A.
The purpose of these regulations is to safeguard potable water supplies
by preventing backflow into public water systems.
B.
The regulations are to be reasonably interpreted. It is the intent
of these regulations to recognize that there are varying degrees of
hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection should
be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
As used in this article, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
A physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel.
The air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe,
measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel; in no case less
than one inch.
A check valve that seats readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured watertightness.
The face of the closure element and valve seat must be bronze, composition,
or other noncorrodible material which will seat tightly under all
prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings shall be of
bronze or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, machined for
easy, dependable operation, The closure element, e.g., clapper, shall
be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote
rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
An assembly of at least two independently acting check valves,
including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valve assembly and suitable leak detector drains plus connections
available for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This
device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically
operating differential relief valve located between the two checks,
two shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for
testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the
zone between the two check valves less than the pressure on the public
water supply side of the device.
At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between 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 pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall
open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air gap in the device.
To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance
and testing and installed in a location where no part of the valve
will be submerged. The enclosure must be self-draining, so that the
large amount of water which the relief valve may vent will be disposed
of reliably without submergence of the relief valve.
This device must also be approved as a complete assembly.
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public water supply.
A loop of pipe rising approximately 35 feet, at its topmost
point, above the highest fixture it supplies.
A person who is examined annually by the water purveyor and
found competent for the testing of backflow prevention devices. He
or she shall be provided with an appropriate identification card,
which must be renewed annually. Failure to perform his or her duties
competently and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal of
his or her certification.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source
or system containing water or a substance that is not or cannot be
approved as equally safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption.
A vacuum breaker which is designed so as not to be subjected
to static line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
The consumer or a person on the premises charged with the
responsibility of complete knowledge and understanding of the water
supply piping within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's
water system free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects,
as required by regulations and laws.
A.
Where protection is required.
(1)
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected
against backflow of water from the premises into the public water
system, unless the auxiliary water supply is approved as an additional
source by the water purveyor and is satisfactory to the public health
agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality and safety.
(2)
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises, on which any substance is handled under pressure
in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system, shall be
protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the
public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and
waters originating from the public water supply system which may have
been subject to deterioration in sanitary or chemical quality.
(3)
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises on which a substance of unusually toxic concentration
or danger to health is handled in liquid form, even though it is not
under pressure, shall be protected against backflow of the water from
premises into the public system. Examples are plating factories using
cyanide and hospitals. This is not intended to apply to normal household
installations.
(4)
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection
to any premises that have internal cross-connections, unless such
cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the water purveyor.
It shall be the responsibility of the water user to provide and maintain
these protective devices, and each one must be of a type acceptable
to the State Health Department.
B.
Type of protection. The protective device required shall depend on
the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
(1)
At the service connection to any premises where there is an auxiliary
water supply handled in a separate piping system with no cross-connection,
the public water supply shall be protected by an approved double check
valve system.
(2)
At the service connection on any premises on which there is an auxiliary
water supply where cross-connections are known to exist, or where
it is unknown if cross-connections exist, the public water supply
system shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
(3)
At the service connection to any premises on which a substance that
would be objectionable (but not hazardous to health if introduced
into the public water supply) is handled so as to constitute a cross-connection,
the public water supply shall be protected by an approved double check
valve system.
(4)
At the service connection to any premises on which a substance of
unusual toxic concentration or danger to health is or may be handled,
but not under pressure, the public water supply shall be protected
by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle
backflow prevention device. This device shall be located as close
as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the water
meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
(5)
At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous
to health, or toxic substance in toxic concentration, is or may be
handled under pressure, the public water supply shall be protected
by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as
practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the water meter
and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these conditions
cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply shall be protected
with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device,
provided the alternative is acceptable to the water purveyor.
(6)
At the service connection to any sewage treatment plant or sewage
pumping station, the public water supply shall be protected by an
air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as practicable
to the water meter and all piping between the water meter and receiving
tanks shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot be reasonably
met, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention device.
C.
Frequency of inspection of protective devices.
(1)
It shall be the duty of the water user on any premises on account
of which backflow protective devices are installed to have competent
inspections made at least once a year, or more often in those instances
where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. These devices
shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the water
user whenever they are found to be defective. These tests shall be
performed by a qualified backflow prevention device tester, and all
test results will be provided to the water purveyor within 72 hours
after the test is made.
(2)
Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall also be kept and
made available to the water purveyor and the local health department
upon request.
A.
Separate drinking water systems. Whenever the Highway Superintendent
or his or her representative determines that it is not practical to
protect drinking water systems on premises against entry of water
from a source or piping system or equipment that cannot be approved
as safe or potable for human use, an entirely separate drinking water
system shall be installed to supply water at points convenient for
consumers.
