(a)
Purpose.
The purpose of this article is:
(1)
To protect the public potable water supply of the City of Gonzales
from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within
the consumer's internal distribution system(s) or the consumer's private
water system(s), such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow
into the public water system; and
(2)
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections,
actual or potential between the consumer's in-plant potable water
system(s) and non-potable water system(s), plumbing fixtures and industrial
piping systems; and
(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 all potable water systems.
(b)
Responsibility.
The City of Gonzales water purveyor/code enforcement officer
shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water
distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow
of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection.
If, in the judgment of said water purveyor/code enforcement officer,
an approved backflow prevention assembly is required (at the consumer's
water service connection; or, within the consumer's private water
system) for the safety of the water system, the water purveyor/code
enforcement officer or his designated agent shall give notice in writing
to said consumer to install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(ies)
at a specific location(s) on his premises. The consumer shall immediately
install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(ies) at the
consumer's own expense; and failure, refusal or inability on the part
of the consumer to install, have tested and maintained said assembly(s),
shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises
until such requirements have been satisfactorily met.
(Ordinance 98-1 adopted 1/27/98)
The water purveyor/code enforcement officer in charge of
the water department or health department of the City of Gonzales
is invested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation
of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement
of the provisions of this article.
The term "approved" as herein used in reference to a water supply
shall mean a water supply that has been approved by the health agency
having jurisdiction.
The term "approved" as herein used in reference to an air gap,
a double check valve assembly, a reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly or other backflow prevention assemblies or methods
shall mean an approval by the administrative authority having jurisdiction.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the purveyor's approved public water supply will be considered as
an auxiliary water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water
from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural
source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, etc., or
used waters or industrial fluids. These waters may be contaminated
or polluted or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable
water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary
control.
The undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of
water and other liquids, gases or other substances into the distribution
pipes of the potable supply of water from any source or sources. (See
terms Backsiphonage and Backpressure)
Any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system
(by pump, elevation of piping, or steam and/or air pressure) above
the supply pressure at the point of consideration which would cause,
or tend to cause, a reversal of the normal direction of flow.
A form of backflow due to a reduction in system pressure
which causes a subatmospheric pressure to exist at a site in the water
system.
An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
Air Gap.
A physical separation between the free flowing discharge
end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure
receiving vessel. An "approved air gap" shall be at least double the
diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow
rim of the vessel, in no case less than 1 inch (2.54 cm).
Reduced Pressure Principal Backflow Prevention Assembly.
An assembly containing two independently acting approved
check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically
independent pressure differential relief valve located between the
check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The
unit shall include properly located resilient seated test cocks and
tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves at each end of the
assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a non-health
(i.e., pollutant) or a health hazard (i.e. contaminant). This assembly
shall not be used for backflow protection of sewage or reclaimed water.
Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly.
An assembly composed of two independently acting, approved
check valves including tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves
attached at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located
resilient seated test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect
against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutant).
An impairment of the quality of the water which creates an
actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the
spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids, waste, etc.
Any unprotected actual or potential connection or structural
arrangement between public or a consumer's potable water system and
any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce
into any part of the potable system any used water, industrial fluid,
gas or substance other than the intended potable water with which
the system is supplied. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable
sections, swivel or changeover devices and other temporary or permanent
devices through which or because of which backflow can or may occur
are considered to be cross-connections.
A connection between a potable water system and a non potable
water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly
installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection
commensurate with the degree of hazard.
The term "service protection" shall mean the appropriate
type or method of backflow protection at the service connection, commensurate
with the degree of hazard of the consumer's potable water system.
The term "degree of hazard" shall mean either a pollutional
(non-health) or contamination (health) hazard and is derived from
the evaluation of conditions within a system.
Hazard; Health. An actual
or potential threat of contamination of a physical or toxic nature
to the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water
system that would be a danger to health.
Hazard; Plumbing. An
internal or plumbing type cross-connection in a consumer's potable
water system that may be either a pollutional or a contamination type
hazard. This includes but is not limited to cross-connections to toilets,
sinks, lavatories, wash trays and lawn sprinkling systems. Plumbing
type cross-connections can be located in many types of structures
including homes, apartment houses, hotels and commercial or industrial
establishments. Such a connection, if permitted to exist, must be
properly protected by an appropriate type of backflow prevention assembly.
Hazard; Pollutional. An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the
water system or the potability of the public or the consumer's potable
water system but which would not constitute a health or system hazard,
as defined. The maximum degree or intensity of pollution to which
the potable water system could be degraded under this definition would
cause a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause
minor damage to the system or its appurtenances.
Hazard; System. An actual
or potential threat of severe danger to the physical properties of
the public or the consumer's potable water system, or of a pollution
or contamination which would have a protracted effect on the quality
of the potable water in the system.
Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically
or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration which
would constitute a health, system, pollutional or plumbing hazard
if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but
not be limited to: polluted or contaminated used waters; all types
of process waters and "used waters" originating from the public potable
water system which may deteriorate in sanitary quality; chemicals
in fluid form; plating acids and alkalies; circulated cooling waters
connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling waters that are
chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances
contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams,
rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, etc.; oils,
gases glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other liquids
and gaseous fluids used industrially, for other processes, or for
firefighting purposes.
An impairment of the quality of the water to a degree which
does not create a hazard to the public health but which does adversely
and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such waters for
domestic use.
The term "potable water" shall mean any public potable water
supply which has been investigated and approved by the health agency.
The system must be operating under a valid health permit. In determining
what constitutes an approved water supply, the health agency has final
judgment as to its safety and potability.
The term "non-potable water" shall mean a water supply which
has not been approved for human consumption by the health agency having
jurisdiction.
