A.
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected
against backflow of water from the premises into the public water
system, unless the auxiliary water supply is approved as an additional
source by the water purveyor and is satisfactory to the public health
agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality and safety.
B.
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises on which any substance is handled under pressure
in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system shall be
protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the
public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and
waters originating from the public water supply system which may have
been subject to deterioration in sanitary or chemical quality.
C.
Each service connection from a public water system for supplying
water to premises on which a substance of unusually toxic concentration
or danger to health is handled in liquid form, even though it is not
under pressure, shall be protected against backflow of the water from
the premises into the public system, e.g., plating factories, premises
using cyanide and hospitals. This is not intended to apply to normal
household installations.
D.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection
to any premises that have internal cross-connections, unless such
cross-connections are abated to the satisfaction of the water purveyor.
It shall be the responsibility of the water user to provide and maintain
these protective devices, and each one must be of a type acceptable
to the State Health Department.
The protective device required shall depend on the degree of
hazard as tabulated below:
A.
At the service connection to any premises where there is an auxiliary
water supply handled in a separate piping system with no cross-connection,
the public water supply shall be protected by an approved double check-valve
assembly.
B.
At the service connection on any premises on which there is an auxiliary
water supply where cross-connections are known to exist or where it
is unknown if cross-connections exist, the public water supply system
shall be protected by an air-gap separation or an approved reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention device.
C.
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.
D.
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 water meter, and all piping between the water
meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible.
E.
At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous
to health or any 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 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
with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device,
provided that the alternative is acceptable to the water purveyor.
F.
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 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 with an approved reduced
pressure principle backflow prevention device.
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 or more often in those instances
where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. 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. Records of such tests, repairs and overhauls
shall also be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the
local Health Department upon request.
