The purpose of this article is to safeguard potable water supplies of the Village of Pelham from potential contamination by preventing back flow from a water user's system into the public water system. It is the intent of this article to recognize that there are varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that that the degrees of protection should be commensurate with the degrees of hazard. It is the intent of the Village of Pelham to comply with the requirements of New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5, Section 5-1.31, which requires that the supplier of water protect its water system in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Commissioner of Health. These mandates are set forth in the Cross Connection Control Manual published by the New York State Department of Health and to that extent, the terms, conditions and provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5, Section 5-1.31, and the Cross Control Manual are incorporated in this Part 1 by reference as if more fully stated.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A physical break between a supply pipe and a 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 and in no case
shall be less than one inch.
A check valve that seats readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free-moving parts and assured watertightness.
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 and other noncorrodible, nonsticking material and shall be
machined for easy dependable operation. The closure element shall
be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote
rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
Two single independently acting check valves, including tightly
closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable
test connections. This device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A minimum of two independently acting check valves together
with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve
located between the two check valves. In case of leakage of either
check valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the
atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the checks
at less than the supply pressure. The unit must include tightly closing
shutoff valves located at each end of the device, and each device
shall be fitted with properly located test cocks. This device must
also be approved as a complete assembly.
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public water supply.
An individual who has successfully completed a New York State
Department of Health approved course in the testing of backflow prevention
devices and has been issued a certificate by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to be used as a supply of water for drinking purposes
in a source or systems containing water or a substance that is not
or cannot be approved as equally safe, wholesome and potable for human
consumption.
The consumer or person on the premises charged with the responsibility
of complete knowledge and understanding of the water supply piping
within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's water system
free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects, as required
by this article and all other applicable laws and regulations.
Each individual commercial or residential property owner
and its occupants or visitors served by the water system.
A device that can only be used for internal plumbing control
and is not acceptable as a containment device.
The water system shall be required to maintain
a degree of protection commensurate with the degree of hazard regardless
of whether the hazard is immediate or potential. To that extent, the
Cross Connection Control Manual published by New York State Department
of Health shall be used as a guide to determine where protection is
required. It shall be the responsibility of the water user to provide
and maintain such required protection devices and such devices shall
be of a type acceptable to the New York State Department of Health.
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 public water supply shall be protected
by an approved reduced-pressure zone device.
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 public supply shall be protected
by an approved double check valve assembly.
C.
At the service connection to any premises on which
a substance of unusual toxic concentration or danger to health is
or may be handled, but not under pressure, the public water supply
shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced
pressure zone backflow prevention device. If an air gap is installed,
it shall be located as close as practical to the water meter, and
all piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely
visible. If a reduced-pressure zone device is installed, it shall
be located as close as possible to the property line.
D.
At the service connection to any premises on which
any material dangerous to health, or toxic substance and toxic concentration,
is or may be handled under pressure, the public water supply shall
be protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located
as close as practical to the water meter, and any piping between the
water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these
conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply shall
be protected with an approved reduced-pressure zone back flow prevention
device, and it shall be located as close as possible to the property
line.
It shall be the duty of the water user on any
premises on account of which backflow protective devices are installed,
to have competent inspections made at least once a year, or more often
in instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
Devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of
the water user whenever they are found to be defective. These tests
shall be performed by a qualified back flow prevention device tester,
and all test results will be provided to the water user within 72
hours after the test is made. Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul
shall also be kept and made available to the water user and the local
health department upon request.
