[Adopted 3-7-1988 by Ord.
No. 1988-01]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this article is:
(1)
To protect the public water system from contamination or pollution
by isolating within the consumer's water system contaminants
or pollutants which could backflow through the service connection
into the water system.
(2)
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential, between the public or consumer's potable
water system and nonpotable water systems, plumbing fixtures and sources
or systems containing process fluids.
(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 the public and consumers' potable water system.
B.
Application. This article shall apply to all premises served by the
public water system of the Borough of West Grove.
C.
Policy. The Borough and the consumer have the joint responsibility
for protection of the public water system from contamination due to
backflow of contaminants through the water service connection. If
in the judgment of the Borough or its authorized representative an
approved backflow prevention device is required, the Borough shall
give notice to the consumer to install such approved backflow prevention
device at each service connection to his premises. The consumer shall
immediately install such approved device or devices at his own expense,
and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the consumer to install
such device or devices shall constitute grounds for discontinuing
water service to the premises until such device or devices have been
installed.
D.
Source. Section 109.709 of Chapter 109 of the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection Rules and Regulations requires that each
community water supplier develop and implement a comprehensive control
program for the elimination of all existing cross-connections and
prevention of all future cross-connections. The purpose of this article
is to provide the required rules to implement the program.
For the purpose of this article, the following words shall have
the meaning indicated unless clearly indicated otherwise in the text:
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying potable
water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level
rim of the receptacle. The differential distance shall be at least
double the diameter (2 x D) of the supply pipe, measured vertically,
above the top of the rim of the vessel. In no case shall the air gap
be less than one inch.
That a backflow prevention device or method has been accepted
by the Borough as suitable for the proposed use.
(Also known as the "non-pressure-type vacuum breaker.") A
device containing a shutoff valve followed by a valve body containing
a float check, a check seat and an air inlet port. When the shutoff
valve is open, the flow of water causes the float to close the air
inlet port. When the shutoff valve is closed, the float falls and
forms a check valve against backsiphonage and at the same time opens
the air inlet port.
Any water source or system on the premises of or available
to the consumer except connections to other approved community water
supply systems.
A flow condition, induced by a differential in pressure,
that causes the flow of water or mixture of water and other liquids,
gases or other substances into the distribution pipes of a potable
water supply system from a source other than its intended source.
A device or other means which will prevent the backflow of
water or liquids of questionable quality into the public water system.
The backflow of water or mixture of water and other liquids,
gases or other substances from a plumbing fixture or other customer
source into the Borough's public water system main due to a temporary
negative or subatmospheric pressure within the public water system.
The Borough of West Grove, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by
or in any manner connected to the public water system.
Any water system located on the consumer's premises
supplied by or in any manner connected to the public water system.
A household plumbing system is considered to a consumer's water
system.
Cross-connection control which isolates the customer's
entire facility from the public water supply 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.
The degradation of the quality of the drinking water by wastewaters,
processed fluids or any water of a quality less than accepted drinking
water quality to a degree which would create an actual hazard to the
public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
An arrangement allowing either a direct of indirect connection
through which backflow, including backsiphonage, can occur between
the drinking water in the public water system and a system containing
a source or potential source of contamination.
An evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse
effect upon the public water system.
An assembly composed of 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.
Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its
operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health and
well being of its users. The work "severe" as used to qualify "health
hazard" means a hazard to the health of the user that could reasonably
be expected to result in the significant morbidity or death.
An arrangement or device that will allow alternate but not
simultaneous use of two sources of water.
Water not safe for drinking, personal, culinary use.
Any individual, partnership, association, company, corporation,
municipality, municipal authority, political subdivision or any agency
of federal or state government. The term includes the officers, employees
and agents of any partnership, association, company, corporation,
municipality, municipal authority, political subdivision or any agency
of federal or state government.
The presence in water of any foreign substance that tends
to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the
usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create
and actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and
unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, and domestic
purposes and meets the requirements of the Department of Environmental
Protection.
Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically
or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such
as would constitute a health, pollutional or system hazard if introduced
into the public or a consumer's water system. This includes,
but is not limited to:
Polluted or contaminated waters;
Process waters;
Used waters originated from the public water system which may
have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
Cooling waters;
Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams,
or irrigation system;
Chemicals in solution or suspension;
Oils, gases, acids, alkalis, and other liquid and gaseous fluids
used in industrial or other processes, or for firefighting purposes;
Heating system waters from boilers or heat pumps.
The water system owned and operated by the Borough of West
Grove. The term includes any collection, treatment, storage and distribution
facilities under control of the Borough and used in connection with
the system. The term includes collection or pretreatment storage facilities
not under such control which are used in connection with the system.
A minimum of two independently acting check valves, together
with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve
located between the two check valves. During normal flow and at the
cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall
be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check
valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere,
shall operate to maintain the pressure between the checks at less
than the supply pressure. 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.
The terminal end of a service line from the public water
supply system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service,
then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.
A condition posing a actual or potential threat of damage
to the physical properties of the public water system or the consumer's
potable water system.
A.
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the
public water system and the consumer's water system.
B.
The public water system shall consist of the source facilities and
the distribution system and shall include all those facilities of
the public water supply system under the control of the Borough up
to the point where the consumer's water system begins.
C.
The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized
in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the
public distribution system.
D.
The public distribution system shall include the network of conduits
used for delivery of water from the source to the consumer's
water system.
E.
The consumers' water system shall include all facilities beyond
the service connection which are utilized in conveying water from
the public distribution system to points of use.
A.
No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any
premises where actual or potential cross-connections to the public
water system or consumer's water system may exist unless such
actual or potential cross-connections are abated or controlled to
the satisfaction of the Borough.
B.
No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water from
the auxiliary water supply may enter the public or a 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
Borough.
A.
The consumer's premises shall be open at all reasonable times
to the Borough, or its authorized representative, for the purposes
of conducting 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 Borough, the consumer shall furnish information
on water use practices within his premises.
C.
It shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to conduct periodic
surveys of water use practices on his premises to determine whether
there are actual or potential cross-connections to his water system
through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow into the public
water system.
A.
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed prior to
the first branch line leading off each service line to a consumer's
water system where, in the judgment of the Borough, an actual or potential
hazard to the public water system exists.
B.
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each
service line to a consumer's water system where the following
conditions exist:
(1)
Systems having an auxiliary water supply, unless such auxiliary supply
is accepted as an additional source by the Borough and approved by
the Department of Environmental Protection.
(2)
Systems where any substance is handled in such a fashion as to create
an actual or potential hazard to the public water system. This shall
include systems having sources or auxiliary systems containing process
fluids or waters originating from the public water system which are
no longer under the sanitary control of the Borough.
(3)
Systems having internal cross-connections that, in the judgement
of the Borough, are not correctable or intricate plumbing arrangements
which make it impractical to determine whether or not cross-connections
exist.
(4)
Systems where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions
or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete
cross-connection survey.
(5)
Systems having a repeated history of cross-connections being established
or reestablished.
(6)
Others which may be specified by the Borough from time to time.
C.
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each
service line to a consumer's water system serving, but not necessarily
limited to, the following types of facilities unless the public water
supplier determines than no actual or potential hazard to the public
water supply system exists.
(1)
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, nursing homes.
(2)
Laboratories.
(3)
Sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping station or stormwater pumping
station.
(4)
Food or beverage processing plants.
(5)
Chemical plants.
(6)
Metal plating industries.
(7)
Petroleum processing or storage plants.
(8)
Radioactive material processing plants.
(9)
Car wash or truck wash.
(10)
Others specified by the Borough.
The type of protection required under § 387-11A, B and C of these regulations shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists, as follows:
A.
An approved air gap separation shall be installed where the public
water system may be contaminated with substances that are dangerous
to the public health and could cause a severe health hazard.
B.
An approved air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-zone
backflow prevention device shall be installed where the public water
system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause the system
a health hazard.
