[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.01]
It is the purpose and intent of these regulations to protect
the potable water system from the possibility of contamination or
pollution by isolating within its customer's private water distribution
system or systems such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow
into the Township's water distribution system. It is also the
intent of this regulation to provide for the maintenance of a continuing
program of cross-connection control which will systematically and
effectively prevent contamination or pollution of the water distribution
system.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.02; as amended
by Ord. 2005-362, 12/15/2005]
When used in this part, the following words and phrases shall
have the meanings herein provided:
A cross-connection having all of the following characteristics:
The source of the supply, other than the lines of the Township
directly connected, is a source approved by the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental and the Environmental Protection Agency as an acceptable,
safe, and sanitary source of public water supply and which continues
as such at all times when the cross-connection is in existence.
Installed or continued in existence with the knowledge and specific
consent of the Township, and when installed on the premises of a customer
or installed by a customer, such consent to be evidenced by proper
written agreement or written approval executed by the proper officers
of the Township.
Installed or continued in existence in operation at all times
in compliance with all the applicable laws, ordinances, rules and
regulations.
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying potable
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 (2 x D) of the supply pipe measured vertically,
above the top of the rim of the vessel. In no case shall the air gap
be less than one inch.
Accepted by the Township as meeting an applicable specification
stated or sighted in the rules and regulations or as suited by the
proposed use. The term "Approved" used in reference to a backflow
prevention device shall mean a backflow prevention device that meets
the requirement of the American Water Works Associations Standard
C506-69 and the Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic
Research of the University of Southern California and is acceptable
to the Township. Competent testing laboratories other than the Foundation
for Cross Connection Control may be qualified by the Township to approve
backflow preventers.
A flow condition, induced by differential in pressure, that
causes the flow of water and mixtures of water and other liquids,
gases or other substances into the distribution pipes of a potable
water supply system from a source other than its intended source.
A device or other means which will prevent the backflow of
water or liquids into the public water supply system.
The Township's water distribution system.
Cross-connection control which isolates the customer's
entire facility from the public water supply 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.
An impairment of water quality to a degree which creates
an actual or potential health hazard such as but not limited to chemical
poisoning or spread of diseases, or impairs the composition and odor
of the water to such an extent that it is considered by said odor
or composition to be not acceptable by the Township for human consumption.
An arrangement allowing either a direct or indirect connection
through which backflow, including back siphonage, can occur between
the potable water in a pubic water system and a system containing
a source or potential source of contamination.
Shall be defined in this chapter under Part 1B.
Any water system, located on the customer's premises,
supplied by or any manner connected to a public water supply system.
A household plumbing system is considered to be a customer's
water system.
The evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse
effect upon the public water supply system.
An assembly composed of two single, independently acting,
check valves including tightly closing shut-off valves at each end
of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the water tightness
of each check valve.
An actual or potential threat of contamination or pollution
to the Township's water system to such a degree or intensity
that there would be a danger to the public health of the Township's
water system customers.
A plumbing arrangement, other than a cross-connection, by
which contamination might be admitted or drawn into the water distribution
system of the Township, or into the lines connected therewith used
for the conveyance of potable water. For the purposes of these rules
and regulations, when the term "cross-connection" is used for regulatory
purposes, it shall be meant to include interconnection in all instances.
Water which is not safe for human consumption or is of questionable
potability.
The presence of any foreign substance, (organic, inorganic,
or biological) in water which tends to degrade its qualities so as
to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the
water to a degree which does not create an actual public health hazard
but which does adversely or unreasonably affect such water for domestic
use.
An actual or potential impairment to the physical properties
potability of the community water system which constitutes a nuisance
or is esthetically objectionable or can cause physical damage to the
community water system but would not be dangerous or threatening to
public health.
Water which is acceptable for human consumption according
to recognized state and federal standards.
Shall be as defined in these rules and regulations under
Part 1B.
A system which provides water to the public for human consumption
which has at least 15 service connections or regularly serves an average
of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.
The term includes either a community or non-community water system
and includes any collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities
under control of the operator of the system and used in connection
with the system. The term includes collection or pretreatment storage
facilities not under such control which are used in connection with
the system. The term also includes a system which provides water for
bottling or bulk hauling for human consumption.
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 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 shut-off
valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be
fitted with properly located test cocks.
Shall be as defined in this chapter under Part 1B.
Shall be as defined in this chapter under Part 1B.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.03; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 38]
1.
