[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Victor 5-20-1991 by L.L. No. 1-1991. Amendments noted where applicable.]
ATTACHMENTS
Figure 24-1Figure 24-2Figure 24-3Figure 24-4Figure 24-5
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard potable water supplies from potential contamination by preventing backflow from a water user's system into the public water system and to comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5, Section 5-1.31.
B. 
This chapter is to be reasonably interpreted. It is the intent of this chapter to recognize that there are varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that a degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
A. 
Hazardous cross-connections must be promptly eliminated.
B. 
Cross-connection control is the responsibility of the supplier of water and the water customer (Part 5, New York State Sanitary Code, Subpart 5-1 Public Water Supplies, Section 5-1.31).
C. 
Cross-connection control by containment must be employed and requires the installation of an acceptable backflow prevention device in every water service line to a facility for which a potential hazard exists. Control devices will be installed at or as near the property line of the facility as possible.
D. 
This chapter is enacted and enforced to protect the public water system in accordance with provisions mandated by the New York State Department of Health.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
E. 
All cross-connection control devices in the water system will be tested by a certified tester. A copy of all test results will be supplied to the Department of Public Works by the property owner if tests are done by other than Department of Public Works personnel.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F. 
All plans and specifications for cross-connection control devices installed or to be installed in the Village of Victor water system must be prepared by a New York State licensed professional engineer and accepted by the Village of Victor Department of Public Works and approved by the New York State Department of Health. These steps must take place in the above-described order, and no approval will be accepted through other channels.
G. 
Should access to any facility or dwelling be denied to Department of Public Works personnel for the purpose of determining if and/or what cross-connection control device is necessary, then the maximum protection device will automatically be mandated with no further investigation by Commission personnel.
H. 
Failure to provide the required protective device or to adhere to prescribed testing requirements will result in proceedings to terminate service to the violating party.
I. 
All plans and specifications relating to cross-connection control must be approved by the Director of Public Works and the State Department of Health. A completed works approval is also required for the installation of acceptable backflow prevention devices at all new customer facilities and for corrections to installations at existing customer facilities.
J. 
Availability of a supplementary supply of water.
(1) 
The existence of a supplementary supply of water available to a facility may create the situation wherein the facility rating changes to a more severe category.
(2) 
In the instance where a supplementary source water quality is found acceptable, an agreement must be reached between the supplier and the water customer for a sampling program appropriate to monitor the supplementary source water quality. The customer will be made aware that if at any time the New York State Drinking Water Standards are exceeded, an acceptable reduced-pressure zone (RPZ) or air gap will have to be installed on the service connection to the public water supply system.
K. 
Testing and maintenance records shall be kept by the supplier of water for each required backflow prevention device.
A. 
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, per § 62-2B of this chapter, or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure.
B. 
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 device tester, and all test results will be provided to the water purveyor within 72 hours after the test is made.
C. 
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.
As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ACCEPTABLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE
An acceptable air gap, reduced-pressure zone device or double check valve assembly as used to contain potential contamination within a facility.
ACCEPTABLE DEVICES
Those devices or assemblies found to be acceptable for containment control in New York State in accordance with Department of Health requirements.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
AESTHETICALLY OBJECTIONABLE FACILITY
One in which substances are present which, if introduced into the public water supply system, could be a nuisance to other water customers but would not adversely affect human health. Typical examples of such substances are food-grade dyes, hot water, stagnant water from fire lines in which no chemical additives are used, etc.
AIR GAP SEPARATION
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle. The differential distance shall be at least double the diameter (D) of the supply pipe. In no case shall the air gap be less than one inch. (See Figure 24-1.)[1]
APPROVED CHECK VALVE
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 of bronze composition or other noncorrodible material which will seat tightly under all prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings 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.
APPROVED WATER SUPPLY
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department of Health.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the approved public water supply.
BACKFLOW
A flow condition induced by a differential in pressure that causes the flow of water or other liquids and/or gases into the distribution pipes of a public water supply from any source other than its intended source.
