[Adopted 12-27-1983 by L.L. No. 1-1984 (Ch. 294, Art. I, of
the 1985 Code)]
This Legislature hereby finds that the use of public fire hydrants
by unauthorized persons poses a threat to the health and safety of
the people of Suffolk County. Accordingly, appropriate regulations
are necessary to facilitate the reporting of fire hydrant misuse and
to prevent contamination and theft of the public water supply.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A discharge pipe with a valve and spout at which water may
be drawn from a water main.
Any public or private water supplier or any legally constituted
water district or authority.
Any person or firm who or which uses, as a water supply, public
fire hydrants owned by a water purveyor shall place the user-company's
name on any vehicle involved in hydrant use. The company name, place
of business and telephone number shall be clearly and permanently
displayed on both sides of vehicles which utilize public fire hydrants
for any use other than fire fighting. Such designation shall be visible
so as to be read by unaided, normal vision from a distance of not
less than 20 feet.
Written approval from the proper water purveyor shall be obtained
annually, or at the discretion of the purveyor, for the use of any
fire hydrant for any purpose other than fire fighting. A copy of such
approval or permit shall be kept in the user's vehicle and shall
be made available upon reasonable request from any police officer,
employee of the water purveyor or the Suffolk County Health Services
Department, officer of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation or officer of the town, village or local fire district
within which the hydrant is located. A permit is required for each
vehicle to be connected to a hydrant. Users of public water fire hydrants
shall comply with all fees and regulations of the applicable water
purveyor. This section shall be in addition to any provisions of the
New York State Environmental Conservation Law and other applicable
statutes.
Each vehicle which utilizes public water fire hydrants for purposes
other than fire fighting shall be equipped with a properly functioning
backflow-prevention system described as follows:
A.
The hydrant connection shall be with a water-purveyor-approved adaptor
and reducer fitting with a 1 1/2-inch gate valve, followed by
a double-check valve or other backflow-prevention device to which
the water hose will be connected.
B.
In all connections, hydrants shall be opened to full capacity.
C.
Hydrant openings and closings shall be accomplished only by the use
of a proper hydrant wrench on the operating nut, with flow started
and controlled by the 1 1/2-inch valve.
D.
No hydrant shall be used to fill tanks on vehicles which contain
chemicals (such as tree spray or lawn fertilizer), unless a reduced
pressure backflow preventor or permanently attached piping with an
air-gap minimum of twice the diameter of the pipe between the fill
pipe and the tanks is used.
E.
Each backflow-prevention system shall be inspected and/or tested
at least annually by an authorized agent or certified tester of the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a condition
precedent to the issuance of any permit by a public water purveyor.
F.
Backflow-prevention apparatus shall be visible on the exterior of
each vehicle upon unassisted observation.
Any damage or evidence thereof arising out of hydrant use authorized
by permit or out of previous, unreported, unauthorized use shall be
reported to the applicable water purveyor and the pertinent Fire District
Commissioner immediately upon occurrence or discovery.
Noncompliance or nonconformance with any provision hereof shall
constitute a violation, punishable on conviction for a first offense
by suspension or loss of license and/or a fine not exceeding $1,000;
and a second or subsequent offense by a fine not exceeding $2,000
and/or possible permanent loss of license. Administration and enforcement
of this article will be the responsibility of one or more of the following:
the local water and fire district, local Code Enforcement Officers,
the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, village, town and/or
County police departments, and/or the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation.
