The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public water supply
system from contamination due to potential and actual cross-connections.
This shall be accomplished by the establishment of a cross-connection
control program as required by State regulations. This chapter is
adopted pursuant to Title 17, Section 7583—7605, inclusive,
of the
California Code of Regulations, entitled "Regulations
Relating to Cross-Connections."
(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)
The cross-connection control specialist (Public Works) shall
be responsible for implementing and enforcing the cross-connection
control program. An appropriate backflow prevention assembly shall
be installed by and at the expense of the water user at each user
connection where required to prevent backflow from the water user's
premises to the domestic water system. It shall be the water user's
responsibility to comply with the City of Plymouth's requirements.
(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)
The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow
into the public water supply system shall be commensurate with the
degree of hazard, actual or potential, that exists on the water user's
premises. Unprotected cross-connections with the public water supply
are prohibited. The type of backflow prevention assembly that may
be required (listed in decreasing level of protection) includes: air-gap
separation (AG), reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly
(RP), double check valve assembly (DC), and a pressure vacuum breaker
backflow prevention assembly (PVB). The water user may choose a higher
level of protection than required by the City of Plymouth. The minimum
types of backflow protection required to protect the approved water
supply at the user's water connection to premises with varying
degrees of hazard are listed in Table 1. Situations which are not
covered in Table 1 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and
the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the water
supplier or health agency.
Table 1
Type of Backflow Protection Required
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Degree of Hazard
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Minimum Type of Backflow Prevention
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(a) Sewage and Hazardous Substances
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(1) Premises where there are waste water pumping
and/or treatment plants and there is no interconnection with the potable
water system. This does not include a single-family residence that
has a sewage lift pump. An RP may be provided in lieu of an AG if
approved by the health agency and water supplier.
|
AG
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(2) Premises where hazardous substances are handled
in any manner in which the substances may enter the Potable water
system. This does not include a single-family residence that has a
sewage lift pump. An RP may be provided in lieu of an AG if approved
by the health agency and water supplier.
|
AG
|
(3) Premises where there are irrigation systems
into which fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides are, or can be,
injected.
|
RP
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(b) Auxiliary Water Supplies
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(1) Premises where there is an unapproved auxiliary
water supply which is interconnected with the public water system.
An RP or DC may be provided in lieu of an AG if approved by the health
agency and water supplier.
|
AG
|
(2) Premises where there is an unapproved auxiliary
water supply and there are no interconnections with the public water
system. A DC may be provided in lieu of an RP if approved by the health
agency and water supplier.
|
RP
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(c) Recycled Water
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(1) Premises where the public water system is used
to supplement the recycled water supply.
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(2) Premises where recycled water is used, other
than allowed in paragraph (3), and there is no interconnection with
the potable water system.
|
AG
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(3) Residences using recycled water for landscape
irrigation as part of an approved dual plumbed use area established
pursuant to Sections 60313 through 60316 unless the recycled water
supplier obtains approval of the local public water supplier, or the
Department if the water supplier is also the supplier of the recycled
water, to utilize an alternative backflow protection plan that includes
an annual inspection and annual shutdown test of the recycled water
and potable water systems pursuant to Section 60316(a).
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DC
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(d) Fire Protection Systems
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(1) Premises where the fire system is directly supplied
from the public water system and there is an unapproved auxiliary
water supply on or to the premises (not interconnected).
|
DC
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(2) Premises where the fire system is supplied from
the public water system and interconnected with an unapproved auxiliary
water supply. An RP may be provided in lieu of an AG if approved by
the health agency and water supplier.
|
AG
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(3) Premises where the fire system is supplied from
the public water system and where either elevated storage tanks or
fire pumps which take suction from private reservoirs or tanks are
used.
|
DC
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(4) Buildings where the fire system is supplied
from the public water system and where recycled water is used in a
separate piping system within the same building.
|
DC
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(e) Dockside Watering Points and Marine Facilities
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(1) Pier hydrants for supplying water to vessels
for any purpose.
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RP
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(2) Premises where there are marine facilities.
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RP
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(f) Premises where entry is restricted so that inspection for
cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently
short notice to assure that they do not exist.
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RP
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(g) Premises where there is a repeated history of cross-connections
being established or re-established.
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RP
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(h) Water Supply Inlets
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(1) Water supply inlet to swimming pools or other
receptors.
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AG/RP/DC/PVB
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(i) Premises Where There is a Swimming Pool
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(1) Any property with an active connection to the
public water system that has a constructed swimming pool on site shall
have installed an RP located on the water service piping just after
the City water meter. Hose bibs with built-in vacuum breakers may
be installed as an option to the RP, on all exterior plumbing outlets
on the premises providing subject pools meet all current City Standards
and Building Codes.
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(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)
Only backflow prevention assemblies which have been approved
by the City of Plymouth shall be acceptable for installation by a
water user. A list of approved backflow prevention assemblies will
be provided upon request to any affected customer. Backflow prevention
assemblies shall be installed in a manner prescribed in Section 7603,
Title 17. Location of the assemblies shall be as close as practical
to the user's connection or as required by the currently adopted
version of the California Plumbing Code. The City of Plymouth shall
have the final authority in determining the required location of a
backflow prevention assembly.
Testing of backflow assemblies shall be conducted only by qualified
testers and testing will be the responsibility of the water user.
Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually and
immediately after installation, relocation or repair. Testing of PVBs
on swimming pool inlet lines and other receptors shall include verification
that hose-bib type vacuum breakers are installed on all exterior hose
bibs. More frequent testing may be required if deemed necessary by
the City of Plymouth. No assembly shall be placed back in service
unless it is functioning as required. These assemblies shall be serviced,
overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective and
all costs of testing, repair, and maintenance shall be borne by the
water user. Approval must be obtained from the City of Plymouth prior
to removing, relocating or replacing a backflow prevention assembly.
(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)
The cross-connection control program shall be administered by
the cross-connection control specialist (Public Works or water supplier).
The City of Plymouth will establish and maintain a list of approved
backflow prevention assemblies as well as a list of approved backflow
prevention assembly testers. The City of Plymouth shall conduct necessary
surveys of water user premises to evaluate the degree of potential
health hazards. The City of Plymouth shall notify users when an assembly
needs to be tested. The notice shall contain the date when the test
must be completed.
(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)
When the City of Plymouth encounters water uses that represent
a clear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that cannot
be immediately abated, the procedure for terminating water service
shall be instituted. Conditions or water uses that create a basis
for water service termination shall include, but are not limited to,
the following:
1. Refusal
to install or to test a backflow prevention assembly, or to repair
or replace a faulty backflow prevention assembly.
2. Direct
or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer
line.
3. Unprotected
direct or indirect connection between the public water system and
a system or equipment containing contaminants.
4. Unprotected
direct or indirect connection between the public water system and
an auxiliary water system.
For conditions 2, 3, or 4, the City of Plymouth shall take the
following steps:
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1.
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Make reasonable effort to advise the user of intent to terminate
water service;
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2.
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Terminate water service and lock service valve. The water service
shall remain inactive until correction of violations has been approved
by the City of Plymouth.
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(Ord. 2002-01 § 1; Ord. 2020-01 § 1; Ord. 2022-06 § 1)