BACKPRESSURE
The resulting backflow of contaminated, polluted or otherwise unacceptable quality water from a plumbing fixture or other customer source(s) into a public water supply system due to a greater pressure within the customer's water system. (See Figure 24-2.)[2]
BACKSIPHONAGE
The backflow of contaminated or polluted water or water of questionable quality from a plumbing fixture or other customer source(s) into a public water supply system main due to a temporary negative or subatmospheric pressure within the public water supply system. (See Figure 24-3.)[3]
CERTIFIED BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE TESTER
A person who is examined annually by the water purveyor and found competent for the testing of backflow prevention devices. He or she shall be provided with an appropriate identification card which must be renewed annually. Failure to perform his or her duties competently and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal of his or her certification.
CONTAINMENT
Cross-connection control which isolates the customer's entire facility from the public water system so as to provide the protection necessary to prevent contamination of the public water supply in the event of backflow from the customer's facility.
CONTAMINATION
The presence in water of a substance that tends to degrade its quality.
CROSS-CONNECTION
A physical connection through which a water supply could be contaminated.
CUSTOMER
A water user served by a public water system.
CUSTOMER'S WATER SYSTEM
The piping used to convey water supplied by a public water supply system throughout a customer's facility.
DEGREE OF HAZARD
Whether a facility is rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable or nonhazardous.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE (DCV) ASSEMBLY, ACCEPTABLE
Two single, independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This device must be approved as a complete assembly. (See Figure 24-4.)[4]
HAZARDOUS FACILITY
One in which substances may be present which, if introduced into the public water system, would or may endanger or have an adverse effect on the health of other water customers. Typical examples include laboratories, sewage treatment plants, chemical plants, hospitals and mortuaries.
INTERCONNECTION
A joining of two independently operated public water supply distribution systems.
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ENGINEER
The city, county, district or regional Health Department Engineer having jurisdiction.
NONHAZARDOUS FACILITY
One which does not require the installation of an acceptable backflow prevention device.
PLUMBING CONTROL
Prevention and elimination of cross-connections within the customer's water system by enforcement of building or plumbing codes.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
A supplier of water system, including the source, treatment works, transmission mains, distribution system and storage facilities serving the public.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE (RPZ) DEVICE, ACCEPTABLE
A minimum of two independently acting check valves, together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the upstream (supply) pressure. 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 be approved as a complete assembly. (See Figure 24-5.)[5]
SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply, that is available within the water customer's facility.
SUPPLIER OF WATER
The owner or operator of a public water system.
WATER SUPERVISOR
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-connections and other sanitary defects, as required by regulations and laws.
A. 
Whenever possible, cross-connection control will be achieved by the containment method. Any user employing a device which will achieve control by any other method will make written application to the Director of Public Works to request such authorization. The Director of Public Works will be the final authority determining the applicability of any and all devices so used.
B. 
The containment method. Using the containment approach to cross-connection control results in totally isolating a facility with a potential hazard from the public water supply system. Each water service line to such a facility will be protected in a manner commensurate with the degree of hazard.
C. 
When any portion of a consumer's water supply system is rated hazardous, then the entire system receives the same rated degree of hazard. That includes piping for potable as well as nonpotable water. Under certain conditions, fire sprinkler system connections to the public water supply system may warrant a separate evaluation of the type of protective device required.
A. 
To achieve containment, an acceptable backflow prevention device must be installed in every service connection to every facility connected to the public water supply.
B. 
Three categories will be considered when determining the degree of hazard posted by a facility and making the subsequent determination of the type of protective device required. They are:
(1) 
Use, toxicity and availability of containments.
(2) 
Availability of a supplementary supply of water.
(3) 
Fire-fighting system evaluation.
C. 
Based on these considerations, a facility will be rated as hazardous, aesthetically objectionable or nonhazardous.
D. 
This cross-connection control program will enact a major emphasis on isolating those facilities that pose the greatest hazard in the most vulnerable portions of the distribution system.
A. 
The degree of protection shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
(1) 
A hazardous facility must be contained through the use of an RPZ or an air gap.
(2) 
An aesthetically objectionable facility must be contained through the use of a DCV.
