[1961 Code, § 24.90; Ord. 604]
(A) 
The purpose of these regulations is:
(1) 
To protect the public water supply against actual or potential cross-connections by isolating within the premises contamination or pollution that may occur because of some undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connection on the premises;
(2) 
To eliminate existing connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water that are not approved as safe and potable for human consumption;
(3) 
To eliminate cross-connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water or process water used for any purpose which jeopardize the safety of the drinking water supply;
(4) 
To prevent the making of cross-connections in the future.
(B) 
These regulations are in accordance with the state Department of Public Health Administrative Code, Title 17, entitled “Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections.”
(C) 
It is the intent of these regulations to recognize that there are varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
[1961 Code, § 24.91; Ord. 604]
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AIR-GAP SEPARATION
A physical break between a supply pipe and receiving vessel. The air-gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel in no case less than one inch, with no ties or connection between the device and meter.
APPROVED
Those devices as approved by the Foundation of Cross-Connection Control.
APPROVED CHECK VALVE
A check valve that seats readily and completely and has been previously approved for use in this service by the city. It must be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured water tightness. The face of the closure element and valve seat must be bronze, composition, or other noncorrodible material which will seat tightly under all prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings shall be of bronze or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, machined for easy, dependable operation. The closure element (i.e., clapper) shall be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
APPROVED DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY
An assembly which has previously been approved for use in this service by the city and consists of at least two independently acting approved check valves including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check valve assembly and suitable leak detector drains plus connections available for testing the watertightness of each check valve, with no ties or connections between device and meter.
APPROVED REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
A device which has previously been approved for use in this service by the city and consists of incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two check, two shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing, with no ties or connections between the device and meter.
(1) 
The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device.
(2) 
At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between check valves shall be less than the supply pressure.
(3) 
In case of leakage of either check valve the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere.
(4) 
When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air-gap in the device.
(5) 
To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part of the valve will be submerged.
APPROVED WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply approved by or under the public health supervision of a public health agency of the state, or its political subdivisions. In determining what constitutes an approved water supply, the State Department of Public Health reserves final judgment as to its safety and potability.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the public water supply.
CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Any actual or potential unprotected connection between any part of a water system used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption.
[1961 Code, § 24.92; Ord. 604]
(A) 
Each service connection from the city water system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water system is accepted as an additional source by the water surveyor, and is approved by the public health agency having jurisdiction.
(B) 
Each service connection from the city water system for supplying water to premises on which any substance is handled in such a fashion as to permit its entry into the water system, shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the city water supply system which have been subject to deterioration in sanitary quality.
(C) 
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection to any premises that have internal cross-connections unless such cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the city and approved by the state or local health department.
[1961 Code, § 24.93; Ord. 604]
The protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
(A) 
At the service connection to any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply handled in a separate piping system with no known cross-connection, the city water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
(B) 
At the service connection to any premises on which a substance that would be objectionable (but not necessarily hazardous to health), if introduced into the public water supply, is handled so as to constitute a cross-connection, the city water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
(C) 
At the service connection to any premises on which there is an auxiliary water supply where cross-connections are known to exist which cannot be presently eliminated, the public water supply system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. A double check valve assembly may be used in lieu of such device if local experience indicates that double check valves are reliably operated and if approved by the water purveyor and local health agency.
(D) 
At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous to health or toxic substance in toxic concentration is or may be handled, the public water supply shall be protected by an air-gap separation. The air-gap shall be located as close as practicable to the service cock and all piping between the service cock and receiving tank shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
(E) 
At the service connection to any sewage treatment plant or sewage pumping station, the city water supply shall be protected by an air-gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as practicable to the service cock and all piping between the service cock and receiving tank shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot be reasonably met, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, providing this alterative is acceptable to both the water purveyor and local health agency. Final decision in this matter shall rest with the State Department of Public Health.
[1961 Code, § 24.94; Ord. 604; Ord. 1594, 5-18-2011]
(A) 
It shall be the responsibility of the Indio Water Authority to make the determination if any service connection or the handling of substances within the premises served is deemed to constitute a hazard to the city water system and to determine the degree of hazard and establish the requirements for protection. The Indio Water Authority shall accomplish this in conjunction with the local health agency.
(B) 
It shall be the responsibility of each user of water to install and maintain the required backflow prevention device specified by the Indio Water Authority. Further, it shall be an additional responsibility of each user of water to procure, install and maintain such security equipment, e.g., a protective cage, for said backflow prevention device as may be desired by the user of water in question. The Indio Water Authority shall have no obligation to provide or reimburse any user of water with such security equipment. A user of water shall be prohibited from installing any security equipment, including but not limited to a protective cage, that does not meet approved Indio Water Authority specifications and standards. Security equipment shall only be approved if in accord with standards developed by the Indio Water Authority in accord with this code and all applicable law and regulations.
(C) 
It shall be the responsibility of the Indio Water Authority to inspect each and test each device by qualified personnel at the expense of the consumer.
(1) 
Inspection intervals shall be one year maximum. The required interval may be less if determined by the Indio Water Authority that a history of malfunctioning has been established or if the degree of hazard makes more frequent inspections advisable.
(2) 
All devices shall be disassembled for maintenance and repair at least every five years.
(3) 
All test results and all maintenance steps taken shall be reported regularly on forms to be provided by the Indio Water Authority and maintained on file at the Indio Water Authority office. Failure to file with the Indio Water Authority the required test and maintenance reports will require the Indio Water Authority to consider the connection unprotected and service may be discontinued.
(D) 
Inspection fees. The Indio Water Authority will, by resolution, adopt fees for each type and size of device required to be installed.
[1961 Code, § 24.95; Ord. 604]
(A) 
Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the water division after ten days' notification if unprotected cross-connections exist on the premises, or if any defect is found in an installed backflow preventive device, or if a backflow preventive device has been removed or bypassed, under direction an inspector may disconnect the water supply immediately when he or she feels that there is a major health problem present, and service will not be restored until the conditions or defects are corrected.
(B) 
Discontinuance of service may be summary, immediate and without notice when, in the judgment of the Water Superintendent of the Water Division, the action is necessary to protect the purity of the water supply or the safety of the water system, and the Water Superintendent's determination shall be final and conclusive.
[1961 Code, § 24.96; Ord. 604]
The city representative assigned to inspect premises relative to possible hazards shall carry proper credentials of his or her office, upon exhibition of which he or she shall have the right to entry, during usual business hours to inspect any and all buildings and premises in the performance of his duty. This right of entry shall be a condition of water service in order to provide assurance that the continuation of service to the premises will not constitute a menace to the health, safety and welfare of the people throughout the city's water system.