Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history: Ordinance No. 1012.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
The provision of any prior ordinances, resolutions, rules or regulations governing cross-connection control within the City boundaries that are inconsistent with the provision of this Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1236-15) are hereby repealed and deemed to be of no further force or effect.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
The following definitions describe those terms and phases that are relevant to the operation and enforcement of the program:
AIR GAP SEPARATION
A physical separation between the free-flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or nonpressurized receiving vessel. An approved air gap separation will be at least double the inside diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, but in no case will be less than 1 inch.
APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY
Any assembly tested and approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and approved by the City for installation and use within its territory.
APPROVED WATER SUPPLY
A water system that is regulated by a state or local health agency.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any supply of water on or available to a customer's premises other than supplied by the City.
AWWA STANDARD
A standard developed and approved by the American Water Works Association ("AWWA").
BACKFLOW
A flow condition caused by a differential in pressure that causes the flow of water or other liquids, gases, mixtures or substances into the distribution system pipes of City. Backpressure is one cause of backflow, as well as back-siphonage.
CROSS-CONNECTION
An unprotected, actual or potential connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water or substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome and potable. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices or devices through which backflow could occur shall be considered cross-connections.
CUSTOMER
Any person who receives water services from the City and who is financially responsible for paying the costs of installing and maintaining a City-approved backflow prevention device. A customer generally will be the owner of the property where such a device is required.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE
An assembly of at least two independently acting check valves including tightly closing shut-off valves on each side of the check valve assembly and test cocks available for testing the water tightness of each valve.
HEALTH AGENCY
The State Water Resources Control Board or the local health officer with respect to small water systems.
PREMISES
Any and all areas of a customer's property that are served or have the potential to be served by the City water system.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPAL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
A device incorporating not less than two check valves, an automatic, operated relief valve, located between two check valves, a tightly closing shut-off valve on each side of the check valve assembly and equipped with the test cocks for testing.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The point of connection between a customer's on premises waster services and the City's water system.
THERMAL EXPANSION
Change in dimension of a material resulting from change in temperature.
WATER SUPPLIER OR PURVEYOR
The City of Oakdale.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
Under section 7583 through 7605 of Title 17 of the Code of California Regulation relating to cross-connection, the City has the primary responsibility to prevent water from unapproved sources or any other substances from entering the public water system. The City will insure that adequate backflow and back-siphonage protection is maintained on each customer's water service directly connected to the City water system. Each customer will have primary responsibility for preventing contamination and pollutants from his or her on-premises water service facilities from entering the City's water system as required by the Program and the Health Agency.
The City will not be responsible for any loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from or caused by any improper or negligent installation, operation, use, repair, maintenance, replacement of or interference with any approved backflow prevention assembly required to be installed and operated by any customer or other person in accordance with the Program.
Each customer should be aware that the installation of a backflow prevention assembly may result in a closed-plumbing system within the customer's premises.
As such, a customer may need to make appropriate provisions for thermal expansion within their system, i.e. the installation of thermal expansion devices and/or pressure relief valves.
A customer shall bear all costs for installing an approved air gap separation or approved backflow protection assembly required by the Program. All air gap separations and approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be kept in good working order and in safe condition. A customer shall repair or replace any existing device or assembly determined by the City in its sole discretion to be unapproved, defective or not providing the level of protection required by the City and applicable law. The customer shall be responsible for obtaining any plumbing permits necessary to comply with this article.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
The protection that may be required to prevent backflow into the City water system shall be commensurate with the degree of risk presented by each customer's on-premises water service facilities. The degree of risk shall be determined by a cross-connection survey conducted on the customer's premises by a certified cross-connection control specialist approved by the City or local health officer.
A cross-connection control survey is the first step in abating cross-connection hazards. A survey is a review of a customer's water use practices for the purpose of identifying where the City water system is or may be interconnected with a potential source of contamination on a customer's premises. Such survey consists of two parts:
1. 
Identifying customers who may have cross-connections on his or her premises, and
2. 
Inspecting the premises to identify actual or potential cross-connections. In cases where a customer propose to install a new or modified connection to the City water system, the survey may consist of reviewing the construction plans and technical specifications and/or an on-premises survey.
Whenever possible, a City request to conduct a cross-connection survey of a customer's premises will be made in writing and at a mutually-agreed date and time. All factors found and recorded during a survey shall be considered in the City's determination of whether or not a backflow prevention assembly is required and if required, what level of protection is necessary. Each customer that the City determines must install a backflow prevention assembly shall be notified by letter stating the customer's responsibility for providing backflow protection and the type of assembly required. At a minimum, a customer that is required to install a backflow prevention device shall install a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly ("RP") or a Double Check Valve Assembly ("DC") for fire suppression systems. The City reserves the right to re-inspect the customer's premises at any time to ensure that the plumbing, backflow prevention assembly and/or water use has not changed.