The term "service connection" shall mean the terminal end
of a service connection from the public potable water system, (i.e.
where the water purveyor may lose jurisdiction and sanitary control
of the water at its point of delivery to the consumer's water system).
If a water meter is installed at the end of the service connection,
then the service connections shall mean the downstream end of the
water meter.
The terms "used water" shall mean any water supplied by a
water purveyor from a public potable water system to a consumer's
water system after it has passed through the service connection and
is no longer under the control of the waster purveyor.
(Ordinance 98-1 adopted 1/27/98)
(a)
Water
System.
(1)
The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the
water purveyor's system and the consumer's system.
(2)
Water purveyor's system shall consist of the source facilities and
the distribution system, and shall include all those facilities of
the water system under the complete control of the purveyor, up to
the point where the consumer's system begins.
(3)
The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized
in the production, treatment, storage, and delivery of water to the
distribution system.
(4)
The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used
for the delivery of water from the source to the consumer's system.
(5)
The consumer's system shall include those parts of the facilities
beyond the termination of the water purveyor's distribution system
which are utilized in conveying potable water to points of use.
(b)
Policy.
(1)
No water service connection to any premise shall be installed or
maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected
as required by the City of Gonzales laws and regulations and this
article. Service of water to any premise shall be discontinued by
the water purveyor/code enforcement officer if a backflow prevention
assembly required by this article is not installed, tested and maintained,
or if it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed,
bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises.
Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are
corrected.
(2)
The consumer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable
times to authorized representatives of the City of Gonzales to determine
whether unprotected cross-connections or other structural or sanitary
hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such
a condition becomes known, the City of Gonzales shall deny or immediately
discontinue service to the premises by providing for a physical break
in the service line until the consumer has corrected the condition(s)
in conformance with the City of Gonzales statutes relating to plumbing
and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(3)
An approved backflow prevention assembly shall also be installed
on each service line to a consumer's water system at or near the property
line or immediately inside the building being served; but, in all
cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever
the following conditions exist:
(A)
In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply which is
not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and
which is not acceptable as an additional source by the City of Gonzales,
the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the
premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in
the service line commensurate with the degree of hazard.
(B)
In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other
objectionable substances is handled in such a fashion as to create
an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing
an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line commensurate
with the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process
waters and waters originating from the water purveyor's system which
have been subject to deterioration in quality.
(C)
In the case of premises having (i) internal cross-connections that
cannot be permanently corrected or protected against; or (ii) intricate
plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of
the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making
it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous
cross-connections exist, the public water system shall be protected
against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow
prevention assembly in the service line.
(4)
The type of protective assembly required under subsections (b)(1)-(3)
above shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
(A)
In the case of any premise where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in subsection (b)(3)(A) above, and is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(B)
In the case of any premise where there is water or substance that
would be objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced
into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly.
(C)
In the case of any premise where there is any material dangerous
to health which is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual
or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system
shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure
principle backflow prevention assembly. Examples of premises where
these conditions will exist include sewage treatment plants, sewage
pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries
and plating plants.
(D)
In the case of any premise where there are unprotected cross-connections,
either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly at the service connection.
(E)
In the case of any premise where, because of security requirements
or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical
to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either
an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly on each service to the premise.
(5)
Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a make,
model and size approved by the City of Gonzales. The term "approved
backflow prevention assembly" shall mean as assembly that has been
manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by
the American Water Works Association entitled:
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AWAA/ANSI C510-921 Standard for Double Check Valve Backflow
Prevention Assemblies;
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AWAA/ANSI C511-921 Standard for Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow
Prevention Assemblies;
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and, have met completely the laboratory and field performance
specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connections Control and
Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California (USCFCCCHR)
established in:
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Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies—Section
10 of the most current edition of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control.
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Said AWWA and USCFCCCHR standards and specifications
have been adopted by the City of Gonzales. Final approval shall be
evidenced by a "Certificate of Compliance" for the said AWWA standards;
or "Certificate of Approval" for the said USCFCCCHR Specifications;
issued by an approved testing laboratory.
The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the City
of Gonzales to test and approve backflow prevention assemblies:
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Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research
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University of Southern California
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KAP-200 University Park MC-2531
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Los Angeles, California 90089-2531
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Testing laboratories other than the laboratory listed
above will be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the
City of Gonzales.
Backflow preventers which may be subjected to backpressure or
backsiphonage that have been fully tested and have been granted a
certificate of approval by said qualified laboratory and are listed
on the laboratory's current list of approved backflow prevention assemblies
may be used without further test or qualification.
(6)
It shall be the duty of the consumer at any premise where backflow
prevention assemblies are installed, to have a field test performed
by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester upon installation
and at least once per year. In those instances where the water purveyor/code
enforcement officer or health officer deems the hazard to be great
enough, he may require field tests at more frequent intervals. These
tests shall be at the expense of the water user and shall be performed
by City of Gonzales personnel or by a certified tester approved by
the City of Gonzales. It shall be the duty of the water purveyor/code
enforcement officer to see that these tests are made in a timely manner.
The consumer shall notify the City of Gonzales in advance when the
tests are to be undertaken so that an official representative may
witness the field tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired,
overhauled or replaced at the expense of the consumer whenever said
assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs
and overhaul shall be kept and made available to the City of Gonzales.
(7)
All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall, except for the testing and maintenance requirements under subsection (6) above, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the City of Gonzales is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the water purveyor's system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the City of Gonzales finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this section.
(8)
The City of Gonzales is authorized to make all necessary and reasonable
rules and policies with respect to the enforcement of this article.
All such rules and policies shall be consistent with the provisions
of this article and shall be effective 14 days after its passage and
approval. The city secretary shall give notice of the passage of this
article by causing the caption hereof to be published in the official
newspaper in the City of Gonzales at least twice within ten (10) days
after the passage of this article.
(Ordinance 98-1 adopted 1/27/98)
