The city hereby adopts the cross-connection control and backflow prevention program as policy for the city.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
The purposes of this policy are to:
(1)
Protect the city potable water system from contamination or pollution by preventing contaminants and pollutants from residential, commercial/retail and industrial uses from entering the city water system.
(2)
Provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control by requiring the installation of approved backflow prevention assemblies as required by the plumbing code adopted by the city, and requiring the certification of all testable backflow prevention assemblies upon initial installation.
(3)
Provide for a continuing program of cross-connection control by requiring the operational testing of all testable backflow prevention assemblies that are directly served potable water by the city.
(4)
Comply with federal regulations related to cross connections and backflow prevention, including without limitation, those of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
(5)
Comply with state regulations related to cross connections and backflow prevention, including, without limitation, those of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
(a)
As a condition of receiving water service from the city, all new customers shall execute a water service agreement attached as appendix A to Ordinance 2014-20, and install, maintain, and operate their piping and plumbing systems in accordance with the city’s plumbing code, cross-connection control and backflow prevention program, city ordinances and TCEQ regulations. If there is a conflict between any of the provisions contained within these documents or codes, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
(b)
This policy applies to all direct connections to the city’s potable water system, and to all initial installations of backflow prevention assemblies that fall under the city’s regulatory jurisdiction, regardless of whether the connection or assembly is located within the city’s certificated water service area, and regardless of whether the connection or assembly is for a retail, wholesale, industrial or other customer or user of the city’s water system.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)
For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. If a word or term used in this policy is not contained in the following list, its definition, or other technical terms used, shall have the meanings or definitions listed in title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 141.2. Definitions or terms not found in 40 CFR section 141.2 shall have the meanings or definitions contained in the latest edition of The Drinking Water Dictionary, prepared by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water to a tank, fixture, receptor, sink, or other assembly and the flood level rim of the receptacle. The vertical, physical separation must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, but never less than one (1) inch.
An assembly to counteract backpressures or prevent backsiphonage. An assembly that has been approved, manufactured, tested and approved in accordance with the standards adopted by AWWA, or approved and listed by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.
A device, which contains a flat check (poppet), a check seat and an air inlet vent. When water pressure is reduced to a gauge pressure of zero or below, air enters the device, preventing backsiphonage. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only. Because AVB devices are not mechanically testable, the city will no longer allow their installation. However, any existing devices in place prior to the adoption of this policy shall be inspected annually.
Any water source or system other than the public water system that may be available in the building or on the property.
Approved.
An auxiliary water supply, which has been investigated and approved by the health authority, meets water quality regulations, and is accepted by the water purveyor.
Unapproved.
An auxiliary water supply, which is not approved by the health authority.
American Water Works Association.
A hydraulic condition, caused by a difference in pressures, that causes nonpotable water or other fluid to flow into the city’s water distribution system.
A person who has met all of the requirements of the TCEQ to be recognized as a certified tester in the state and is registered with the city. A certified tester who is employed by a state-approved fire protection contractor shall test fire protection assemblies.
Providing adequate drainage for backflow prevention assemblies installed in vaults through the use of an unobstructed drainpipe.
City of Midlothian.
The building official of the city or their designated representative.
The public works director of the city or their designated representative.
An assembly installed for point-of-use isolation in addition to a premises isolation assembly.
Generally defined as customers whose business is primarily engaged in the sale of goods, commodities or services to consumers.
The entry into or presence in a public water supply system of any substance which may be deleterious to health and/or quality of the water.
Any physical arrangement where a potable water supply is connected, directly or indirectly (actual or potential), with any other nonpotable water system, used water system or auxiliary water supply, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, air-conditioner units, fire protection system, or any other assembly which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, sewage, or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water system as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or change over assemblies, or other temporary or permanent assemblies through which, or because of which, backflow may occur are considered to be cross connections.
Any person to whom water is sold or furnished from the city water supply by the city’s water system. (Can mean either owner or lessee.)
An individual who has fulfilled the requirements set out in TCEQ rules and regulations for public water systems and is capable of conducting inspections on a customer’s water system.
The health or nonhealth classification that shall be attached to all actual or potential cross connections.
An approved assembly consisting of two approved double check valve assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use. This unit must be purchased as a complete assembly.
An assembly which consists of two (2) independently operating check valves which are spring-loaded or weighted. The assembly comes complete with a gate valve on each side of the checks, as well as test cocks to test the checks for tightness.
A cross connection, potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving any substance that can cause death, illness, spread of disease, or has a high probability of causing such effects if introduced into the potable water supply.
Generally defined as customers whose business is primarily engaged in manufacturing, processing, assembling or storing/distributing products or goods.
A person that is a cross-connection inspector recognized by the city.
City of Midlothian.
Any operation, which may have the potential to introduce contaminants into potable water systems from a mobile source. These include, but are not limited to: carpet-cleaning vehicles, water-hauling vehicles, street-cleaning vehicles, liquid-waste vehicles, power-wash operations, and pest-control vehicles.
Includes, but is not limited to, duplexes, multiplex housing and apartments where the units are not on separate meters, and all other uses not specifically included in “residential use” defined in this section.
A natural person (an individual), corporation, company, association, partnership, firm, limited liability company, joint venture stock company or association, and other such entity.
The current version of the plumbing code as adopted by the city by ordinance.
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.
The appropriate backflow prevention within the consumer’s water system at the point at which the actual or potential cross connection exists.
An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or the potability of the public or the consumer’s water system but which would not constitute a health or system hazard, as defined. The maximum degree of 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.
Any water that has been tested as required by state regulations for drinking water supplies and is considered safe for human consumption.
Any piece of property to which water is provided, including all improvements, mobile structures, and structures located on it.
The appropriate backflow prevention at the service connection between the public water system and the water user.
An approved assembly consisting of a spring-loaded check valve loaded to the closed position, an independently operating air inlet valve loaded to the open position and installed as a unit with and between two resilient seated shut-off valves and with suitable connections for testing. This type of assembly is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.
Any public or privately owned water system which supplies water for public domestic use. The system must meet all the health requirements set forth by the TCEQ. The system will include all services, reservoirs, facilities and any equipment used in the process of producing, treating, storing or conveying water for public consumption.
An approved assembly consisting of two approved reduced pressure backflow assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use. This unit must be purchased as a complete assembly.
An assembly containing two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operated, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The assembly shall include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves at each end of the assembly.
Includes single-family dwellings or where the individual units are each on a separate meter.
The terminal end of a connection from the city water system, i.e., where the city loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at the point of delivery to the customer. If a meter is installed at the point of delivery, the “service connection” means the point at which the terminal end on the discharge side of the water meter connects to the customer’s system.
An assembly containing an independently-operating, internally-loaded check valve, and an independently-operating, loaded air-inlet valve, located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly is to be equipped with a properly located, resilient, seated test cock; a properly located bleed/vent valve, and a tightly closing, resilient, seated shut-off valve attached at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a nonhealth hazard (i.e., pollutant) or a health hazard (i.e., contaminant) under a backsiphonage condition only.
An actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical properties of the public or consumer’s potable water supply, or of a pollution or contamination that would have a detrimental effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
Tendency of water to change in volume due to an increase in its temperature.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its predecessor or successor agencies.
Water supplied by a public water system to a customer’s system after it has passed through the service connection.
(Ordinance 2014-20 adopted 6/10/14)