(3) 
Nonhazardous facilities may be, but are not mandated by these regulations to be, protected through internal plumbing control to ensure that plumbing cross-connections are adequately protected or eliminated.
B. 
It is not possible to list every circumstance and facility type that may be encountered while evaluating all water users in the water system. Therefore, while evaluating a facility, the inspector will rely on these regulations, good common sense and the local Health Department Engineer, as needed, to adequately ensure the basic protection desired by this program.
C. 
Internal plumbing control necessary for the protection of the on-premise user is not equivalent to containment but is a necessary adjunct to a totally protective program. The water customer is responsible for preventing cross-connection within his facility.
The protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard as tabulated below:
A. 
At the service connection on any premises on which there is an auxiliary water supply, the public water supply system shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
B. 
At the service connection to any premises on which a substance that would be objectionable (but not 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.
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 principle backflow prevention device. This device shall be located as close as practicable to the property line, and all piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
D. 
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 property line, and all piping between the property line 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, provided that the alternative is acceptable to the Director of Public Works.
E. 
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 property line, 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.
F. 
At the service connection to any premises not covered by Subsections A through E above, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved single check valve assembly.
A. 
A separate evaluation of the fire-fighting system in use at a facility is required because of the number of variables involved in making the determination of adequate protection of the public water supply system.
B. 
Sprinkler system service connections.
(1) 
The sprinkler system service connection is usually an independent connection to the public water supply and, as such, will be separately evaluated as to the hazard posed.
(2) 
Fire Department connections are used to pump water into the sprinkler system. The quality of water pumped into the sprinkler system may be of concern.
(3) 
The following outlines the type of acceptable backflow prevention device required by class of sprinkler system used (AWWA Manual No. M14, Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control). The device is the minimum needed to satisfy containment requirements and applies only to sprinkler systems connected to public water supply water mains.
(a) 
Class 1: direct connections from public water mains only; no pumps, tanks or reservoirs; no physical connection from other water supplies; no antifreeze or other additives of any kind; all sprinkler drains discharging to atmosphere, dry wells or other safe outlets.
(b) 
Class 2: same as Class 1, except that booster pumps may be installed in the connections from the street mains. [Booster pumps do not affect the potability of the system; it is necessary, however, to avoid drafting so much water that pressure in the water main is reduced below 20 pounds per square inch.]
(c) 
Class 3: direct connection from public water supply main, plus one or more of the following: elevated storage tanks; fire pumps taking suction from aboveground covered reservoirs or tanks; and pressure tanks. (All storage facilities are filled or connected to public water only, the water in the tanks to be maintained in a potable condition. Otherwise Class 3 systems are the same as Class 1.)
(d) 
Class 4: directly supplied from public mains similar to Classes 1 and 2 and with an auxiliary water supply on or available to the premises; or an auxiliary supply may be located within 1,700 feet of the pumper connection.
(e) 
Class 5: directly supplied from public mains and interconnected with auxiliary supplies, such as: pumps taking suction from reservoirs exposed to contamination or rivers and ponds; driven wells, mills or other industrial water systems; or where antifreeze or other additives are used.
(f) 
Class 6: combined industrial and fire protection systems supplied from the public water mains only, with or without gravity storage or pump suction tanks.
(4) 
Corresponding backflow protection recommended (AWWA Manual No. M14):
(a) 
Class 1: none, other than the check valve required by the National Fire Code.
(b) 
Class 2: none, other than the check valve required by the National Fire Code.
(c) 
Class 3: will generally require minimum protection (approved DCV) to prevent stagnant waters from backflowing into the public potable-water system.
(d) 
Class 4: will normally require backflow protection at the service connection. The type (air gap, RPZ or DCV) will generally depend on the quality of the auxiliary supply. It will normally need maximum protection (air gap or RPZ) to protect the public potable-water system.
(e) 
Class 5: will normally need maximum protection (air gap or RPZ) to protect the public potable-water system.
(f) 
Class 6: protection would depend on the requirements of both industry and fire protection and could only be determined by a survey of the premises.