The purpose of this chapter is to protect the health of the water consumers of the Forks city water system and the potability of the water in the distribution system, and to implement the Washington Department of Health’s requirements as found in Chapter 246-90 WAC; the applicable chapter of the Uniform Plumbing Code (see WAC 51-56-003); and the current edition of Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross Connection Control Manual – Pacific Northwest Section. Inspection and regulation of all actual (direct) and potential (indirect) cross-connections between potable and nonpotable systems is required in order to minimize the danger of contamination and pollution of the potable drinking water. Controlling and preventing cross-connections is accomplished by either removing the cross-connection or installing an approved backflow preventer to protect the potable water system, at the expense of the property owner where the cross-connection occurs.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
The city of Forks is required to either eliminate or control all cross-connections throughout its service area. Therefore, anyone wanting or using water from the city of Forks is required to comply with this chapter, and with the regulations referenced in FMC § 13.40.010. The owner of property in which a cross-connection occurs is fully responsible for all damages incurred.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
(1) 
“Air gap (AG)”
means a physical vertical separation through the free atmosphere measured from the end of the lowest portion of the potable water system and the beginning of the flood level rim of the receiving vessel, tank, plumbing fixture or other apparatus. This physical separation must be at least two times the inside diameter of the potable water pipe and in no case less than one inch.
(2) 
“Auxiliary supply”
means any water source or system other than the city of Forks public potable water system, which may be available to or in the building, or on the premises.
(3) 
“Backflow”
means the flow, other than in the intended direction of flow, of any liquids, gasses or substances into the public potable water system.
(4) 
“Back pressure”
means backflow caused by a pump, elevated piping, elevated tank, boiler or other means which could create pressure greater than supply pressure.
(5) 
“Back siphonage”
means backflow due to a negative or subatmospheric pressure condition in the water system.
(6) 
“Backflow preventer”
means a state-approved backflow prevention device which prevents the backflow of water or other liquids into the potable water system.
(7) 
“Contamination”
means a physical or toxic hazard which could be detrimental to health.
(8) 
“Cross-connection”
means a point in the piping system where the potable water is connected, or the possibility exists of being connected, directly to a source of contamination, pollution, or other nonpotable substance.
(9) 
“Double check valve assembly (DCVA)”
means a state-approved backflow preventer consisting of two independently acting check valves, either spring-loaded or internally weighted, installed as a unit between two tightly closing shut-off valves and having suitable connections for testing.
(10) 
“Pollution”
means a hazard which could cause aesthetic problems or have a detrimental effect on the quality of water in the potable system.
(11) 
“Potable water”
means water which is safe for human consumption, as determined by the public health authority having jurisdiction.
(12) 
“Pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVBA)”
means a state-approved backflow preventer consisting of a spring-loaded check valve and an independently acting air inlet valve installed as a unit between two tightly closing shutoff valves and having suitable connections for testing.
(13) 
“Reduced pressure backflow assembly (RPBA)”
means a state-approved backflow preventer consisting of two independently acting spring-loaded check valves, separated by a spring-loaded differential pressure relief valve, all of which is installed as a unit and has suitable connections for testing.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
Approved backflow preventers shall be installed at the service connection of, or within, the following facilities, and any others found by the public works director to pose a risk of backflow, under the direction of the public works director, commensurate with the degree of hazard as determined by the public works director:
(1) 
Premises having an auxiliary water supply.
(2) 
Premises having internal cross-connections or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not a cross-connection exists.
(3) 
Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made.
(4) 
Premises having a history of repeated cross-connections.
(5) 
Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure and/or piped so as to pose a risk of entry into the public potable water system.
(6) 
Process waters or cooling towers.
(7) 
Toxic or hazardous chemicals.
(8) 
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics.
(9) 
Laboratories.
(10) 
Sewage treatment plants and lift stations.
(11) 
Food and beverage processing plants.
(12) 
Chemical plants.
(13) 
Petroleum processing plants or storage tanks.
(14) 
Car washes.
(15) 
Fire sprinkler systems.
(16) 
Irrigation systems.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
State-approved backflow preventers required by this chapter shall be installed under the direction of the utility superintendent per the city of Forks standards. The backflow preventers must never be subjected to flooding, corrosive fumes, damage or freezing and shall be installed as follows:
(1) 
AG – a vertical physical separation below the end of the potable water system of not less than one inch or two times the inside diameter of the potable pipe, whichever is greater, measured from the flood level rim of the receiving vessel, tank fix-ture or plumbing apparatus.
(2) 
RPBA – 12 inches plus diameter of the backflow preventer from the finished grade or floor to the bottom of the backflow preventer and not more than five feet without an approved working platform.
(3) 
DCVA – 12 inches from the finished grade or floor to the bottom of the backflow preventer and not more than five feet without an approved working platform.
(4) 
PVBA – 12 inches above all downstream piping and sprinkler heads and not more than five feet without an approved working platform.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
All RPBAs, DCVAs and PVBAs must be tested at least annually and all air gaps installed in lieu of a backflow preventer shall be inspected at least annually. Test/inspection reports shall be returned to the city of Forks utility superintendent within 30 days after receipt of the yearly test notification. Tests and inspections may be required on a more frequent basis at the discretion of the utility superintendent.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)
Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, repair, inspection and testing of backflow preventers and/or air gap separations required under this chapter shall be grounds for immediate termination of water service to the premises.
(Ord. 543 § 1, 2006)