This chapter is adopted in order to provide for a reasonable and effective means of protecting the City potable water system from backflow. New potable water service connections shall be installed and existing potable water service connections shall be upgraded to conform to these requirements, which are adopted pursuant to and in compliance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Division 1, Chapter 5.
(Ord. 2644 § 1(part), 1987; Ord. 3129 § 1, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
In interpreting and applying the provisions and requirements of this chapter, such provisions and chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements. Where the chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by other laws, rules, regulations, standards or ordinances, of or applicable to the City, the provisions of this chapter shall control and be applied; where such other laws, rules, regulations, standards or ordinances are more restrictive, they shall control and be applied.
(Ord. 2644 § 1(part), 1987; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
The words and terms used in this chapter are defined by the following:
"Approved air-gap separation (air-gap)"
means a physical break between the service connection and a receiving vessel on the customer's system. An air-gap separation shall be located as close as possible to the service connection, and all piping between the service connection and the receiving vessel shall be entirely visible unless otherwise approved by the engineer. An air-gap separation shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically from the flood rim of the customer's receiving vessel to the supply pipe from the service connection. In no case shall the air-gap separation be less than one inch.
(1) 
"Approved device"
means a backflow-prevention device which is manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) entitled "AWWA C506-78 Standards for Reduced-Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices" and has completely met the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCC&HR) of the University of Southern California.
(2) 
The AWWA and (FCCC&HR)
standards and specifications have been adopted by the Engineer. Only backflow- prevention devices that have been fully tested and granted a certificate of approval by the FCCC&HR laboratory and are listed on the laboratory's current list of "approved devices" shall be installed on customer systems connected to the City potable water system.
"Auxiliary water supply"
means any water supply on or available to premises other than potable water supplied by the City water system.
"Backflow"
means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure from the customer's system into the City potable water system.
"Backflow-prevention device"
means an approved device installed to City standards which will prevent backflow or back-siphonage into the City potable water system.
"Back siphonage"
means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances from the customer's system into the City potable water system caused by a reduction or loss of pressure within the City potable water system.
"Certified tester"
means:
(1) 
A person who is certified by the City to perform testing of backflow prevention devices owned by customers of the City and who has completed training and received certification by an American Water Works Association sponsored backflow device testing certification program or the University of Southern California Backflow Prevention Device Testing School. To maintain City certification, a tester shall continually demonstrate competency in performing tests on backflow prevention devices to the Engineer's satisfaction.
Failure to comply with the Engineer's standard shall result in the revocation of City certification. Inactivity on the part of the tester for a period of two years shall result in revocation of City certification;
(2) 
A service representative of the manufacturer of the backflow-prevention device approved by the Engineer;
(3) 
All City personnel, as authorized by the Engineer.
"City"
means the City of Santa Rosa.
"City potable water system"
means the potable water distribution system owned and operated by the City, including the service connection to a potable water main.
"Contamination"
means an impairment of the quality of the water supply of the City potable water system by sewage, industrial fluids or waste liquids, compounds or other materials to a degree which creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
"Cross-connection"
means an unprotected actual or potential connection between the City potable water system and any source or system within a customer's premises and/or customer's system which contains water or any substance that is not or cannot be approved as a potable water supply. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel and changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow or back-siphonage could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.
"Customer"
means any person or organization who receives water or water service from the City.
"Customer's system"
means the potable water piping system located immediately downstream from a meter. This is the point where the City loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water delivered to a customer.
"Engineer"
means the Director of Utilities/City Engineer of the City, or a designee.
"Pollution"
means an impairment of the quality of the potable water supply of the City.
"Potable water supply"
means a water supply which, according to recognized standards and the public health authority having jurisdiction, is safe for human consumption.
"Premises"
means a piece of land together with such buildings and appurtenances located thereon.
"Service connection"
means the water piping system and/or meter connecting the City potable water system to the customer's system.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3129 § 2, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
Backflow prevention devices or air-gaps of a type, manufacture and design approved by the Engineer shall be installed by the customer on the customer's system and shall be located as close as possible to the service connection, or a location approved by the Engineer, for premises and/or customer's systems in the following described categories:
(1) 
Premises having an auxiliary water supply;
(2) 
Premises and/or customer's systems within which any substance is handled under pressure or any other fashion that, in the opinion of the Engineer, could potentially permit backflow or back-siphonage into the City potable water system, including water that originated from the City water system;
(3) 
Premises and/or customer's systems which have more than one service connection and which, in the opinion of the Engineer, contain cross-connections or the potential for cross-connections which could result in the pollution or the contamination of the City potable water system in the event of backflow or back-siphonage;
(4) 
Premises and/or customer's systems which, in the opinion of the Engineer, contain cross-connections or the potential for cross-connections which could result in the pollution or contamination of the potable City water system in the event of backflow or back-siphonage;
(5) 
Premises and/or customer's systems where, in the opinion of the Engineer, the potential for contamination is such as to require an air-gap separation system;
(6) 
Premises having a gray water use system as defined by California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5; and
(7) 
Premises having a recycled water system as defined by the State of California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 3.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3129 § 3, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
(A) 
New Service Connections.