To be determined by Township personnel at the time plans are submitted
to the Township for approval.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.04]
The Township shall exercise reasonable diligence to insure the
customer takes proper precaution in order to protect the community
water system from contamination or pollution due to backflow through
the water system connection. The Township or its designated agent
shall determine the degree of hazard to the community water system
and require, at the customer's expense, installation of an approved
backflow prevention device at the water service connection commensurate
with the degree of hazard. The Township or its designated agent also
shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such an approved
backflow prevention device at each service connection. The Township
or its agent shall require at the customer's expense annual or
more frequent testing, proper maintenance and repair, and adequate
records of each test and subsequent repair, including material or
replacement parts for each installed, approved backflow prevention
device. As a condition of service or continued service, the customer
must send to the Township the continued service, the customer must
send to the Township the written test results and/or repair information
on forms supplied by the Township. Failure, refusal, or inability
on the part of the customer to install, test, maintain, repair, or
keep records of safety devices, shall constitute a ground for the
Township to discontinue the water service of said customer. The testing
of backflow prevention devices shall be done only by individuals who
are deemed as qualified and approved prior to said testing by the
Township.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.05]
1.
No water service connection to any customer shall be installed or
maintained by the Township unless said connection is protected as
required by these rules and regulations. Service of water to any customer
shall be discontinued by the Township or its agents if any approved
backflow prevention device required by these rules and regulations
is:
A.
Improperly installed.
B.
Not installed.
C.
Not regularly tested and maintained.
D.
Removed, bypassed, or inaccessible to the Township's water system
personnel or agents for the purpose of inspection or testing. Also,
water service to any customer shall be discontinued by the Township
if adequate records of test results for approved backflow prevention
devices are not kept and forwarded in writing to the Township on forms
provided by the Township.
2.
Delivery of water shall be discontinued immediately and without notice
to the customer if a duly authorized regulatory agency determines
that the Township water distribution system is being, or is in immediate
damage of being, contaminated or polluted.
3.
Delivery of water shall not be discontinued in all other cases until
written notice thereof has been given to the customer pursuant to
Part 9 of this chapter.
4.
In the case of discontinuance of service for violation of the section
of the rules and regulations, said notice shall state the condition
of this section of the rules and regulations, said notice shall state
the conditions or defects which must be corrected and the date on
or after which delivery of water will be discontinued which shall
be not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days following the date
of the mailing of the notice. The Township or its agent may grant
to the customer an extension of an additional period not to exceed
30 days if in the Township's opinion the customer has exercised
due diligence but has been unable to comply with the notice within
the time period originally given.
5.
The customer's water system shall be open for inspection at
all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the Township
or its agents to determine the adequacy of backflow prevention device
records, whether cross-connections or violations of these rules and
regulations exists, the degree of hazard to the Township's water
distribution system or for the inspection and operational testing
of backflow prevention devices. Each customer, as a condition of the
continued delivery to said customer's premise of the community
water supply, shall be considered as having consented to entry upon
said customer's premises by Township personnel for the purposes
stated herein.
6.
An approved backflow prevention device shall be installed at the
expense of the customer on each service connection after the water
meter or immediately inside the building being served, but, in all
cases, before the first branch line leading off the service connection
lines wherever the following conditions exist:
A.
In the case of the customer having an auxiliary water supply which
is not approved by a duly authorized regulatory agency or acceptable
to the Township, the community water supply shall be protected by
installation of an approved backflow prevention device in the customer's
service line or lined.
B.
In the case of the customer having any industrial fluids or any other
objectionable substance being handled in such a manner as to create
an actual or potential hazard to the community water system the community
water supply shall be protected by installing an approved backflow
prevention device in the customer's service line or lines. This
shall include handling of water originated from the community water
supply system which has been subject to deterioration in quality.
C.
In case of the premises having:
(1)
Internal cross-connection which cannot be permanently corrected.
(2)
Controlled or intricate plumbing and piping arrangements.
(3)
Entry to all portions of the premises not readily accessible
for inspection purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to
ascertain whether or not cross-connections or the degree of hazard
they impose exist, the community water system shall be protected by
installing an approved backflow prevention device in the customer's
line or lines.
7.
It shall be the responsibility of the customer at any premises where
a backflow prevention device or devices are installed or are already
in place to have a thorough inspection of the operational test performed
at least once a year, or more often if previous inspections indicate
a need. Inspection and operational tests shall be performed immediately
following installation of or maintenance and repair to a backflow
prevention device. Each device shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced
at the expense of the customer whenever it is found to be necessary.
8.
All presently installed backflow prevention devices, which do not
meet the requirements of an "approved" device which can be shown to
have been adequately inspected, tested, and maintained, shall be acceptable
and approved as long as the Township is assured that these devices
can adequately protect the community water system. If, however, the
existing device is moved from its present location or requires more
than minimum maintenance, such device will constitute a health hazard
and must be replaced by an approved device.
9.
No customer shall alter, bypass or render ineffective or inoperable
any approved backflow prevention device covered by these rules and
regulations.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.06]
These rules and regulations shall apply to all premises served
by the community water supply system of the Township.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 13.07; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 39]
The type of protection required under the responsibility section
of these rules and regulations for domestic use shall depend on the
type of service as defined previously.
A.
All commercial/nonresidential
domestic services shall require a reduced-pressure zone device. Any
service other than fire, domestic, residential or multifamily (as
identified below) shall also require a reduced-pressure zone device.
B.
Domestic,
residential or multifamily domestic service shall require a double
check valve assembly unless otherwise approved by the Township.
