The following regulations shall apply to all water-cooled equipment installed for the purpose of reducing the dry bulb temperature or decreasing the absolute humidity of air, whether for comfort air conditioning, refrigeration, processing or whatever other purposes.
A. 
For the purpose of these regulations, the following terms shall have and shall be construed to have the following meanings:
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM and REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
Includes any combination of equipment, whether compressor or other type, by which heat is removed from the air and from which the accumulated or effluent heat is wholly or partially removed by the use of water.
(1) 
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMAn installation for maintenance, by heat removal, of temperatures which are not less than 60° F.
(2) 
REFRIGERATION SYSTEMAn installation for maintenance, by heat removal, of temperatures which are less than 60° F.
PERSON
Includes a natural person, partnership, corporation or association. Whenever used with respect to any penalty, the term "person," as applied to partnerships or associations, shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof.
SYSTEM
Any combination of apparatus, individual unit, group or collection of units supplied with water through any single customer service pipe connected to the public water system.
B. 
For the purpose of these regulations, in no event shall the "rated capacity in tons" be considered less than the following:
(1) 
Total maximum Btu's per hour of capacity on the installation divided by 12,000;
(2) 
The nameplate horsepower of any compressor prime mover unit for any air-conditioning installation; or
(3) 
Two-thirds the nameplate horsepower of Subsection B(2) above for any refrigeration installation.
No person shall install, operate or use any equipment for air conditioning or refrigeration which requires a supply of water from the system of the City of Ithaca without first having procured a written permit therefor from the office of the Water and Sewer Division.
A. 
Application for permit.
(1) 
Application for permit shall be made to the office of the Water and Sewer Division and shall provide the following information:
(a) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(b) 
The location of the premises where the installation is proposed.
(c) 
The name and address of the owners of the premises.
(d) 
The names of the manufacturers of the units requiring water.
(e) 
The manufacturer's identification and classification of the refrigeration units.
(f) 
The manufacturer's rating of maximum refrigerative capacity of the unit or units under the conditions of the planned installation. (The rating may be stated in tons per 24 hours or Btu's per hour.) In the absence of the required manufacturer's maximum rating, the Superintendent may specify the tonnage of the installation at the ratings indicated in § 348-40B or, if these appear inadequate, then by whatever other measure of capacity appears to the Superintendent to be proper.
(g) 
The horsepower of the compressor prime mover, if the unit is of compressor type.
(h) 
Where water conservation devices are required (to comply with § 348-43 hereof), the manufacturer's name, identification, classification and size of the conservation equipment.
(i) 
The elevation and plan showing general piping arrangements and details of all points of connection to building supply water (piping direct to condenser units, makeup supply into tower fan, etc.).
(j) 
Such additional information as shall be required by the Water and Sewer Division.
(2) 
Application shall be signed by the owner or tenant, and applications for installation shall designate a plumber duly qualified to receive permits under other sections of these regulations.
B. 
Fee for permit. A fee shall be paid at the time the application for inspection is filed with the Plumbing Inspector and shall be equal to the existing rate for a new fixture under the Plumbing Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 146, Building Construction, Art. IV, Plumbing.
C. 
Permit to install.
(1) 
Permits to install piping or connect equipment will be issued at the office of the Water and Sewer Division, but only in the names of licensed plumbers who are duly qualified to perform plumbing work in the City of Ithaca in accordance with the Plumbing Code.
(2) 
Within 48 hours following the completion of any work authorized by a permit, notice of completion and a request for inspection shall be returned, in writing, on the standard plumbing inspection blank, accompanied by the inspection fee, by the plumber receiving the permit to the office from which the permit was obtained.
D. 
Permit to operate. After final inspection and approval of the installation, a permit to operate or use the equipment will be issued at the office of the Water and Sewer Division in the name of the owner or tenant.
A. 
Systems with a capacity of three tons or less shall not use water directly or indirectly, except when used with conservation equipment, from the public supply.
B. 
Systems with a total capacity of more than three tons but not exceeding five tons may use water directly from the public supply at a rate not exceeding 2.0 gallons per minute per ton if the water temperature is 75° F. or less or 3.0 gallons per minute per ton if it is above 75° F., provided that they are equipped with an automatic regulating valve which will:
(1) 
Stop the flow of water when the refrigerating machine is shut down; and
(2) 
Throttle the flow of water down to the momentary requirements of the system.
C. 
All systems having a total capacity exceeding five tons shall be equipped with evaporative condensers, cooling towers, spray ponds or other water-cooling equipment. This equipment shall be of sufficient capacity to ensure conformance to the requirements of Table I for makeup water when operating under full loading at maximum summer temperature.
Table 1
Maximum Allowable Water Use
Water Hardness
(parts per million)
Maximum Use
(gallons per minute per ton)
0 - 139
0.1
140 - 199
0.15
200 - 254
0.2
255 - 339
0.3
340 - 424
0.4
425 and over
0.5
All installations shall be made in conformance with the Plumbing Code and subject to the inspection of the Plumbing Inspector and will include the following general protective measures:
A. 
On installations which operate with the use of water directly from the public supply system, every direct connection shall be equipped with a suitable brass body, brass-fitted check valve and vacuum breaker installed in the branch supply line to each unit.
B. 
Discharge and the connections for the disposal of wastewaters shall be in accordance with the Plumbing Code[1] and Board of Public Works regulations regarding sanitary sewers.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 146, Building Construction, Art. IV, Plumbing.
C. 
Cooling waters which are to be used for other purposes shall be provided with free above-the-rim discharge before entering other equipment; otherwise permission shall be obtained, in writing, from the Plumbing Inspector approving the proposed connections and use.
D. 
On installations other than those described above, there shall be a physical break between the public water supply piping and the piping of the installation, so arranged as to make backsiphonage to the public water supply system impossible.
Any permit which is issued under these regulations to operate or use equipment may be revoked by the Water and Sewer Division for any one of the following reasons:
A. 
Failure of the holder of the permit to discontinue using water for the purposes covered by the permit immediately upon notice to do so issued by the Water and Sewer Division during an emergency or to forestall an impending emergency.
B. 
Alterations, changes of equipment or piping, improper operation or lack of maintenance which results in conditions that:
(1) 
Are hazardous to the potable water supply either within the premises or in supply mains; or
(2) 
Cause unnecessary waste of water.
C. 
The use of water is found to exceed the quantities under § 348-43 of these rules and regulations.