For the purposes of this ordinance the following terms shall
be deemed to have the meaning indicated below:
AIR GAP SEPARATION
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 the receptacle, and shall be at least double the diameter of the
supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel.
In no case shall the gap be less than one inch.
APPROVED
As herein used in reference to a water supply system or backflow
prevention device (or method) shall mean one that has been approved
by the State regulatory agency.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that may be available in the building or premises.
BACK PRESSURE
Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other
means that could create pressure within the system greater than the
supply pressure.
BACK SIPHONAGE
A form of backflow due to a negative or sub-atmospheric pressure
within a water system.
BACKFLOW
The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any
foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system
of a public water supply.
CONSUMER
The owner or operator of a private potable-water system served
by a public potable-water system.
CROSS CONNECTION
Any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is
connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system,
sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture,
or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water,
sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which
may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply
as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, and other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
could occur are considered to be cross connections.
CROSS CONNECTION, POINT OF
The specific point or location in a public or a consumer's
potable-water system where a cross connection exists.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
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 in-line testing
the water- tightness of each check valve.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF
Expresses the results of an evaluation of a health, system,
or plumbing hazard.
HAZARD, HEALTH
Any condition, device, or practice in a water supply system
and its operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health
and well-being of a consumer.
HAZARD, PLUMBING
A cross connection in a consumer's potable-water system that
may permit back siphonage in the event of a negative pressure in the
supply line. (Unprotected plumbing-type cross connections are considered
to be health hazards. They include, but are not limited to, faulty
connections to fixtures such as toilets, sinks, tubs, lavatories,
wash trays, and domestic washing machines.)
INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS
Any fluid or solution that may chemically, biologically,
or physically degrade the approved water supply.
INDUSTRIAL LINE
A separate water piping system serving water-using devices,
with a backflow preventer or air gap separation on this line at the
point of takeoff from the potable-water line.
INDUSTRIAL PIPING SYSTEM, CONSUMERS
A system used by a consumer for transmission or storage of
anything (fluid, solid, or gas) other than the water supply intended
or used for human consumption or food processing. (Such a system would
include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment,
and appurtenances used to produce, convey, or store substances that
are or may be polluted.
LABORATORY, APPROVE TESTING
One that is approved by the appropriate health agency and
water laboratory and is properly staffed and equipped with pumps,
meters, measuring devices, and other equipment to test and evaluate
fully a backflow prevention device for design, materials, construction,
and operation.
POLLUTION
The presence in water of any foreign substance (organic,
inorganic, radiologic, or biologic) that tends to degrade its quality
so as to constitute a hazard or to impair its potability or usefulness.
POTABLE WATER
Water that is safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption
or other domestic uses, including source, treatment, storage, transmission
and distribution facilities where water is furnished to any community,
collection or number of individuals, or is made available to the public
for human consumption or domestic use, but excluding water supplies
serving one single family residence.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPAL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
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
in-line 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 the 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.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The terminal end of a service from the public potable-water
system — that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
consumer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the
service connection, then the service connection means the downstream
end of the meter.
WATER SUPERVISOR
The consumer or his deputy charged with the responsibility
of maintaining a consumer's water system free from cross connections
and other sanitary defects. (A certified backflow prevention device
tester should not act as a water supervisor unless he is a full-time
employee of the consumer, having the day-to-day responsibility for
the installation and use of pipelines and equipment on the premises
and for the avoidance of cross connections.)
WATER SUPPLY, APPROVED
Any public or consumer's potable water supply that has been
investigated and approved by the state agency having jurisdiction.
WATER SYSTEM, PUBLIC POTABLE
Any publicly owned domestic water system operated under public-health
supervision. Such a system includes all sources, facilities, and appurtenances
between the source and the point of delivery, such as valves, pumps,
pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances
used to produce, convey, treat, or store a potable water for public
consumption or use.
WATER, DELIVERED
Any water supplied from a public potable water system to
a consumer's water system after it has passed the point of delivery
and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water system operator.
The implementation of the program to control cross connections
required cooperation between the customer, the City Water Department,
the health officer and the plumbing authority. The City Water Department
has primary responsibility to prevent contamination of the public
water supply through cross connections. The customers served and the
Department are jointly responsible for preventing contamination of
the water system within the customer's premises. An effective control
program requires attention to both of these. Backflow prevention devices
are not a substitute for a continuing and aggressive program of cross
connection investigation, surveillance and control.
These regulations will be reasonably interpreted by the City
Water Department. It is the Department's intent to recognize the varying
degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection
shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
All cross connections, whether or not such cross connections
are controlled by automatic devices, such as check valves or by hand
operated mechanisms such as gate valves or stop cocks, are hereby
prohibited.
Failure on the part of persons, firms, or corporations to discontinue
the use of any and all cross connections and to physically separate
such cross connections will be sufficient cause for the discontinuance
of the public water service to the premises on which the cross connection
exists.
The City Water Department shall, in cooperation with the health
officer and/or the local plumbing inspection authority, make periodic
inspections of premises served by the water supply to check for the
presence of cross connections. Any cross connections found in such
inspection shall be ordered removed by the Department. If an immediate
hazard to health is caused by the cross connection, water service
to the premises shall be discontinued until it is verified that the
cross connection has been removed.
[Amended 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 963; amended 1-9-2024 by Ord. No. 1060]
The customer shall annually inspect backflow prevention devices
and provide a satisfactory inspection report to the City Water Department
no later than June 1 of each year.