[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
The purpose of this Part is:
A. 
To protect the public water system from contamination or pollution by isolating within the consumer's water system contaminants or pollutants which could backflow through the service connections into the water system.
B. 
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the public's or consumer's potable water system and nonpotable water systems, plumbing fixtures and sources or systems containing process fluids.
C. 
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 and consumer's potable water system.
D. 
To ensure conformance with standards established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
This Part shall apply to all premises served by the public water system of the Borough of Phoenixville.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
The Borough and the consumer have the joint responsibility for protection of the public water system from contamination due to backflow of contaminants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of the Borough or its authorized representative, an approved backflow prevention device is required, the Borough 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.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts:
A. 
The public water system; and
B. 
The consumer's water system.
2. 
The public water 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 Borough up to a point where the consumer's water system begins.
3. 
The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the public distribution system.
4. 
The public distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for delivery or water from the source to the consumer's water system.
5. 
The consumer's water system shall include all facilities beyond the service connection which are utilized in conveying water from the public distribution system to points of use.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
No water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises where actual or potential cross-connections to the public water system or consumer's water system may exist unless such actual or potential cross-connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction of the Borough.
2. 
No connection shall be installed or maintained whereby water from an auxiliary water supply may enter the public or a consumer's water system unless such auxiliary water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Borough.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
The consumer's premises shall be open at all reasonable times to the Borough or its authorized representative, for 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.
2. 
On request by the Borough, the consumer shall furnish information on water use practices within his premises.
3. 
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 system.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
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 Borough, an actual or potential hazard to the public water system exists.
2. 
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed on each service line to a consumer's water system where the following conditions exist:
A. 
Systems having an auxiliary water supply, unless such auxiliary supply is accepted as an additional source by the Borough and approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
B. 
Systems where any substance is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system. This shall include systems having sources or auxiliary systems containing process fluids or waters originating from the public water system which are no longer under the sanitary control of the Borough.
C. 
Systems having internal cross-connections that, in the judgment of the Borough, are not correctable or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to determine whether or not cross-connections exist.
D. 
Systems where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete cross-connection survey.
E. 
Systems having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or reestablished.
F. 
Others which may be specified by the Borough from time to time.
3. 
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:
A. 
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, nursing homes.
B. 
Laboratories.
C. 
Sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping station or stormwater pumping station.
D. 
Food or beverage processing plants.
E. 
Chemical plants.
F. 
Metal plating industries.
G. 
Petroleum processing or storage plants.
H. 
Radioactive material processing plants.
I. 
Car wash or truck wash.
J. 
Others specified by the Borough.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
The type of protection required under § 26-209, Subsection 1, 2 and 3 of these regulations shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists, as follows:
A. 
An approved air gap separation shall be installed where the public water 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 system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause a system or health hazard.
C. 
An approved air gap separation or an approved pressure zone backflow prevention device or an approved double check valve assembly shall be installed where the public water system may be polluted with substances that would be objectionable but not dangerous to health.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
Any backflow prevention device required by this Part shall be of a model or construction approved by the Borough and shall comply with the following:
A. 
Air gap separation to be approved shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the rim of the vessel, but in no case less than one inch.
B. 
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 (AWWA) entitled AWWA C506 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices." Said AWWA standards are herein adopted by the Borough. Final approval, however, of the double check valve assembly shall be evidenced by a Certificate of Full Approval issued by an approved testing laboratory, certifying full compliance with said AWWA standards.
C. 
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 telltale 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.
2. 
Existing backflow prevention devices approved by the Borough at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirement of Subsection 1 above, of this regulation, provided that the Borough is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the public potable water system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Borough finds that the maintenance of the device constitutes a hazard to health, the device shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting time requirements of these regulations.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
Backflow prevention devices required by this Part shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the Borough and shall be installed by a person properly qualified and at the expense of the consumer, if approved as such by the Borough.
2. 
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.
3. 
Pits and 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 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.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
It shall be the duty of the consumer at any premises on which backflow prevention devices required by this Part are installed to have inspections, tests and overhaul made in accordance with the following schedule or more often where inspections indicate a need.
A. 
Air separation shall be inspected at time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
B. 
Double check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
(1) 
They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed at least every 30 months.
C. 
Reduced pressure zone backflow prevention devices shall be inspected and tested for tightness at the time of installation and at least 12 months thereafter.
(1) 
They shall be dismantled, inspected internally, cleaned and repaired whenever needed at least every five years.
D. 
Interchangeable connections shall be inspected at the time of installation and at least every 12 months thereafter.
2. 
Inspections, tests and overhaul of backflow prevention devices shall be made at the expense of the water consumer and shall be performed by the Borough or a person certified to inspect, test and overhaul backflow prevention devices and approved as such by the Borough.
3. 
Whenever backflow prevention devices required by these regulations are found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced at the expense of the consumer without delay.
4. 
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 Borough.
5. 
Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed or otherwise made ineffective without specific written authorization by the Borough.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
Where a booster pump has been installed on the service line to or within any premises, such pump shall be equipped with an approved one-way check valve.
2. 
It shall be the duty of the water consumer to maintain the one-way check valve in proper working order and to certify to the Borough, at least once a year, that the device is operating properly.
[Ord. No. 2021-2324, 3/9/2021]
1. 
The Borough shall deny or discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupants thereof the water service to any premises wherein any backflow prevention device required by this Part 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 any unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises or if a low pressure cutoff device required by these regulations is not installed and maintained in working order.
2. 
Water service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer has corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformance with these regulations and to the satisfaction of the Borough.
3. 
In addition to or in lieu of the provisions of Subsection 1 above, any person violating any of the provisions or this Part shall be subject for each violation to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 to be imposed and collected in the manner provided by the Borough Code in the case of violations of Borough ordinances.