[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is:
1. To protect the public potable water supply from contamination or
pollution by containing within the consumer's internal distribution
system or private water system contaminants or pollutants which could
backflow through the service connection into the public potable water
supply system.
2. To promote the elimination, containment, isolation or control of
existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the public
or consumer's potable water system and non-potable water system, plumbing
fixtures and industrial-process systems.
3. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection
control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination
or pollution of all potable water systems.
B. Application. This Article shall apply to all premises served
by the public potable water system of the City of Hermann, Missouri.
C. Policy. This Article will be reasonably interpreted by the
Water Department, the officials and employees of which shall be bound
to recognize the varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle
that the degree of protection shall be commensurate with the degree
of hazard. The Water Department shall be primarily responsible for
protection of the public potable water distribution system from contamination
or pollution due to backflow of contaminants or pollutants through
the water service connection. The cooperation of all consumers is
required to implement and maintain the program to control cross-connections.
The Water Department and consumer are jointly responsible for preventing
contamination of the water system.
If, in the judgment of the Water Department or its authorized
representative, cross-connection protection is required through either
piping modification or installation of an approved backflow prevention
assembly, due notice shall be given to the consumer. The consumer
shall immediately comply by providing the required protection at the
consumer's own expense; and failure, refusal or inability on the part
of the consumer to provide such protection shall constitute grounds
for discontinuing water service to the premises until such protection
has been provided.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this Article:
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 overflow level
rim of the receptacle and shall be at least double the diameter of
the supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the
vessel, but in no case less than one (1) inch.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY
Any water source or system other than the public water supply
that may be available in the building or premises.
BACKFLOW
The flow, in other than the intended direction of flow, of
any foreign liquids, gases or substances into the distribution system
of a public water supply.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY
Any double-check valve or reduced pressure principle backflow
preventer having resilient-seated shut-off valves on both the upstream
and downstream end and the necessary test cocks as integral parts
of the assembly.
CONSUMER
The owner or person in control of any premises supplied by
or in any manner connected to a public water system.
CONTAINMENT
Protection of the public water supply by installing a backflow
prevention assembly or air-gap separation on the main service line
to a facility.
CONTAMINATION
An impairment of the quality of the water by sewage, process
fluids or other wastes to a degree which could create an actual hazard
to the public health through poisoning or through spread of disease
by exposure.
CROSS-CONNECTION
Any physical link between a potable water supply and any
other substance, fluid or source which makes possible contamination
of the potable water supply due to the reversal of flow of the water
in the piping or distribution system.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF
An evaluation of the potential risk to public health and
the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.
HAZARD, HEALTH
Any condition, device or practice in the water supply system
and its operation which could create or may create a danger to the
health and well-being of the water consumer.
HAZARD, PLUMBING
A plumbing type cross-connection in a consumer's potable
water system that has not been properly protected by a vacuum breaker,
air-gap separation or backflow prevention assembly.
HAZARD, POLLUTIONAL
An actual or potential threat to the physical properties
of the water system or to the potability of the public or consumer's
potable water system which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically
objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances,
but would not be dangerous to health.
HAZARD, SYSTEM
An 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 which would have a
protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
ISOLATION
Protection of a facility's internal plumbing system by installing
a backflow prevention assembly, air-gap separation or other backflow
prevention device on an individual fixture, appurtenance or system.
POLLUTION
The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic
or biological) in water which tends to degrade its quality so as to
constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water to a degree
which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which
does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
PUBLIC POTABLE WATER SYSTEM
Any publicly or privately owned water system supplying water
to the general public which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary
and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the Missouri Department
of Natural Resources and, in the context of this Article, specifically
means the public water supply provided to resident customers by the
combined Waterworks and Sewerage Department of said City.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The terminal end of a service line from the public water
system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then the
service connection means the downstream end of the meter.
WATER PURVEYOR
The owner, operator or individual in responsible charge of
a public water system.
WATER DEPARTMENT
With respect to the public water supply in the City of Hermann,
the combined waterworks and sewerage department of said City.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. No
water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises
where actual or potential cross-connections to the public potable
or consumer's water system may exist unless such actual or potential
cross-connections are abated or controlled to the satisfaction of
the Water Department and as required by the laws of the State of Missouri
and regulations of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
B. No
connection shall be installed or maintained whereby an auxiliary water
supply may enter a public potable or consumer's water system unless
such auxiliary water supply and the method of connection and use of
such supply shall have been approved by the Water Department and the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
C. No
water service connection shall be installed or maintained to any premises
in which the plumbing system, facilities and fixtures have not been
constructed and installed using acceptable plumbing practices considered
by the Water Department as necessary for the protection of health
and safety.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. Subject
to constitutional limitations, the consumer's premises shall be open
at all reasonable times to the Water Department or its authorized
representative for the conducting of surveys and investigations of
water use practices within the consumer's premises to determine whether
there are actual or potential cross-connections to the consumer's
water system through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow
into the public potable water system.
B. On
request by the Water Department or its authorized representative,
the consumer shall furnish information on water use practices within
the consumer's premises.
C. It
shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to conduct periodic
surveys of water use practices on the consumer's premises to determine
whether there are actual or potential cross-connections to the consumer's
water system through which contaminants or pollutants could backflow
into the consumer's or the public potable water system.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. The
type of protection required by this Article shall depend on the degree
of hazard which exists, according to the following standards:
1. An approved air-gap separation shall be installed where the public
potable water system may be contaminated with substances that could
cause a severe health hazard.
