Under Public Law 93-523, the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, and Massachusetts Regulations, 310 CMR 22.22 of the Drinking Water Supply Regulations, the water purveyor has the primary responsibility for preventing water from unapproved sources, or any other substances, from entering the public potable water system.
The purpose of this by-law is:
A.
To protect the public potable water supply served by the Brookline Water Division from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within its customer's internal distribution system(s) such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow or back siphon into the public water supply system.
B.
To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between its customer's in-plant potable water system(s) and non-potable systems.
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 all potable water systems by cross-connection.
The Water Division shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow or back siphonage of contaminants or pollutants. If, as a result of a survey of the premises, the Division determines that an approved backflow prevention device is required at the Town's water service connection to any customer's premises, for the safety of the water system, the Division or its designated agent shall give notice, in writing, to said customer to install such an approved backflow prevention device at each service connection to their premises. The customer shall, within 60 days, install such approved device or devices at their own expense, and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install said device or devices within 60 days shall constitute a grounds for disconnecting water service to the premises until such device or devices have been properly installed.
[Amended 11-18-2025 STM by Art. 4]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Accepted by the Water Division as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this regulation, or as suitable for this proposed use.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than its intended source, caused by the sudden reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply system from any source or sources other than intended source.
A device or means designed to prevent backflow or siphonage.
AIR-GAPThe 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 rim of said vessel.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE DEVICEAn assembly of two independently operating check valves with an automatically operating differential relief valve between the two check valves, two shutoff valves, plus properly located test cocks.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLYAn assembly of two independently operating approved check valves with shutoff valves on each side of the check valves, plus properly located test cocks.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKERSA device designed to prevent back siphonage only and is used under static line pressure, plus properly located test cocks.
A physical, chemical, biological or radiological substance or matter in water.
Any actual or potential connection between a distribution pipe of potable water from a public water system and any pipe of nonpotable water.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
The Town of Brookline, Department of Public Works, Water Division, as the operator of the Brookline water system.
Is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.
HAZARD, HEALTH (HIGH HAZARD)Any condition, device, or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create or, in the judgment of the Division, may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer.
HAZARD, PLUMBING (HIGH HAZARD)A plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by a vacuum breaker, air-gap separation or backflow prevention device. Unprotected plumbing-type cross-connections are considered to be a health hazard.
HAZARD, SYSTEM (LOW HAZARD)All actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or to the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system, but which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances but would not be dangerous to health.
Any person maintaining a cross-connection installation or owning premises on which cross-connections can or do exist.
Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable potability.
Water from a source which has been approved by the Massachusetts Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission for Human Consumption.
A.
Water Division.
(1)
On new installations, the Division will provide on-site evaluation and/or inspection of plans in order to determine the type of backflow preventer, if any, that will be required, and notify the owner of plan approval requirements by the appropriate reviewing authority.
(2)
For premises existing prior to the start of this program, the Division will perform surveys of the premises and reviews of as-built plans and issue a cross-connection violation form to the owner, detailing any corrective action required, the method of achieving the correction, and the time allowed for the correction to be made. The time period allowed shall depend upon the degree of hazard involved.
(3)
The Division will not allow any cross-connection to remain unless it is protected by an approved backflow preventer for which a permit has been issued and which will be regularly tested to ensure satisfactory operation.
(4)
If the Division determines at any time that a serious threat to the public health exists, the water service will be terminated immediately.
B.
Owner.
(1)
The owner shall be responsible for the elimination or protection of all cross-connections on their premises.
(2)
The owner shall be responsible for applying for and obtaining all necessary approvals and permits for the maintenance of cross-connections and installation of backflow prevention devices, and applying annually for the renewal of each permit.
(3)
The owner shall have any device that fails an inspection or test repaired by a licensed plumber.
(4)
The owner shall inform the Division of any proposed or modified cross-connection and also any existing cross-connections of which the owner is aware but has not been found by the Division.
(5)
The owner shall not install bypass around any backflow preventer unless there is a backflow preventer of the same type on the bypass. Owners who cannot shut down operation for testing of the device(s) must supply additional devices necessary to allow testing to take place.
(6)
The owner shall install backflow preventers in a manner approved by the Department and by the Division.
(7)
The owner shall install only reduced pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies approved by the Department.
(8)
The owner shall be responsible for the payment of all fees for permits, device testings, retestings in the case that the device fails to operate correctly, and second reinspections for noncompliance with Division or Department requirements.
C.
Testing.
(1)
Reduced pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies shall be tested and inspected at least semiannually by the Division's certified tester, at the expense of the owner.
(2)
Reduced pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies must be tested annually by the owner, independent of the semiannual test by the water supplier, and said test must be conducted by a certified tester.
(3)
Any backflow preventer which fails during a periodic test must be repaired or replaced by a licensed plumber. When repairs are necessary, upon completion of the repair, the device will be retested at the owner's expense to ensure proper operation. High-hazard situations will not be allowed to continue unprotected if the backflow preventer fails the test and cannot be repaired immediately. In other situations, a compliance date of not more than 14 days after the test date will be established. The owner is responsible for spare parts, repair tools, or a replacement device. Parallel installation of two devices is an effective means of the owner ensuring that uninterrupted water service remains during testings or repair of devices and is strongly recommended when the owner desires such continuity.
A.
The Division shall not allow a cross-connection to exist with the public water system unless it is considered necessary and all appropriate approvals and permits have been issued.