C.
An approved air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-zone
backflow prevention device or an approved double check valve assembly
shall be installed where the public water system may be polluted with
substances that would be objectionable but not dangerous to health.
A.
Any backflow prevention device required by this article shall be
of a model or construction approved by the Borough and shall comply
with the following:
(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 inch.
(2)
Approval by water supplier; AWWA standards.
(a)
A double check valve assembly or a reduced-pressure-zone backflow
prevention device shall be approved by the public water supplier and
shall mean a device that has been manufactured in full conformance
with standards established by the American Water Works Association
(AWWA) entitled: "C506, AWWA Standards for Backflow Prevention Devices
- Reduced Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve."
(b)
Said AWWA standards are herein adopted by the Borough. Final
approval, however, of the double check valve assembly shall be evidenced
by a certificate of full approval issued by an approved testing laboratory
certifying full compliance with the said AWWA standards.
(3)
An interchangeable connection to be approved shall be either a swing
type connector or a four-way valve of the lubricated plug type that
operates through a mechanism which unseats the plug, turns it 90°
and reseats the plug. Four-way valves shall not be used as stop valves
but must have separate stop valves on each pipe connected to the valve.
The telltale port on the four-way valve shall have no piping connected
and the threads of flange on this port shall be destroyed so that
a connection cannot be made.
B.
Existing backflow prevention devices approved by the Borough at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirement of Subsection A of this regulation, providing the Borough is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the public potable water system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Borough finds that the maintenance of the device constitutes a hazard to health, the device shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of these regulations.
A.
Backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be installed
at a location and in a manner approved by the Borough and shall be
installed by a person properly qualified and at the expense of the
consumer, if approved as such by the Borough.
B.
Backflow prevention devices installed on the service line to a 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.
Pits or vaults shall be of watertight construction, be so located
and constructed as to prevent flooding and shall be maintained free
from standing water by means of either a sump pump or a suitable drain.
Such sump pump or drain shall not connect to a sanitary sewer nor
permit flooding of the pit or vault by reverse flow from its point
or discharge. An access ladder and adequate natural or artificial
lighting shall be provided to permit maintenance inspection and testing
of the backflow prevention device.
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
inspection, tests and overhaul made in accordance with the following
schedule or more often where inspections indicate a need.
(1)
Air separation shall be inspected at time of installation and at
least every 12 months thereafter.
(2)
Double check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for tightness
at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired
whenever needed and at least every 30 months.
(3)
Reduced-pressure-zone backflow prevention devices shall be inspected
and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least
very 12 months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally,
cleaned and repaired whenever needed and at least every five years.
(4)
Interchangeable connections shall be inspected at the time of installation
and at least every 12 months thereafter.
B.
Inspections, tests, and overhaul of backflow prevention devices shall
be made at the expense of the water consumer and shall be performed
by the Borough or a person certified to inspect, test and overhaul
backflow prevention devices, and approved as such by the Borough.
C.
Whenever backflow prevention devices required by these regulations
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 inspection, tests, repairs, and overhaul shall
be submitted to the Borough.
E.
Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative,
removed or otherwise made ineffective without specific written authorization
by the Borough.
A.
Where a booster pump has been installed on the service line to or
within any premises, such pump shall be equipped with a low-pressure
cutoff device designed to shut off the booster pump when the pressure
in the service line on the suction side of the pump drops to 10 pounds
per square inch gauge or less for a period of 30 seconds or longer.
B.
It shall be the duty of the water consumer to maintain the low-pressure
cutoff device in proper working order and to certify to the Borough,
at least once a year, that the device is operating properly.
A.
The Borough 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 public water supplier,
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,
or if a low-pressure cutoff device required by these regulations is
not installed and maintained in working order.
B.
Water service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer
has corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformance
with these regulations and to the satisfaction of the Borough.
C.
In addition to or in lieu of the provisions of Subsection A, any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon being found liable therefor, pay a fine of not more than $600, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. If the penalty is not paid, the Borough shall initiate a civil action for collection in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]