[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Stillwater
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-16-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2011]
A.
It is the purpose of this article to protect the public potable water
supply of the Town of Stillwater from the possibility of contamination
or pollution by isolating within the customer's internal distribution
system(s) or the customer's private water system(s) such contaminants
that could backflow into the Town's water system; to promote
the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or
potential, between the customer's in-plant potable water system(s)
and nonpotable water systems, plumbing fixtures, and industrial piping
systems; and to provide for the maintenance of a continuing program
of cross-connection control that will systematically and effectively
prevent the contamination or pollution of all potable water systems.
B.
Further, it is the intent of the Town of Stillwater to comply with
the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5, Section
5-1.31,[1] which said section mandates the requirement of the supplier
of water to protect their water system in accordance with the procedures
acceptable to the Commissioner of Health. These mandated requirements
are as set forth in the Cross Connection Control Manual published
by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), 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 Connection Control
Manual are incorporated into this article by reference as if more
fully stated.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 10 NYCRR 5-1.31.
The Town of Stillwater Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner
shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water
distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow
of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection.
If, in the judgment of the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner,
an approved backflow-prevention assembly is required (at the customer's
water service connection or within the customer's private water
system) for the safety of the water system, the Highway Superintendent/Water
Commissioner shall give notice in writing to said customer to install
such an approved backflow-prevention assembly(ies) at specific location(s)
on his/her premises. The customer shall immediately install such approved
assembly(ies) at his/her own expense, and failure, refusal, or inability
on the part of the customer to install, have tested, and maintain
said assembly(ies) shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water
service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily
met.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Accepted by the Town of Stillwater as meeting an applicable
specification stated or cited in this article as suitable for the
proposed use.
Any water supply on or available to the Town of Stillwater
other than the purveyor's approved public water supply. These
auxiliary waters may include waters from another purveyor's public
potable water supply or any natural source(s), such as a well, spring,
river, stream, harbor and so forth; used waters; or industrial fluids.
These waters may be contaminated or polluted, or they may be objectionable
and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor
does not have sanitary control.
The undesirable reversal of flow in a potable water distribution
system as a result of cross-connection.
An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
AIR GAPThe unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water or waste to a tank, plumbing fixture, receptor, or other assembly and the flood-level rim of the receptacle. These vertical, physical separations must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, never less than one inch (25 mm).
DOUBLE-CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLYThe approved double-check valve assembly consists of two internally loaded check valves, either spring loaded or internally weighted, installed as a unit between two tight-closing resilient-seated shutoff valves and fittings with properly located resilient-seated test clocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a nonhealth hazard (that is, a pollutant).
REDUCED-PRESSURE BACKFLOW-PREVENTION ASSEMBLYThe approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly consists of two independently acting approved check valves, together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and below the first check valve. These units are located between two tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves as an assembly and equipped with properly located resilient-seated test clocks.
A pressure, higher than the supply pressure, caused by a
pump, elevated tank, boiler, or any other means that cause backflow.
Backflow caused by negative or reduced pressure in the supply
piping.
An impairment of a potable water supply by the introduction
or admission of any foreign substance that degrades the quality and
creates a health hazard.
A connection or potential connection between any part of
a potable water system and any other environment containing other
substances in a manner that, under any circumstances, would allow
such substances to enter the potable water system. Other substances
may be gases, liquid or solids, such as chemicals, waste products,
steam, water from other sources (potable or nonpotable), or any matter
that may change the color or add odor to the water.
The installation of an approved backflow-prevention assembly
at the water service connection to any customer's premises, where
it is physically and economically unfeasible to find and permanently
eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within
the customer's water system; or the installation of an approved
backflow-prevention assembly on the service line leading to and supplying
a portion of a customer's water system where there are actual
or potential cross-connections that cannot be effectively eliminated
or controlled at the point of the cross-connection.
A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable
water system with an approved backflow-prevention assembly properly
installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection
commensurate with the degree of hazard.
The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk
to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable
water system.
HAZARD, HEALTHA cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that could, if introduced into the potable water supply, cause death or illness, spread disease, or have a high probability of causing such effects.
