As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
AIR GAP
A physical separation sufficient to prevent backflow between
the free flowing discharge end of the potable water system and any
other system; physically defined as a distance equal to a minimum
of twice the diameter of the supply side pipe diameter but never less
than one inch.
APPROVED
Accepted by the Town or any water district within the Town,
meeting applicable specifications stated or cited in this regulation,
or as suitable for the proposed use.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER
A device which prevents backsiphonage by creating an atmospheric
vent when there is either a negative pressure or subatmospheric pressure
in a water system.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the purveyor's approved public potable water supply.
BACK PRESSURE
A condition in which the owner's system pressure is
greater than the supplier's system pressure.
BACKFLOW
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances
and/or positive or reduced pressure in the distribution pipes of a
potable water supply from any source other than its intended source.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER
A device or means designed to prevent backflow or backsiphonage.
Most commonly categorized as air gap, reduced pressure zone principle
device, double check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker, atmospheric
vacuum breaker, hose bibb vacuum breaker, residential dual check,
double check with intermediate atmospheric vent, and barometric loop.
BACKSIPHON
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances
into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from
any source other than its intended source, caused by a sudden reduction
of pressure in the potable water supply system.
BAROMETRIC LOOP
A fabricated piping arrangement rising at least 35 feet at
its topmost point above the highest fixture it supplies. It is utilized
in water supply systems to protect against backsiphonage.
CONTAINMENT
A method of backflow prevention which requires a backflow
prevention device at the water service entrance immediately after
the water meter or, in the event of no meter, immediately after the
point of entry.
CONTAMINANT
Any physical, chemical, microbiological or radiological substance
or matter in water.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any actual connection between a public water supply and a
potential source of contamination.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The State of New York Health Department and its agent, the
Orange County Department of Health.
DISTRICT
Any water district within the Town.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY (DCVA)
An assembly of two independently operating spring-loaded
check valves with tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the
check valves, plus properly located test cocks for the testing of
each check valve.
FIXTURE ISOLATION
A method of backflow prevention in which a backflow preventer
is located to correct a cross-connection at an in-plant location rather
than at a water service entrance.
HOSE BIBB VACUUM BREAKER
A device which is permanently attached to a hose bibb and
which acts as an atmospheric vacuum breaker.
OWNER
Any person who has a legal title to or license to operate
or habitat in a property upon which a cross-connection is present.
PERMIT
A document issued by the Town Building Inspector which allows
the use of a backflow preventer. A permit to construct and a completed
works approval may also be required from the State of New York Department
of Health.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation,
political subdivision or agency of the State Department, agency or
instrumentality of the United States or any other legal entity.
POLLUTANT
A foreign substance that, if permitted to get into the public
water system, will or has the potential to degrade its quality so
as to constitute a moderate 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 water for domestic use.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER
A device containing one or two independently operated spring-loaded
check valves and an independently operated spring-loaded air inlet
valve located on the discharge side of the check or checks. Such device
includes tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valves and properly located test cocks for the testing of the check
valves.
REDUCED-PRESSURE-ZONE ASSEMBLY BACKFLOW PREVENTER (RPZA)
An assembly consisting of two independently operating approved
check valves with an automatically operating differential relief valve
located between two check valves, tightly closing shutoff valves on
each side of the check valves, plus properly located test cocks for
the testing of the check valves and the relief valve.
TOWN
The Town of Monroe, its officials, employees, and authorized
agents.
WATER SERVICE ENTRANCE
The point in the owner's water system beyond the sanitary
control of the districts; generally considered to the outlet end of
the water meter and always before any unprotected branch.
The Town Building Inspector, or his or her designee, shall be
authorized to enforce this chapter and the cross-connection and backflow
protection requirements, specifications, guidelines, and facility
classifications of the New York State Department of Health and the
Orange County Department of Health. Specifications, guidelines, facilities,
classifications and other administrative requirements and information
which shall be used to implement the requirements shall be on file
in the Town and available for review.
The owner shall, within 90 days after the authorization of this
article, install such approved device, or devices, at his or her own
expense. Failure or refusal or inability on the part of the owner
to install said device or devices within 90 days shall constitute
grounds for discontinuing water service until such device or devices
have been properly installed. Hazardous conditions shall be addressed
immediately.
A. The owners shall be responsible for the elimination or protection
of all cross-connections on their premises.
B. The owners, after having been informed by written notice from the
Town, shall, at their expense, install, maintain, and test, or have
tested, any and all backflow preventers on their premises.
C. The owners shall correct any malfunction of the backflow preventer
which is revealed by periodic testing.
D. The owners shall inform the Town of any proposed or modified cross-connections
of which the owners are aware but have not been found by the Town.
E. The owners shall not install a bypass around any backflow preventer
unless there is a backflow preventer on the bypass providing equal
or greater protection. Owners who cannot shut down operation for testing
of the device(s) must supply additional devices necessary to allow
testing to occur.
F. The owners shall install backflow preventers in a manner approved
by the Town or the Orange County Health Department as applicable.
G. The owners shall install only backflow preventers which are shown
on the list generated by the University of Southern California Foundation
for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research ("FCCHR").
H. In the event that the owners install plumbing to provide potable
water for domestic purposes which is on the Town's side of the
backflow preventer, such plumbing must have its own backflow preventer
installed.
I. The owners shall be responsible for the payment of all permit fees,
penalties, annual or semiannual device testing, retesting in the case
that the device fails to operate correctly, and second reinspections
for noncompliance with Town and Department of Health requirements.
Any existing backflow preventer shall be allowed by the Town
to continue in service unless the degree of hazard is such as to supersede
the effectiveness of the present backflow preventer, or result in
an unreasonable risk to the public health. Where the degree of hazard
has increased, as in the case of a residential installation converting
to a business establishment, any existing backflow preventer must
be upgraded to a reduced-pressure-principle device, or a reduced-pressure-principle
device must be installed in the event that no backflow device was
present.
Installation of a residential dual check assembly may be required
on a retrofit basis on existing service lines and/or may be required
on new service lines as deemed necessary by the Town, and the potential
cost shall be borne by the homeowner.
All certified backflow prevention device testers shall be approved
by the New York State Department of Health. Prior to performing certification
tests in the Town, each certified backflow prevention device tester
must demonstrate to the Town Engineer and the Town Water Department
that he or she is currently authorized to conduct such tests as approved
by the Department of Health.