The Town of Chenango has continued to implement
safeguards to protect public water supplies within the Town of Chenango.
The New York State Department of Health has now established rules
and regulations regarding backflow and cross-connections for the purpose
of protecting potable public water supplies from contamination from
these sources. The Town of Chenango has determined that it is in the
best interests of the Town to implement backflow and cross-control
regulations on a local level and hereby acts accordingly.
This article shall be applicable to all property
owners within the Town of Chenango serviced by the Town of Chenango
public water supply system.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AESTHETICALLY OBJECTIONABLE SITE
Any property serviced by the Town of Chenango public water
supply that has substances present, which, when introduced into the
public water supply, would constitute a nuisance in appearance or
smell but would not endanger or have an adverse effect on public health.
Examples of an aesthetic objection would include, but not be limited
to, food-grade dyes, hot water, stagnant water or water with an odor.
HAZARDOUS SITE
Any property serviced by the Town of Chenango public water
supply that has substances present which are capable of being introduced
into the public water supply system through backflow or cross-connection
contamination and which would endanger or have an adverse effect on
the public health and welfare of others using the public water system.
NONHAZARDOUS SITE
Any facility not deemed a hazardous or aesthetically objectionable
site, as defined for purposes of this article.
Any customer or property owner who seeks to
challenge the Town's determination that a property is an aesthetically
objectionable site or a hazardous site may submit written objections
to the Town of Chenango Water Department within 15 days after receipt
of the initial determination by the Town of Chenango. The Town of
Chenango will then solicit advice from the Broome County Health Department
or the New York State Department of Health. A final determination
by the Town of Chenango will then be mailed to the customer or property
owner, if different.
The customer or property owner shall have the
approved correction or containment device or system installed as prescribed
in the approved plans within 15 days of the mailing of the notice
of approval by the Town of Chenango. The customer or owner must notify
the Town of Chenango Water Department upon completion of the installation
and prior to the initial testing of the device or system. All devices
or systems must be tested by a New York State Department of Health
certified backflow device tester. A copy of the initial test report
of the device or system must be immediately submitted to the Town
of Chenango Water Department using the New York State Department of
Health test forms. Thereafter, the Town of Chenango shall require
all backflow and cross-connection devices or systems to be tested
annually, upon the anniversary month of the original testing; after
any repairs are made to the device or the system; and after every
rebuild of the device, as required under New York Code or Rules and
Regulations § 5-1.31.
The failure of any customer or property owner
to comply with any provisions of this article may result in the immediate
termination of water service by the Town of Chenango. In addition,
violators are subject to a fine of not less than $500 per day, not
to exceed $1,000 per day, for each day that said property remains
in violation of this article.