[Amended 4-17-1990 by Ord. No. 13-90]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this article is:
(1)
To protect the public potable supply of the City of Seward,
Nebraska from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating
within the customer's internal distribution system(s) or by the
consumer's private water system(s) such contaminates or pollutants
which could backflow into the public water systems; and
(2)
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential, between the consumer's in-plant potable
water system(s) and nonpotable water system(s), plumbing fixtures
and industrial piping systems; and
(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.
Responsibility. The Water/Wastewater Director shall be responsible
for the protection of the public potable water distribution system
from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants
or pollutants through the water service connections. If, in the judgment
of said Water/Wastewater Director, an approved backflow prevention
assembly is required (at the customer's water service connection;
or within the customer's private water system) for the safety
of the water system, the Water/Wastewater Director or his designated
agent shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such
an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) at a specific location(s)
on his premises. The consumer shall immediately install such approved
assembly(s) at the consumer's own expense; and failure, refusal or
inability on the part of the customer to install, have tested and
maintain said assembly(s) shall constitute grounds for discontinuing
water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily
met.[1]
As used in this article, 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 said vessel. An approved air-gap shall be at least double the diameter
of the supply pipe, measured vertically, above the overflow rim of
the vessel; and in no case less than one inch.
Accepted by the Director as meeting an applicable specification
stated or cited in this article, or as suitable for the proposed use.[1]
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the purveyor's approved public water supply will be considered
as an auxiliary water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water
from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural
source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, etc., or
"used waters" or "industrial fluid." These waters may be contaminated
or polluted as they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable
water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary
control.
The reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either
backpressure or backsiphonage.
An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances
under pressure into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply
system from any source or sources other than the intended source.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances
into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source
other than its intended source, caused by the reduction of pressure
in the potable water supply system.
An impairment of the quality of the potable water by sewage,
industrial fluids or waste liquids, compounds or other materials to
a degree which creates an actual or potential hazard to the public
health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
Any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures
between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains
potable water and the other nonpotable water or industrial fluids
of questionable safety, through which, or because of which, backflow
may occur into the potable water system. This would include any temporary
connections, such as swing connections, removable sections, four-way
plug valves, spools, dummy sections of pipe, swivel or change-over
devices or sliding multiport tubes.
The installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly
at the water service connection to any customer's premises where
it is physically and economically infeasible to find and permanently
eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within
the customer's water system; or
The installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly
on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer's
water system where there are actual or potential cross-connections
which cannot be effectively eliminated or controlled at the point
of the cross-connection.
A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable
water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly
installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection
commensurate with the degree of hazard.
An assembly of two independently operating approved check
valves with tightly closing shut-off valves on each end of the check
valves, plus properly located test cocks for the testing of each check
valve. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications
as determined by a laboratory and field evaluation program resulting
in an approval by a recognized and approved testing agency for backflow
prevention assemblies. To be approved, these assemblies must be readily
accessible for in-line testing and maintenance.
The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk
to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable
water system.
Any condition, device, or practice in the water supply system
and its operation which could create or in the judgment of the Water/Wastewater
Director may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water
consumer.[2]
A plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable
water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air-gap
or approved backflow prevention assembly.
An 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 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.
An actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical
properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's
potable water system of a pollution or contamination which would have
a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the 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 an approved water supply. This may include,
but not be limited to: polluted or contaminated waters; all types
of process waters and "used waters" originating from the public potable
water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals
in fluid form; plating acids and alkalines, circulating cooling waters
connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling towers that are
chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances;
contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams,
rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, etc.; oils,
gases, glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other
liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes or
for fire-fighting purposes.
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 or quality 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 or domestic
use.
An assembly of two independently acting approved check valves
together with an hydraulically operating, mechanically independent
differential pressure relief valve located between the check valves
and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall include
properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves at
each end of the assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the design
and performance specifications as determined by a laboratory and a
field-approved evaluation program resulting in an approval by a recognized
and approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. The
assembly shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between
the two check valves at an acceptable level less than the pressure
on the public water supply side of the assembly. At cessation of a
normal flow, the pressure between the two check valves shall be less
than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. In
case of leakage of either of the check valves, the differential relief
valve shall operate to maintain the reduced pressure in the zone between
the check valves by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet
pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall
open to the atmosphere. To be approved, these assemblies must be readily
accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and be installed location
where no part of the assembly will be submerged.
Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is
of questionable potability.
Any water which, according to recognized standards, is safe
for human consumption.
The terminal end of a service connection from the public
potable water system; i.e., where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
customer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of
the service connection, then the "service connection" shall mean the
downstream end of the meter. There should be no unprotected takeoffs
from the service line ahead of any meter or any backflow prevention
assembly located at the point of delivery to the customer's water
system. "Service connection" shall also include water service connection
from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service
connections from the public potable water system.
Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public potable
water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed
through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary
control of the water purveyor.
The Director in charge of Water/Wastewater Department of
the City of Seward, who is invested with the authority and responsibility
for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program
and for the enforcement of the provisions of this article.[3]
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts:
the utility system and the customer system.
A.
The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the
distribution system and shall include all those facilities of the
water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the
point where the customer's system begins.
B.
The customer's system shall include those parts of the facilities
beyond the termination of the utility distribution system which are
utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of
use.
A.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or
maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected
as required by state laws and regulations and this Code. Service of
water to any premises shall be discontinued by the water purveyor
if a backflow prevention assembly required by this Code is not installed,
tested and maintained, or if it is found that a backflow prevention
assembly has been removed, bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection
exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions
or defects are corrected.
B.
The customer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable
times to authorized representatives of the Water/Wastewater Director
to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary
hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such
a condition becomes known, the Water/Wastewater Director shall deny
or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for
a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected
the conditions in conformance with the state and City statutes relating
to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant
thereto.[1]
An approved backflow prevention assembly shall also be installed
on each service line to a customer's water system at or near
the property line or immediately inside the building being served,
but, in all cases, before the first branch line leading off the service
line, wherever the following conditions exist:
A.
In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply which is
not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and
which is not acceptable as an additional source by the Water/Wastewater
Director, the public water system shall be protected against backflow
from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly
in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard.[1]
B.
In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other
objectionable substance is handled in such a fashion as to create
an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing
an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line appropriate
to the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process
waters and waters originating from the utility system which have been
subject to deterioration in quality.
C.
In the case of premises having internal cross-connection that cannot
be permanently corrected or controlled, or intricate plumbing and
piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises
is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable
or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections
exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow
from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly
in the service line.
A.
The type of protective assembly required under § 390-2.5 shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
(1)
In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in § 390-2.5A and it is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(2)
In the case of any premises where there is water or a substance
that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health if introduced
into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved double check valve assembly.
(3)
In the case of any premises where there is material dangerous
to health which is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual
or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system
shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. Examples
of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment
plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals,
mortuaries and plating plants.
(4)
In the case of any premises where there are "uncontrolled" cross-connections,
either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure
principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
(5)
In the case of any premises where, because of security requirements
or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical
to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either
an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle
backflow prevention assembly on each service to the premises.
B.
Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a model
and size approved by the Water/Wastewater Director. The term "approved
backflow prevention assembly" shall mean an assembly that has been
manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by
the American Water Works Association entitled AWWA (American Water
Works Association) C506-84 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle
and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices; and have met completely
the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation
for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCC & HR)
of the University of Southern California established by Specifications
of Backflow Prevention Assemblies, Section 10 of the most current
issue of Manual of Cross-Connection Control.[1]
(1)
Said AWWA and FCCC & HR standards and specifications have
been adopted by the Water/Wastewater Director and are hereby adopted
by this reference thereto by the City of Seward, Nebraska, together
with any future amendments thereto, and one copy of each shall be
placed on file and remain on file with the City Clerk of the City
of Seward, Nebraska. Final approval shall be evidenced by a certificate
of approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full
compliance with the AWWA Standards and FCCC & HR Specifications
as set forth above.
(2)
The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the Water/Wastewater
Director to test and certify backflow preventers: Foundation for Cross-connection
Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California,
University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-0231. Testing laboratories
other than the laboratory listed above will be added to an approved
list as they are qualified by the Water/Wastewater Director.
(3)
Backflow preventers which may be subjected to backpressure or
backsiphonage that have been fully tested and have been granted a
certificate of approval by said qualified laboratory and are listed
on the laboratory's current list of "Approved Backflow Prevention
Assemblies" may be used without further test or qualification.
It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where
backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified inspections
and operational tests made at least once per year. In those instances
where the Water/Wastewater Director deems the hazard to be great enough,
he may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals. These
inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and
shall be performed by the assembly manufacturer's representative,
Water/Wastewater Department personnel or by a certified tester approved
by the Water/Wastewater Director. It shall be the duty of the Water/Wastewater
Director to see that these tests are made in a timely manner. The
customer-user shall notify the Water/Wastewater Director in advance
when the tests are to be undertaken so that an official representative
may witness the tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired,
overhauled or replaced at the expense of the customer-user whenever
said assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests,
repairs and overhaul shall be kept and made available to the Water/Wastewater
Director.
All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet the requirements of this article but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under § 390-2.7, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the Water/Wastewater Director is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Water/Wastewater Director finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this article.
Any person who violates the prohibitions or provisions of this
article shall be deemed guilty of a violation. The penalty for such
violation shall be an amount not to exceed $500 for any one offense,
recoverable with costs, and in default of said payment the offender
shall stand committed to the County Jail until such fine and costs
are paid. Each period of 24 hours during or on which a violation occurs
or continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
