow prevention device or an approved double-check valve assembly
shall be installed where the public potable water system may be polluted
with substances that could cause a pollutional hazard not dangerous
to health.
[R.O. 1997 §705.100; CC 1989 §15-64; Ord. No. 1096 §6, 5-11-1992]
A. An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each
service line to a consumer's water system serving premises where,
in the judgment of the Water Purveyor or the State Department of Natural
Resources, actual or potential hazards to the public potable water
system exist. The type and degree of protection required shall be
commensurate with the degree of hazard.
B. An approved air-gap separation or reduced-pressure-principle backflow
prevention device shall be installed at the service connection or
within any premises where, in the judgment of the Water Purveyor or
the State Department of Natural Resources, the nature and extent of
activities on the premises, 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 may not exist at the time
the backflow prevention device is required to be installed. This includes
but is not limited to the following situations:
1.
Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality
of the auxiliary supply is acceptable to the Water Purveyor and the
State Department of Natural Resources;
2.
Premises having internal cross-connections that are not correctable,
or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain
whether or not cross-connections exist;
3.
Premises where entry is restricted so that inspection for cross-connections
cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short
notice to ensure the cross-connections do not exist;
4.
Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being
established or reestablished;
5.
Premises, which due to the nature of the enterprise therein,
are subject to recurring modification or expansion;
6.
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;
7.
Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are
handled such that if backsiphonage or backpressure should occur a
serious health hazard may result.
C. The following types of facilities fall into one (1) or more of the
categories of premises where an approved air-gap separation or reduced-pressure-principle
backflow prevention device is required by the Water Purveyor and the
State Department of Natural Resources to protect the public water
supply and must be installed at these facilities unless all hazardous
or potentially hazardous conditions have been eliminated or corrected
by other methods to the satisfaction of the Water Purveyor and the
State Department of Natural Resources:
1.
Aircraft and missile plants.
4.
Beverage bottling plants.
5.
Canneries, packinghouses, and reduction plants.
7.
Chemical manufacturing, processing, compounding or treatment
plants.
10.
Hazardous waste storage and disposal sites.
11.
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics.
12.
Irrigation and sprinkler systems.
14.
Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing and fabricating plants.
15.
Oil and gas production, storage or transmission properties.
16.
Paper and paper products plants.
19.
Printing and publishing facilities.
20.
Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors.
21.
Research and analytical laboratories.
22.
Rubber plants, natural and synthetic.
23.
Sewage and storm drainage facilities, pumping stations.
24.
Waterfront facilities and industries.
[R.O. 1997 §705.110; CC 1989 §15-65; Ord. No. 1096 §7, 5-11-1992]
A. Any backflow prevention device required by this Article shall be
of a model or construction approved by the Water Purveyor and the
State Department of Natural Resources.
1.
Air-gap separation to be approved shall be at least twice the
diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim
of the vessel, but in no case less than one (1) inch.
2.
A double-check valve assembly or a reduced-pressure-principle
backflow prevention device shall be approved by the Water Purveyor,
and shall appear on the current list of approved backflow prevention
devices established by the State Department of Natural Resources.
B. Existing backflow prevention devices approved by the Water Purveyor
at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except
for inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the
requirements of this Article so long as the Water Purveyor is assured
that they will satisfactorily protect the water system. Whenever the
existing device is moved from its present location, or requires more
than minimum maintenance, or when the Water Purveyor finds that the
maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced
by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this Article.
[R.O. 1997 §705.120; CC 1989 §15-66; Ord. No. 1096 §8, 5-11-1992]
A. Backflow prevention devices required by this Article shall be installed
at a location and in a manner approved by the Water Purveyor and shall
be installed at the expense of the water consumer.
B. Backflow prevention devices installed on the service line to the
consumer's water system shall be located on the consumer's side of
the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical,
and prior to any other connection.
C. Backflow prevention devices shall be located so as to be readily
accessible for maintenance and testing, protected from freezing, and
where no part of the device will be submerged or subject to flooding
by any fluid.
[R.O. 1997 §705.130; CC 1989 §15-67; Ord. No. 1036 §1, 6-12-1989; Ord. No. 1096 §9, 5-11-1992]
A. It shall be the duty of the consumer at any premises on which backflow
prevention devices required by this Article are installed to have
inspections, tests, and overhauls made in accordance with the following
schedule or more often where inspections indicate a need:
1.
Air-gap separations shall be inspected at the time of installation
and at least every twelve (12) months thereafter.
2.
Double-check-valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested
for tightness at the time of installation and at least every twelve
(12) months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally,
cleaned, and repaired whenever needed and at least every thirty (30)
months.
3.
Reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention devices shall
be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation
and at least every twelve (12) months thereafter. They shall be dismantled,
inspected internally, cleaned, and repaired whenever needed and at
least every five (5) years.
B. Testing of backflow prevention devices shall be made at the expense
of the water consumer and shall be performed by a State-certified
backflow prevention device tester.
C. Whenever backflow prevention devices required by this Article are
found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced at the expense
of the consumer without delay.
D. The water consumer must maintain a complete record of each backflow
prevention device from purchase to retirement. This shall include
a comprehensive listing that includes a record of all tests, inspections,
and repairs. Records of inspections, tests, repairs, and overhauls
shall be made available to the Water Purveyor upon request.
E. Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative,
removed, or otherwise made ineffective without specific authorization
by the Water Purveyor.
[R.O. 1997 §705.140; CC 1989 §15-68; Ord. No. 1096 §10, 5-11-1992]
A. The Water Purveyor shall deny or discontinue, after reasonable notice
to the occupants thereof, the water service to any premises wherein
any backflow prevention device required by this Article is not installed,
tested, and maintained in a manner acceptable to the Water Purveyor,
or if it is found that the backflow prevention device has been removed
or bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises.
B. Water service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer
has corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformance
to this Article to the satisfaction of the Water Purveyor.