2. An approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle
backflow prevention assembly shall be installed where the public potable
water system may be contaminated with a substance that could cause
a system or health hazard.
3. An approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle
backflow prevention assembly or an approved double-check valve assembly
shall be installed where the public potable water system may be polluted
with substances that could cause a pollutional hazard not dangerous
to health.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. An
approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service
line to a consumer's water system serving premises where, in the judgment
of the Water Department or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
actual or potential hazards to the public potable water system exist.
The type and degree of protection required shall be commensurate with
the degree of hazard.
B. An
approved air-gap separation or reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly shall be installed at the service connection or
within any premises where, in the judgment of the Water Department
or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the nature and extent
of activities on the premises or the materials used in connection
with the activities or material stored on the premises would present
an immediate and dangerous hazard to health should a cross-connection
occur, even though such cross-connection may not exist at the time
the backflow prevention assembly is required to be installed. This
includes, but is not limited to, the following situations:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of
the auxiliary supply is acceptable to the Water Department and the
Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
2. Premises having internal cross-connections that are not correctable
or having intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical
to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.
3. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspection for cross-connections
cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short
notice to assure that cross-connections do not exist.
4. Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established
or re-established.
5. Premises which, due to the nature of the enterprise therein, are
subject to recurring modification or expansion.
6. Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to
permit entry into the public water supply or where a cross-connection
could reasonably be expected to occur; which shall include premises
on which the handling of process waters and cooling waters regularly
occurs.
7. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled
such that if backsiphonage or backpressure should occur, a serious
health hazard may result.
C. The types of facilities listed in
Appendix A fall into one (1) or more of the categories of premises where an approved air-gap separation or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly is required by the Water Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect the public water supply and must be installed at these facilities unless all hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions have been eliminated or corrected by other methods to the satisfaction of the Water Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
D. The type of facilities listed in
Appendix B are premises where an approved double check valve assembly is required by the water department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as the minimum level of protection for the public water supply and must be installed at these facilities unless all hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions have been eliminated or corrected by other methods to the satisfaction of the water department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
E. Customer facilities not listed in
Appendix A or B may be designated a backflow hazard by written notification from the Water Department. The notice shall specify the nature of the customer activity that necessitates designation of the facility as a backflow hazard, the type of backflow protection required and the date by which the customer shall install or construct the required assembly.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. Any backflow prevention assembly required to protect the facilities listed in
Appendix A shall be of a model or construction approved by the Water Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
1. Air-gap separation, to be approved, shall be at least twice the diameter
of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the receiving
vessel, but in no case less than one (1) inch.
2. A double-check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly shall be approved by the Water Department and
shall appear on the current list of approved backflow prevention assemblies
established by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
B. Existing
backflow prevention assemblies approved by the Water Department at
the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for
inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirements
of this Article so long as the Water Department is assured that they
will satisfactorily protect the water system. Whenever the existing
assembly is moved from its present location or requires more than
minimum maintenance or when the Water Department finds that the maintenance
constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by a backflow
prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this Article.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. Backflow
prevention assemblies required by this Article shall be installed
at a location and in a manner approved by the Water Department, using
good engineering judgment and reference to applicable codes or recognized
authoritative guides and shall be installed at the expense of the
water consumer.
B. Backflow
prevention assemblies installed on the service line to the consumer's
water system shall be located on the consumer's side of the water
meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical and prior
to any other connection.
C. Backflow
prevention assemblies shall be located so as to be readily accessible
for maintenance and testing and shall be protected from freezing.
No reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall be
located where it will be submerged or subject to flooding by any fluid.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. It
shall be the duty of the consumer at any premises on which backflow
prevention assemblies required by this Article are installed to have
inspections, tests and overhauls make in accordance with the following
schedule or more often where test results indicate a need. The Water
Department may establish the annual test date based on the nature
of the customer's water use requirements.
1. Air-gap separations shall be inspected at the time of installation
and at least every twelve (12) months thereafter.
2. Double-check valve assemblies shall be inspected and tested for proper
operation at the time of installation and at least every twelve (12)
months thereafter.
3. Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assemblies shall be
inspected and tested for proper operation at the time of installation
and at least every twelve (12) months thereafter.
B. Inspections,
tests and overhauls of backflow prevention assemblies shall be made
at the expense of the water consumer and shall be performed by a State
of Missouri-certified backflow prevention assembly tester.
C. Whenever
backflow prevention assemblies required by this Article are found
to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced without delay
at the expense of the consumer.
D. The
water consumer must maintain a complete record of each backflow prevention
assembly from purchase to retirement, which shall include a comprehensive
list that includes a record of all tests, inspections and repairs.
Records of inspection, tests, repairs and overhauls shall be made
available to the Water Department upon request.
E. Backflow
prevention assemblies shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed
or otherwise made ineffective.
[Ord. No. 1396 §1, 6-9-2003]
A. The
Water Department shall deny or discontinue, after reasonable notice
to the occupants thereof, the water service to any premises wherein
any backflow prevention assembly required by this Article is not installed,
tested and maintained in a manner acceptable to the Water Department
applying the standards established by this Article or if it is found
that the backflow prevention assembly has been removed or bypassed
or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises.
B. Water
service to such premises shall not be restored until the consumer
has corrected or eliminated such conditions or defects in conformity
with this Article to the satisfaction of the Water Department.
C. In
addition to the other remedies and sanctions provided in this Section,
any person who knowingly violates any provision of this Article shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.