HAZARD, NONHEALTHA cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable if introduced into the potable water supply.
HAZARD, PLUMBINGA plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air gap or an approved backflow-prevention assembly.
HAZARD, SYSTEMAn actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination that would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
Any system containing a fluid or solution that may be chemically,
biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration
such as would constitute a health, system, pollution, or plumbing
hazard if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include,
but not be limited to, polluted or contaminated waters; all types
of process waters and used waters originating from the public potable
water system that may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals
in fluid form; plating acids and alkalies; circulating cooling waters
connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling towers that are
chemically and biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances;
contaminated natural waters, such as wells, springs, streams, rivers,
bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems and so forth; oils,
gasses, glycerin, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions; and other
liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes or
for fire-fighting purposes.
The presence of any foreign substance in water that tends
to degrade its quality so as to constitute a nonhealth hazard or impair
the usefulness of the water.
The terminal end of a service connection from the public
potable water system; that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water and its point of delivery to the
customer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of
the service connection, then the "service connection" shall mean the
downstream end of the meter. There should be no unprotected takeoffs
from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow-prevention assembly
located at the point of delivery to the customer's water system.
"Service connection" shall also include water service connections
from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service
connections from the public potable water system.
Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of
questionable quality.
Water that is safe for human consumption as described by
the public health authority having jurisdiction.
Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public potable
water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed
through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary
control of the water purveyor.
A.
Water system.
(2)
The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the
distribution system and shall include all those facilities of the
water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the
point where the customer's system begins.
(3)
The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized
in the production, treatment, storage, and delivery of water to the
distribution system.
(4)
The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used
for the delivery of water from the source to the customer's system.
(5)
The customer's system shall include those parts of the facilities
beyond the termination of the utility distribution system that are
utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of
use.
B.
Policy.
(1)
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 laws and regulations and this article. New York
State cross-connection control laws and regulations can be found on
the Cross-Connection Control Program page on the New York State Department
of Health website; www.health.state.ny.us. An application for approval
of backflow-prevention devices (DOH-347) must be submitted to the
New York State Department of Health; an application form can be obtained
from the Department of Health website or by contacting the Department
of Health at the following address: New York State Department of Health,
Bureau of Public Water Supply Protection, 547 River Street, Flanigan
Square, Room 400, Troy, NY 12180-2216, or call 1-800-458-1158, ext.
27650. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the
water purveyor if a backflow-prevention assembly required by this
article is not installed, tested, and maintained, or if it is found
that a backflow-prevention assembly has been removed, bypassed, or
if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises. Service
will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.
(2)
The customer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable
times to authorized representatives of the Town of Stillwater to determine
whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards,
including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition
becomes known, the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner shall
deny or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing
for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected
the condition(s) in conformance with state and city statutes relating
to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant
thereto.
(3)
An approved backflow-prevention assembly shall be installed on each
service line to a customer's water system at or near the property
line or immediately inside the building being served, but, in all
cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever
the following conditions exist:
(a)
In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply that
is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and
that is not acceptable as an additional source by the Highway Superintendent/Water
Commissioner, the public water system shall be protected against backflow
from the premises by installing an approved backflow-prevention assembly
in the service line, appropriate to the degree of hazard.
(b)
In the case of premises in which any industrial fluids or any
other objectionable substances are handled in such a fashion as to
create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the
public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises
by installing an approved backflow-prevention assembly in the service
line, appropriate to the degree of hazard. This shall include the
handling of process waters and waters originating from the utility
system that have been subject to deterioration in quality.
(c)
In the case of premises having internal cross-connections that
cannot be permanently corrected and controlled or intricate plumbing
and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises
is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable
or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections
exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow
from the premises by installing an approved backflow-prevention assembly
in the service line.
(4)
The type of protective assembly required under Subsection B(3)(a), (b) and (c) shall depend upon the degree of hazard that exists as follows:
(a)
In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in Subsection B(3)(a) and it is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly.
