The purpose of this Article 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 crossconnection control program as required by State regulations. This Article is adopted pursuant to Title 17, Sections 7583 through 7605, inclusive, of the California Code of Regulations, entitled “Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections.”
The City Manager shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing the cross-connection 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 municipal water works’ requirements.
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 types of backflow prevention assembly that may be required are (listed in decreasing level of protection): air-gap separation (AG), reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP), and a double check valve assembly (DC). The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the water supplier. The minimum type 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 of Section 7604, CCR Title 17. 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.
Only backflow prevention assemblies which have been approved by the water supplier shall be acceptable for installation by the 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 by Section 7603, CCR Title 17. Location of the assemblies shall be as close as practical to the water user’s connection. The water supplier 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. More frequent testing may be required if deemed necessary by the water supplier. 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 water supplier prior to removing, relocating or replacing a backflow prevention assembly.
The cross-connection control program shall be administered by the City Manager. The water supplier will establish and maintain a list of approved backflow prevention assembly testers. The water supplier shall conduct necessary surveys of water user premises to evaluate the degree of potential health hazards. The water supplier shall notify users when an assembly needs to be tested. The notice shall contain the date when the test must be completed.
When the municipal water works encounters water uses that present 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 of water uses that create a basis for water service termination shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(A)
Refusal to install or to test a backflow prevention assembly, or to repair or replace a faulty backflow prevention assembly.
(B)
Direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer line.
(C)
Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a system or equipment containing contaminants.
(D)
Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and an auxiliary water system.
For condition (A), the water supplier will terminate service to a water user’s premises after proper written notification has been sent. If no action is taken within the allowed time period, water service shall be terminated.
For conditions (B), (C), or (D), the water supplier shall take the following steps: