A.
The purpose of these regulations is to safeguard potable
water supplies by preventing backflow into public water systems.
B.
Regulations of the State of New York, Part 5.1-31(a)(2),
require that when a supplier of water instructs the user of a public
water supply to protect his water service connection by the installation
of a protective device, plans for the installation of the protective
device must be submitted to the supplier of water and to the state
for approval.
C.
The regulations are to be reasonably interpreted.
It is the intent of these regulations to recognize that there are
varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree
of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
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, in no case 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 bushing shall be of bronze
or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, machined for easy, dependable
operation. The closure element, e.g. clapper, shall be internally
weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote rapid and positive
closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
An assembly of at least two independently acting check valves,
including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valve assembly, and suitable leak detector drains plus connections
available for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This
device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically
operating differential relief valve located between the two checks,
two shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for
testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the
zone between the two check valves less than the pressure on the public
water supply side of the device.
At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between
check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage
of either check valve, the differential relief valve shall operate
to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere.
When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the
relief valve shall open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air
gap in the device. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible
for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part
of the valve will be submerged. The enclosure must be self-draining,
so that the large amount of water which the relief valve may vent
will be disposed of reliably without submergence of the relief valve.
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.
A loop of pipe rising approximately 35 feet, at its topmost
point, above the highest fixture it supplies.
A person who has a certificate issued by the State of New
York Department of Health for a backflow prevention device tester.
He or she shall be provided with an appropriate identification card
which must be renewed every three years. Failure to perform his or
her duties competently and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal
of his or her authority.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source
or system containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved
as equally safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption.
A vacuum breaker which is designed so as not to be subjected
to static line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
The consumer or a 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-connection and other sanitary defects,
as required by regulations and laws.
A.
Where protection is required.
(1)
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall
be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the
public water system, unless the auxiliary water supply is approved
as an additional source by the water purveyor and is satisfactory
to the public health agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality
and safety. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly prohibited
and illegal that any well water shall be allowed within the City of
Auburn.
[Amended 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 3-2007]
(2)
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises on which any substance is handled
under pressure in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system
shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises
into the public waters and waters originating from the public water
supply system which may have been subject to deterioration in sanitary
or chemical quality.
(3)
Each service connection from a public water system
for supplying water to premises on which a substance of unusually
toxic concentration or danger to health is handled in liquid form,
even though it is not under pressure, shall be protected against backflow
of the water from premises into the public system. Examples are plating
factories using cyanide and hospitals. This is not intended to apply
to normal household installations.
(4)
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on
the service connection to any premises that have internal cross-connections,
unless such cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the
water purveyor. It shall be the responsibility of the water user to
provide and maintain these protective devices, and each one must be
of a type acceptable to the State Health Department.
B.
Type of protection. The protective device required
shall depend on the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
(1)
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 double check valve assembly.
(2)
At the service connection on any premises on which
there is an auxiliary water supply where cross-connections are known
to exist which cannot be presently eliminated, the public water supply
system shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved
reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention device.
(3)
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 water supply shall
be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
(4)
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-principle
backflow prevention device. This device shall be located as close
as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the water
meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
(5)
At the service connection to any premises on which
any material dangerous to health, or toxic substance in 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 practicable to the water meter, and all 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-principle backflow
prevention device, providing the alternative is acceptable to the
water purveyor.
(6)
At the service connection to any sewage treatment
plant or sewage pumping station, the public water supply shall be
protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as
close as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the
water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these
conditions cannot be reasonably met, the public water supply shall
be protected with an approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow
prevention device.
C.
Frequency of inspection of protective devices.
(1)
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
those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
These 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 backflow prevention tester, and
all test results will be provided to the water purveyor within 72
hours after the test is made.
(2)
Records of such tests, repairs, and overhaul shall
also be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the local
Health Department upon request.
A.
Separate drinking water systems. Whenever the Supervisor
of Water Distribution or Superintendent of Engineering Services determines
that it is not practical to protect drinking water systems on premises
against entry of water from a source or piping system or equipment
that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use, an entirely
separate drinking water system shall be installed to supply water
at points convenient for consumers.
B.
Fire systems. Water systems for fighting fire, derived from a supply that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use, shall, wherever practicable, be kept wholly separate from drinking water pipelines and equipment. In cases where the domestic water system is used for both drinking and fire-fighting purposes, approved backflow prevention devices shall be installed to protect such individual drinking water lines as are not used for fire-fighting purposes. Any auxiliary fire-fighting water supply which is not approved for potable purposes but which is so connected that it may be introduced into potable water piping during an emergency shall be equipped with an approved automatic chlorination machine. It is hereby declared that it is the responsibility of the person or persons causing the introduction of said unapproved or unsafe water into the pipelines to see that a procedure is developed and carried out to notify and protect users of this piping system during the emergency and that special precautions are taken to disinfect thoroughly and flush out all pipelines which may become contaminated before they are again used to furnish drinking water. In the event the means of protection of water consumers is by disinfection of the auxiliary fire-fighting supply, the installation and its use shall be thoroughly reliable. The public water supply must be protected against backflow from such dual domestic fire systems, as detailed in § 297-34.
C.
Process waters.
