[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Etna as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-21-1986 by Ord. No. 1187 (Ch. XXVIII of the 1974 Code of Ordinances);
amended in its entirety 3-19-2013 by Ord. No. 1346.[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 1346 completed the transfer of ownership
of the Etna Water System to the Hampton Shaler Water Authority and
repealed all but three sections of Ord. No. 1187.
If any person other than those who may be the actual occupants
of a building, lot of ground, or premises into which the water may
have been introduced by a private pipe, and use the water therefrom;
or if any person who has had the water so introduced shall knowingly
suffer another to use the water from his pipe who has not contracted
for the use thereof, he, she or they shall be subject to fines and
penalty.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to damage, injure
or molest any pipes, fire plugs, stop cocks, hydrants, reservoirs,
engines or anything belonging to or appertaining to the water system,
or to throw any dirt, stones or any other articles into any of the
reservoirs; any person or persons so offending shall, upon conviction
before a Magisterial District Judge, pay a fine of not less than $25
or more than $300 together with costs of suit and, in default of payment
thereof, to undergo imprisonment in the Allegheny County Jail for
a period not exceeding 30 days.
No person except the superintendent of the water system and
those under him in the employ of the Borough of Etna shall open any
fire hydrant except in case of fire or for street washing purposes,
or obstruct any stop cock, remove the cover of any public or private
stop gate or street washer, or in any way interfere with the management
of said water system, and any such person or persons guilty of such
offense shall be fined as hereinafter provided.
[Adopted 6-15-1993 by Ord. No. 1227]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of this article is:
(1)
To protect the public water supply 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 public water supply 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's and consumer's potable water system.
B.
Application. This article shall apply to all premises served by the
public water supply system of the Borough of Etna.
C.
Policy. The public water supplier and the consumer have the joint
responsibility for protection of the public water supply system from
contamination due to backflow of contaminants through the water service
connection. If in the judgment of the public water supplier or his
authorized representative an approved backflow prevention device is
required, the supplier 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.
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 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.
Means a backflow prevention device or method has been accepted
by the public water supplier 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 customer, 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 mixtures 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 supply
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 a public water supply system main due to a temporary negative
or subatmospheric pressure within the public water supply system.
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by
or in any manner connected to a public water supply system.
Any water system located on the consumer's premises
supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water supply system.
A household plumbing system is considered to be 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 or indirect connection
through which backflow, including backsiphonage, can occur between
the drinking water in a 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 supply 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
water tightness 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 word "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 or 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
an 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 originating from the public water system which may
have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
Cooling waters;
Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams
or irrigation systems;
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.
A person who owns or operates a public water system.
A system which provides water to the public for human consumption
which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average
of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
The term is either a community or noncommunity water system and includes
any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities under
control of the operator of the system 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.
The term also includes a system which provides water for bottling
or bulk hauling for human consumption.
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 an 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 supply system and the consumer's water system.
B.
The public water supply 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 public
water supplier 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 consumer's water system shall include all facilities from
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 supply system or consumer's water system may exist unless
such actual or potential cross-connections are abated or controlled
to the satisfaction of the public water supplier.
B.
No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water from
an auxiliary water supply may enter a public or consumer's water
system unless such auxiliary water supply and the method of connection
and use of such supply shall have been approved.
A.
The consumer's premises shall be open at all reasonable times
to the public water supplier or his 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 public water supplier 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 supply 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 public water supplier,
an actual or potential hazard to the public water supply 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 public water supplier 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 supply system. This
shall include systems having sources or auxiliary systems containing
process fluids or waters originating from the public water supply
system which are no longer under the sanitary control of the water
purveyor.
(3)
Systems having internal cross-connections that, in the judgment of
the public water supplier, 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 specified by the public water supplier.
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 that no actual or potential hazard to the public
water supply system exists.
(1)
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, nursing homes.
(2)
Laboratories.
(3)
Piers, docks, waterfront facilities.
(4)
Sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping station or stormwater pumping
station.
(5)
Food or beverage processing plants.
(6)
Chemical plants.
(7)
Metal plating industries.
(8)
Petroleum processing or storage plants.
(9)
Radioactive material processing plants.
(10)
Car wash or truck wash.
(11)
Others specified by the water purveyor.
The type of protection required under § 587-9A, B and C of this article shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists, as follows:
A.
An approved air gap separation shall be installed where the public
water supply 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
supply system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause
a system or 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 supply 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 public water supplier 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)
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,
entitled "AWWA C506 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle and Double
Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices." Said AWWA standards are
herein adopted by the public water supplier. Final approval, however,
of the and 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
tell-tale port on the four-way valve shall have no piping connected,
and the threads or flange on this port shall be destroyed so that
a connection cannot be made.
B.
Existing backflow prevention devices approved by the public water supplier at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirement of § 587-11A of this article, providing the public water supplier is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the public potable supply system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the public water supplier 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 this article.
A.
Backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be installed
at a location and in a manner approved by the public water supplier
and shall be installed by a person properly qualified and at the expense
of the water consumer.
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 and 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
of 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
inspections, 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
every 12 months thereafter. They shall be dismantled, inspected internally,
cleaned and repaired when ever 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 public water supplier or a person certified to inspect, test
and overhaul backflow prevention devices.
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 overhaul shall
be submitted to the public water supplier upon request.
E.
Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative,
removed or otherwise made ineffective without specific authorization
by the water supplier.
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 public
water supplier, at least once a year, that the device is operating
properly.
A.
The public water supplier may 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 this article 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 this article and to the satisfaction of the public water supplier.