(1) 
At the time of application for potable water service by a potential customer, the Engineer will review said application to determine the need for a backflow-prevention device or air-gap. If the Engineer determines that a backflow-prevention device or air-gap is required, it shall be the customer's responsibility at customer's expense to provide for installation of an approved backflow-prevention device or air-gap in accordance with City standards and at a location approved by the Engineer.
(2) 
Installation of a backflow-prevention device or air-gap, where required by the City, shall be a condition of City potable water service and meter installation.
(B) 
Existing Service Connections Without Backflow-Prevention Devices or Air-Gaps. The City may inspect the premises of existing customers which, in the opinion of the Engineer, may require a backflow-prevention device or air-gap. If the Engineer determines that a backflow-prevention device or air-gap is required, the installation of an approved device or air-gap shall be a condition of continued potable water service from the City potable water system to the premises and/or customer's systems.
(C) 
Upgrading of Existing Backflow-Prevention Devices or Air-Gaps. An existing backflow-prevention device or air-gap which, in the opinion of the Engineer, is a non-approved device or air-gap that does not provide adequate protection for the degree of potential hazard from the backflow or back-siphonage from a premises and/or customer's systems, shall be upgraded at the customer's expense.
(D) 
Penalty for Failure to Install or Upgrade Devices Within Specified Period. Failure of a customer to provide for the installation or the upgrading of a required backflow-prevention device or air-gap, as specified in subsections (B) and (C) of this section, within 30 days following written notification from the City, shall result in termination of City potable water service to the premises and/or customer's system until the customer has installed or upgraded, and tested, an approved device or air-gap to the satisfaction of the Engineer.
(E) 
Ownership of Backflow-Prevention Devices and Air-Gaps. Backflow-prevention devices and air-gaps installed or upgraded shall be and remain the property of the customer.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
(A) 
The customer shall have each backflow-prevention device installed on the customer's system inspected and tested by a certified tester at least once a year. Where the Engineer determines that there is a potential for backflow or back-siphonage, the Engineer may require inspection and testing of the backflow-prevention devices at more frequent intervals. Inspections and tests shall be at the customer's expense.
(B) 
Where City personnel are required to perform the test, the City shall charge the customer a testing fee established by the City council, by resolution.
(C) 
Backflow-prevention devices which fail to pass inspection or testing by a certified tester shall be maintained and repaired in accordance with Section 14-16.070. The City may perform additional testing if the Engineer determines it to be in public's best interest. The customer shall pay for additional testing performed by the City if the customer's device fails a test.
(D) 
The City may terminate the customer's potable water service if the customer fails to have a backflow prevention device inspected and tested within the time period required by the City.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3129 § 4, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
(A) 
The customer on any premises where backflow-prevention devices are installed shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of the devices. The customer shall at all times maintain the devices in proper working order as a condition of continued City potable water service. If a backflow-prevention device should fail to pass inspection and testing pursuant to Section 14-16.060 of this chapter, the customer shall, within 30 days after notification of test results, provide for maintenance and repair of the device.
(B) 
Repair, overhaul or replacement of a backflow- prevention device shall be performed by a private certified tester, as defined in subsections (G)(1) and (G)(2) of Section 14-16.030, at the customer's expense. Repairs and satisfactory retest of devices by a private certified tester shall be documented and submitted on a form provided by the City. Failure by the customer to repair a backflow-prevention device within the time period allowed by the City shall result in termination of City potable water service to the premises.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
As a condition of potable water service for new customers and as a condition of continued potable water service for existing customers, the City may require the customer to have a backflow-prevention device or air-gap installed and maintained on the customer's system at the point of delivery from the City potable water system. The customer shall permit the City to enter upon the customer's property during the City's normal working hours, or in case of emergency at any time, to test and inspect the customer's backflow-prevention or air-gap device. The City may terminate the customer's service if the customer refuses to allow entry by the City.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3129 § 5, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
In addition to the grounds for termination set forth in Sections 14-16.060, 14-16.070 and 14-16.080, the City may terminate potable water service to any premises or customer's systems if a required backflow-prevention device or air-gap is removed by the customer, or if the City finds evidence that an installed backflow-prevention device or air-gap has been bypassed or rendered ineffective.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3129 § 6, 1994; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)
Every customer who fails to install a backflow-prevention device or air-gap as required by this chapter and every person who violates any other provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor. Every day any violation of this chapter continues is a separate offense.
(Ord. 2644 § 1, 1987; Ord. 3238 § 27, 1996; Ord. 3845 § 5, 2007)