(1)
Potable water pipelines connected to equipment for
industrial processes or operations shall be protected by a suitable
backflow prevention device located beyond the last point from which
drinking water may be taken, which device shall be provided on the
feed line to process piping or equipment.
(2)
In the event the particular process liquid is especially
corrosive or apt to prevent reliable action of the backflow prevention
device, air gap separation shall be provided. These devices shall
be tested by the water user at least once a year or more often in
those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
The devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced whenever they
are found to be defective. These tests must be performed by a qualified
backflow prevention device tester, and records of tests, repairs,
and replacement shall be kept and made available to the water purveyor
and the Health Department upon request.
D.
Sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. Sewage
pumps shall not have priming connections directly off any drinking
water systems. No connections shall exist between the drinking water
system and any other piping, equipment, or tank in any sewage treatment
plant or sewage pumping station.
E.
Plumbing connections.
(1)
Where the circumstances are such that there is special
danger to health by the backflow of sewage, as from sewers, toilets,
hospital bedpans and the like, into a drinking water system, a dependable
device or devices shall be installed to prevent such backflow.
(2)
The purpose of these regulations is not to transcend
local plumbing regulations but only to deal with those extraordinary
situations where sewage may be forced or drawn into the drinking water
piping. These regulations do not attempt to eliminate at this time
the hazards of backsiphonage through flushometer valves on all toilets
but deal with those situations where the likelihood of vacuum conditions
in the drinking water system is definite and there is special danger
to health. Devices suited to the purpose of avoiding backsiphonage
from plumbing fixtures are roof tanks, barometric loops or separate
pressure systems separately piped to supply such fixtures, recognized
approved vacuum or siphon breakers and other backflow protection devices
which have been proved by appropriate tests to be dependable for destroying
the vacuum.
(3)
Inasmuch as many serious hazards of this kind are
due to water supply piping which is too small, thereby causing vacuum
conditions when fixtures are flushed or water is drawn from the system
in other ways, it is recommended that water supply piping that is
too small be enlarged whenever possible.
F.
Pier and dock hydrants. Backflow protection by a suitable
backflow prevention device shall be provided on each drinking water
pierhead outlet used for supplying vessels at piers or waterfronts.
These assemblies must be located where they will prevent the return
of any water from the vessel into the drinking water pipeline or into
another adjacent vessel. This will prevent such practices as connecting
the ship fire-pumping or sanitary pumping system with a dock hydrant
and thereby pumping contaminated water into the drinking water system
and thence to adjacent vessels or back into the public mains.
G.
Marking safe and unsafe waterlines.
(1)
Where the premises contains dual or multiple water
systems and piping, the exposed portions of pipelines shall be painted,
banded or marked at sufficient intervals to distinguish clearly which
water is safe and which is not safe. All outlets from secondary or
other potentially contaminated systems shall be posted as being contaminated
and unsafe for drinking purposes. All outlets intended for drinking
purposes shall be plainly marked to indicate that fact.
(2)
Water Supervisor. The local Health Department and
the water purveyor shall be kept informed of the identity of the person
responsible for the water piping on all premises concerned with these
regulations. At each premises where it is necessary in the opinion
of the water purveyor, a water supervisor shall be designated. This
water supervisor shall be responsible for the installation and use
of pipelines and equipment and for the avoidance of cross-connections.
(3)
In the event of contamination or pollution of the
drinking water system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the
local health officer and water purveyor shall be promptly advised
by the person responsible for the water system so that appropriate
measures may be taken to overcome the contamination.
A.
No water service connection to any premises shall
be installed or maintained by the water purveyor unless the water
supply is protected as required by state regulations and this article.
B.
Service of water to any premises may be discontinued
by the water purveyor if a backflow prevention device required by
this article and regulations is not installed, tested, and maintained;
if any defect is found in an installed backflow prevention device;
if it is found that a backflow prevention device has been removed
or bypassed; or if unprotected cross-connections exist on the premises,
and service will not be restored until such conditions or defects
are corrected.
All applications must be accompanied by plans,
specifications and an engineer's or architect's report describing
the project in detail. The application must be signed by a New York
State registered professional engineer or architect. The project must
first be submitted to the water supplier, who will forward it to the
local public health engineer. This form must be prepared in quadruplicate
with four copies of all plans, specifications and descriptive literature.
The following is an example list of facilities
that are especially likely to have cross-connection hazards. The list
is not intended to be all inclusive.
A.
Automotive plants.
B.
Auxiliary water systems such as wells.
C.
Beverage bottling plants.
D.
Breweries.
E.
Food processing plants.
F.
Chemical plants and plating facilities.
G.
Film laboratories.
H.
Hospitals, medical buildings, sanitariums, morgues
and mortuaries.
I.
Irrigation systems.
J.
Laundries and dye works.
K.
Meat-packing plants.
L.
Metal manufacturing, cleaning and fabricating plants.
M.
Radioactive materials production or research plants.
N.
Restricted, classified or other facilities closed
to the public.
O.
Sewage.
P.
Buildings heated by boilers where treatment chemicals
are used.
Q.
Building with certain types of air-conditioning systems.
R.
Printing operations.
S.
Furniture stripping.
T.
Lawn care services.
U.
Fire hydrants not under the control of the public
water supplier.