[Adopted 6-1-2004 by L.L. No. 3-2004]
The purpose of this article is to safeguard the Village of North
Collins' potable water supply from potential contamination by
preventing backflow 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 the
degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
Further, it is the intent of the Village of North Collins to comply
with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code, Part 5,
§ 5-1.31, which section mandates that the supplier of water
protect its public water system in accordance with procedures acceptable
to the New York State 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, § 5-1.31 and the Cross-Connection Control
Manual are incorporated in this article by reference as if fully stated
herein.
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 seals readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free-moving parts and assured watertightness.
The face of the closure element and valve seal must be bronze, composition
or other noncorrodible material, which will seal tightly under all
prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings shall be of
bronze and other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, 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 for human consumption.
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 currently valid certificate by the New
York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
Any connection, unprotected against backflow, between any
part of a water system used or intended to be used as a supply of
water for drinking purposes and a source or system containing water
or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as equally safe,
wholesome and potable for human consumption.
A person(s), partnership, corporation or other entity that
owns or occupies property within the Village of North Collins which
is connected to the Village's public water supply system or has
made application for such connection.
A vacuum breaker which can only be used for internal plumbing
control and, therefore, not acceptable as a containment device.
The person on the user's premises charged with the responsibility
of complete knowledge and understanding of the water supply piping
within the user's premises and for maintaining the user's
water system free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects,
as required by this article and all other existing requirements, regulations
and laws.
A.
Where protection is required. All users of the Village of North Collins'
public water system shall prevent cross-connection between their potable
water piping system and any other piping system within the user's
premises and between the Village of North Collins' public water
supply system and the user's water system. The user's 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 the NYSDOH shall be used, as a guide, to determine where
protection is required. It shall be the responsibility of the water
user to provide, install and maintain such required protection devices,
and such devices shall be of a type acceptable to the New York State
Department of Health. Plans for the installation of protective devices
must be drawn and stamped by a New York State licensed architect or
engineer and submitted by the water user to the Village of North Collins
for review and to the Erie County Health Department for approval.
B.
Type of protection. The protective device required shall depend on
the degree of hazard as set forth below:
(1)
Where a residential user of the Village of North Collins' water
supply maintains an auxiliary water supply in addition to the public
water supply, the two systems must not be interconnected. Where the
two systems are found to be interconnected, the following options
will be deemed appropriate, upon compliance with existing New York
State policies and recommendations and with this article:
(a)
Disconnection of the auxiliary water supply from the public
water supply. An inspection to determine compliance will be made initially
and at least every three years thereafter and whenever the property
is sold. The inspection may be made by the Village of North Collins'
Code Enforcement Officer or his qualified designee.
(b)
Installation of an approved reduced pressure zone device on
the public water supply connection.
(c)
Proper abandonment of the auxiliary water supply.
(2)
At the public water supply 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 or an
approved reduced pressure zone device or an air gap separation.
(3)
At the public water supply 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 against backflow by an air gap separation or an
approved reduced pressure zone 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 an approved reduced pressure zone device is installed,
it shall be located as close as possible to the user's side of
the water meter.
(4)
At the public water supply 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 against backflow with an approved reduced pressure
zone device, and it shall be located as close as possible to the property
line.
(5)
At the public water supply 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 practical 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 against backflow by an approved reduced pressure zone
device, and it shall be located as close as possible to the user's
side of the water meter.
C.
Frequency of inspection of protective devices. It shall be the duty
of the water user on any premises where backflow protective devices
are installed to have competent inspections made on a regularly scheduled
basis, at least once a year or more often as directed by the Village
of North Collins in instances where successive inspections indicate
repeated failure. Devices shall be immediately 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 New York State
certified backflow prevention device tester, and all test results
shall be provided by the tester to the Village of North Collins within
72 hours after the test is made. Records and reports of such tests,
repairs and overhaul shall be currently maintained by the user, and
copies of the same shall be promptly sent to the Village of North
Collins and, upon request, made available to the Erie County Health
Department.
A.
No public water service connection to any premises shall be installed
or maintained by the water user, unless the public water supply is
protected by the water user as required by this article and all other
applicable local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
B.
If any public water supply user denies an authorized Village of North
Collins agent or employee access to its premises for the purposes
of determining whether protection of the public water supply system
is necessary, then the maximum protection condition shall be imposed
with the requirement that the number of devices shall equal the number
of water service lines. Denial of such access shall also be deemed
prima facie evidence that the appropriate backflow prevention device
is not installed in that user's water system.
C.
In the event that a New York State certified backflow prevention
device tester's report states that a user's required backflow
prevention device is not installed or that it is in need of replacement
or repair and the Board of Trustees of the Village of North Collins
determines that water service to that user must be terminated to protect
the public health from a grave and immediate danger, such water service
shall be terminated by the Village of North Collins until an approved
and properly functioning backflow prevention device has been installed
by the user and verified by such state-certified tester.
D.
The following penalties shall be applicable for a violation of this
article:
(1)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow prevention device and
allow the Village of North Collins to verify such installation by
on-site inspection and testing within 10 days after first notice given,
in writing, personally or by certified mail, to the user or user's
water supervisor: $250.
(2)
Failure to install the appropriate backflow prevention device and
allow the Village of North Collins to verify such installation by
an on-site inspection and testing within 10 days after second notice
given as aforesaid: termination of water service.
(3)
Failure to at least annually test the backflow prevention device
as required and provide test results to the Village of North Collins:
$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.