If a customer refuses a City request to conduct a cross-connection survey or refuses adequate access to permit an inspection of the customer's premises and plumbing system, the City will issue a letter requiring immediate installation of the appropriate backflow prevention assembly based upon available information concerning the premises and water connection. If, after issuance of such a demand letter, the customer continues to refuse to permit the City to access to conduct a survey and/or to install a backflow prevention assembly deemed necessary by the City, the City shall have the right to immediately terminate water services to the customer's premises and if deemed necessary, to disconnect the premises from the City water system. The City shall have no obligation to reconnect the premises and recommence water services until the Customer: (a) permits a cross-connection survey and if required, installs a backflow prevention device as the City deems necessary; and (2) pays all City fees and charges necessary to re-connect and re-commence water services to the premises.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
As a condition of permitting the installation of any new water service connection, the City will conduct an on-site evaluation and/or inspection of plans during plan check and review in order to determine the type of backflow prevention necessary for the connection to be in compliance with this article, if any. If installation of a backflow prevention device is required, all assemblies shall be a "no lead" device and at minimum be an approved RP type or DC type for fire suppression systems.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
All installations of backflow prevention assemblies shall be done in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code's Construction Improvement Standards adopted in 2013, as the same may be amended from time to time. The backflow technician or other qualified employee or contractor from the City shall inspect and approve all backflow prevention assembly installations before the City will permit connection to its water system.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
Only backflow prevention assemblies approved by the City shall be permitted for installation on a customer's water service. A list of approved backflow prevention assemblies will be provided by the City upon request to any affected customer. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in the manner prescribed in section 7603 of Title 17 of the Code of California Regulations and any City ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, policy, plan or specification. The assembly shall be located as close as practical to the customer's point of connection to the City water system. The City shall have the sole and final authority in determining the required location of a backflow prevention assembly.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
All commercial properties will be required to have backflow preventing devices installed. Commercial properties currently protected with the minimum of a double check valve ("DC") will be allowed to continue in service using the DC as long as the cross-connection survey of the premises do not identify any potential health hazards. Any new business moving into an existing commercial location will be required to install a RP backflow device with the exception of a device dedicated only to a fire suppression system which then may use a DC backflow device. Any new commercial buildings or unprotected commercial buildings shall, at a minimum, be protected by a RP or a DC for fire suppression systems.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
All industrial properties will be required to have backflow prevention devices installed. Industrial properties currently protected with the minimum of a double check ("DC") valve will be allowed to continue in service using the DC as long as the cross-connection survey of the premises do not identify any potential health hazards. Any new business moving into an existing industrial location will be required to install a RP backflow device with the exception of a device dedicated only to a fire suppression system then a DC backflow device can be used. Any new industrial buildings or unprotected industrial property shall, at a minimum, be protected by a RP or a DC for fire suppression systems.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
Residential fire sprinkler systems shall be designed as a flow-through full-loop system whereby the fire line is connected to an active plumbing fixture, such as the master bath toilet, as approved by the Building Official. Commercial fire sprinkler systems currently protected with a minimum of a single detector check valve will be allowed to continue in service until such system is modified, updated or if the valve is found to be defective. Any new commercial fire sprinkler system or unprotected system shall, at a minimum, be protected by a DC Backflow device.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
All approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested immediately after installation and annually thereafter to ensure proper operation. Existing backflow prevention assemblies are required to be tested and inspected by January 1st of each calendar year. All such testing will be conducted by a certified backflow control tester approved by the City. A list of approved backflow control testers will be provided to a customer upon request. In cases where the City deems the potential risks of cross-connection to be significant, testing may be required at more frequent intervals. Test procedures shall be those currently recommended by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control or by AWWA. Each customer having an existing or new backflow control assembly installed on his or her premises shall provide the City with a copy of the results of all tests conducted on that assembly within 10 days of receiving the results. Any backflow prevention assembly that fails during a test will be required to be repaired or replaced as outlined below and retested at the customer's expense.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
If, after an initial cross-connection survey, the City determines that a customer is required to install an approved backflow prevention assembly, the customer shall have 60 calendar days to install and test the assembly and provide the City with the test results showing that the assembly is properly functioning and correctly installed. The City may in its sole and exclusive authority provide an extension of time for a customer's compliance with the installation requirement. In determining whether to grant a time extension, the City may consider, among other factors, the degree of potential risk of contamination of the water supply from cross-connection, the reasons supporting the customer's request for an extension, and the customer's diligence in complying with the requirements of this article. In cases when a backflow prevention assembly fails during periodic testing, the customer will be granted a maximum of 30 days to repair or replace the failed assembly. The City may require a customer to perform immediate repairs or replacement of a failed backflow prevention assembly if the City deems the risk of potential contamination form cross-connection to be unacceptable. The City will not grant any extensions of time to repair or replace a failed backflow assembly. In cases where a customer fails to or refuses to complete the annual testing of their backflow prevention assembly by the January 1st deadline and/or repair or replace a failed backflow prevention assembly as required by the City, the City shall immediately terminate the customer's connection to the City water system in the manner provided in the last paragraph of section 35-53 of this article. Water service to the customer's premises will remain terminated until corrective action has been taken. Once the exiting backflow prevention assembly has been properly repaired or a new assembly installed, the customer must contract a City-approved certified backflow control tester to have the device retested and provide the City with a copy of the test results. If the City deems that the repaired or newly installed assembly is properly installed and functioning, the City will permit the customer to reconnect to the City water system upon payment of all fees and charges necessary to reconnect and recommence water service to the customer's premises.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
The City shall maintain records of backflow prevention assembly type, size, manufacturer, installation date, location, test results and repairs for each assembly installed in the City. Such records will be retained in accordance with the City's records retention policy. The City shall maintain records of each installed assembly for the life of the assembly. Periodic test results shall be retained by the City for no less than three years in accordance with Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.
[Ord. No. 1228-14; Ord. No. 1236-15.]
This ordinance shall become effective 30 days from the date of adoption. Before the expiration of 15 days after its adoption, this ordinance shall be published once in the Oakdale Leader, a newspaper of general circulation, published in the City of Oakdale, County of Stanislaus, State of California.