B.
Fire systems. Water systems for fighting fire, derived from a supply
that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use or to which
chemicals are added, shall be kept wholly separate from drinking water
pipelines and equipment. In cases where the domestic water system
is used for both drinking and fire-fighting purposes, approved backflow
prevention devices shall be installed to protect such individual drinking
water lines as are not used for fire-fighting purposes.
C.
Process waters. Potable water pipelines connected to equipment for
industrial processes or operations shall be protected by a suitable
backflow prevention device located beyond the last point from which
drinking water may be taken, which device shall be provided on the
feed line to process piping or equipment. In the event the particular
process liquid is especially corrosive or apt to prevent reliable
action of the backflow prevention device, air gap separation shall
be provided. These devices shall be tested by the water user at least
once a year; or more often in those instances where successive inspections
indicate repeated failure. The devices shall be repaired, overhauled
or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. These tests must
be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device tester, and
records of tests, repairs, and replacement shall be kept and made
available to the water purveyor and the health department upon request.
D.
Sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. Sewage pumps shall
not have priming connections directly off any drinking water systems.
No connections shall exist between the drinking water system and any
other piping, equipment, or tank in any sewage treatment plant or
sewage pumping station.
E.
Plumbing connections.
(1)
Where the circumstances are such that there is a special danger to
health by the backflow of sewage, such as from sewers, toilets, hospital
bedpans and the like, into a drinking water system, a dependable device
or devices shall be installed to prevent such backflow.
(2)
The purpose of these regulations is not to transcend local plumbing
regulations, but only to deal with those extraordinary situations
where sewage may be forced or drawn into the drinking water piping.
These regulations do not attempt to eliminate at this time the hazards
of backsiphonage through flushometer valves on all toilets, but deal
with those situations where the likelihood of vacuum conditions in
the drinking water system is definite and there is special danger
to health. Devices suited to the purpose of avoiding backsiphonage
from plumbing fixtures are roof tanks, barometric loops or separate
pressure systems separately piped to supply such fixtures, recognized
approved vacuum or siphon breakers and other backflow protective devices
which have been proved by appropriate tests to be dependable for destroying
the vacuum.
(3)
Inasmuch as many of serious hazards of this kind are due to water
supply piping which is too small, thereby causing vacuum conditions
when fixtures are flushed or water is drawn from the system in other
ways, it is required that water supply piping that is too small be
enlarged whenever possible.
F.
Pier and dock hydrants. Backflow protection by a suitable backflow
prevention device shall be provided on each drinking water pierhead
outlet used for supplying vessels at piers or waterfronts. These assemblies
must be located where they will prevent the return of any water from
the vessel into the drinking water pipeline or into another adjacent
vessel. This will prevent such practices as connecting the ship fire
pumping or sanitary pumping system with a dock hydrant and thereby
pumping contaminated water into the drinking water system, and thence
to adjacent vessels or back into the public mains.
G.
Marking safe and unsafe water lines.
(1)
Where the premises contain dual or multiple water systems and piping,
the exposed portions of pipelines shall be painted, banded or marked
at sufficient intervals to distinguish clearly which water is safe
and which is not safe. All outlets from secondary or other potentially
contaminated systems shall be posted as being contaminated and unsafe
for drinking purposes. All outlets intended for drinking purposes
shall be plainly marked to indicate that fact.
(2)
Water supervisor. The Health Department and the water purveyor shall
be kept informed of the identity of the person responsible for the
water piping on all premises concerned with these regulations. At
each premises where it is necessary in the opinion of the water purveyor,
a water supervisor shall be designated. This water supervisor shall
be responsible for the installation and use of pipelines and equipment
and for the avoidance of cross-connections.
(3)
In the event of contamination or pollution of the drinking water
system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the local health
officer, New York State Department of Health local office and water
purveyor shall be promptly advised by the person responsible for the
water system so that appropriate measures may be taken to overcome
the contamination.
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 regulations and this article.
B.
Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the water
purveyor if a backflow preventive device required by this article
is not installed, tested, and maintained, if any defect is found in
an installed backflow preventive device, if it is found that a backflow
preventive device has been removed or bypassed, or if unprotected
cross-connections exist on the premises; and service will not be restored
until such conditions or defects are corrected.
C.
Section 285-23B(7) shall be nonretroactive. Placement of the
check assemblies shall be handled as necessary and with the installation
of any new or replacement meter.
D.
It is the responsibility of the facility owner to submit annually,
postmarked by January 31, the report test and maintenance of backflow
prevention device. If these are not received by that date, a daily
penalty charge of $10 will apply.