(b)
In the case of any premises where there is water or substances
that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health if introduced
into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected
by a double-check valve assembly.
(c)
In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous
to health that is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual
or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system
shall be protected by an approved air gap separation or an approved
reduced-pressure-principle backflow-prevention assembly. Examples
of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment
plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals,
mortuaries, and plating plants.
(d)
In the case of any premises where there are uncontrolled cross-connections,
either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected
by an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow-prevention assembly at the service connection.
(e)
In the case of any premises where, because of security requirements
or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical
to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water
system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either
an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow-prevention assembly on each service to the premises.
(f)
In the case of any premises where, in the opinion of the Highway
Superintendent/Water Commissioner, an undue health threat is posed
because of the presence of extremely toxic substances, the Highway
Superintendent/Water Commissioner may require an air gap at the service
connection to protect the public water system. This requirement will
be at the discretion of the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner
and is dependent on the degree of hazard.
(5)
Approved backflow-prevention assemblies.
(a)
Any backflow-prevention assembly required herein shall be a model
and size approved by the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner.
The term "approved backflow-prevention assembly" shall mean an assembly
that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards
established by the American Water Works Association titled "ANSI/AWWA
C510-89, Standard for Double Check Valve and Backflow-Prevention Assembly,"
and "AWWA C511-89, Standard for Reduced-Pressure Principle Backflow
Prevention Assembly," and has met completely the laboratory and field
performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection
Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCCHR) of the University of Southern
California established by "Specification of Backflow-Prevention Assemblies,"
Section 10, of the most current issue of the Manual of Cross Connection
Control.
(b)
Said AWWA and FCCCHR standards and specifications have been adopted
by the Executive Director. Final approval shall be evidenced by a
certificate of approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying
full compliance with said AWWA standards and FCCCHR specifications.
(c)
The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the Highway
Superintendent/Water Commissioner to test and certify backflow preventers:
Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University
of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
(d)
Testing laboratories, other than the laboratory listed above, will
be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the Highway
Superintendent/Water Commissioner.
(e)
Backflow preventers that may be subjected to backpressure or backsiphonage
that have been fully tested and have been granted a certificate of
approval by said qualified laboratory and are listed on the laboratory's
current list of approved backflow-prevention assemblies may be used
without further testing or qualification.
(6)
It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where backflow-prevention
assemblies are installed to have certified inspections and operational
tests made at least once per year. In those instances where the Highway
Superintendent/Water Commissioner deems the hazard to be great enough,
certified inspections may be required at more frequent intervals.
These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user
and shall be performed by a tester certified by the New York State
Department of Health in accordance with Section 5-1.31 of the New
York State Sanitary Code.[1] It shall be the duty of the Highway Superintendent/Water
Commissioner to see that these tests are made in a timely manner.
The customer-user shall notify the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner
in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that the customer-user
may witness the tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired,
overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the customer-user whenever
said assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests,
repairs, and overhaul shall be kept and submitted to the Highway Superintendent/Water
Commissioner.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 10 NYCRR 5-1.31.
(7)
All presently installed backflow-prevention assemblies that do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved assemblies for the purpose described herein at the time of installation and that have been properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under Subsection B(6), be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing assembly is moved from the present location, requires more than minimum maintenance, or when the Highway Superintendent/Water Commissioner finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow-prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this section.
A.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or
maintained by the water user unless the water supply is protected
as required by this article and such other applicable local, state
and federal laws, rules and regulations.
B.
If any facility served by a water system denies a Water Department
representative access to their premises for the purposes of determining
if protection to the public water is necessary, then the maximum protection
condition shall be imposed with the requirement that the number of
devices shall equal the number of service lines.
C.
The following penalties shall be applicable for a violation of this
article:
(1)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow-prevention device within
a prescribed time frame after first notice: $250.
(2)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow-prevention device within
a prescribed time frame after the second notice: termination of water
service.
(3)
Failure to at least annually test the backflow-prevention device:
$300 and/or termination of water service.
(4)
Failure to replace or repair a backflow-prevention device as required:
$1,000 and/or termination of water service.
