[Adopted 3-7-2011 by L.L. No. 4-2011]
A.
The purpose of these regulations is to safeguard potable water supplies
by preventing backflow into public water systems.
B.
Regulations of the State of New York, Part 5.1-31(a)(2), require
that when a supplier of water instructs the user of a public water
supply to protect his water service connection by the installation
of a protective device, plans for the installation of the protective
device must be submitted to the supplier of water and to the state
for approval.
C.
The regulations are to be reasonably interpreted. It is the intent
of these regulations 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.
As used in this article, 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 seats readily and completely. It must
be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured watertightness.
The face of the closure element and valve seat must be bronze composition
or other noncorrodible material which will seat tightly under all
prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushing shall be of bronze
or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material, machined for easy, dependable
operation. The closure element, e.g., clapper, shall be internally
weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote rapid and positive
closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable.
An assembly of at least two independently acting check valves,
including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check
valve assembly, and suitable leak detector drains plus connections
available for testing the water tightness of each check valve. This
device must be approved as a complete assembly.
A device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically
operating differential relief valve located between the two checks,
two shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for
testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the
zone between the two check valves less than the pressure on the public
water supply side of the device.
At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between check valves
shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either
check valve, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain
this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet
pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall
open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air gap in the device.
To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance
and testing and installed in a location where no part of the valve
will be submerged. The enclosure must be self-draining, so that the
large amount of water which the relief valve may vent will be disposed
of reliably without submergence of the relief valve.
This device must also be approved as a complete assembly.
Any water supply approved by the New York State Department
of Health.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than
the approved public water supply.
A loop of pipe rising approximately 35 feet, at its topmost
point, above the highest fixture it supplies.
A person who has a certificate issued by the State of New
York Department of Health for a backflow prevention device tester.
He or she shall be provided with an appropriate identification card
which must be renewed every three years. Failure to perform his or
her duties competently and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal
of his or her authority.
Any unprotected connection between any part of a water system
used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source
or system containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved
as equally safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption.
A vacuum breaker which is designed so as not to be subjected
to static line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
The consumer or a person on the premises charged with the
responsibility of complete knowledge and understanding of the water
supply piping within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's
water system free from cross-connection and other sanitary defects,
as required by regulations and laws.
A.
Where protection is required.
(1)
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. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, it is expressly prohibited and illegal to allow any
well water not under the control of the Village within the Village
of Suffern.
(2)
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 waters and waters originating from the public water supply
system which may have been subject to deterioration in sanitary or
chemical quality.
(3)
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
premises into the public system. Examples are hospitals and plating
factories using cyanide. This is not intended to apply to normal household
installations.
(4)
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.
B.
Type of protection. The protective device required shall depend on
the degree of hazard as tabulated below.
(1)
At the service connection to any premises where there is an auxiliary
water supply handled in a separate piping system with no known cross-connection,
the public water supply shall be protected by an approved double-check
valve assembly.
(2)
At the service connection on any premises on which there is an auxiliary
water supply where cross-connections are known to exist which cannot
be presently eliminated, the public water supply system shall be protected
by an air gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure-principle
backflow prevention device.
(3)
At the 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.
(4)
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.
(5)
At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous
to health, or 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 reasonably be met, the public water supply shall be protected
with an approved reduced-pressure-principle backflow prevention device,
providing the alternative is acceptable to the water purveyor.
(6)
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.
C.
Frequency of inspection of protective devices.
(1)
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 tester, and all test
results will be provided to the water purveyor within 72 hours after
the test is made.
(2)
Records of such tests, repairs, and overhaul shall also be kept and
made available to the water purveyor and the local Health Department
upon request.
A.
Separate drinking water systems. Whenever the Chief Operator of Water
Distribution or Director of Public Works determines that it is not
practical to protect drinking water systems on premises against entry
of water from a source or piping system or equipment that cannot be
approved as safe or potable for human use, an entirely separate drinking
water system shall be installed to supply water at points convenient
for consumers.
B.
Fire systems. Water systems for fighting fire, derived from a supply that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use, shall, wherever practicable, be kept wholly separate from drinking water pipelines and equipment. In cases where the domestic water system is used for both drinking and fire-fighting purposes, approved backflow prevention devices shall be installed to protect such individual drinking water lines as are not used for fire-fighting purposes. Any auxiliary fire-fighting water supply which is not approved for potable purposes but which is so connected that it may be introduced into potable water piping during an emergency shall be equipped with an approved automatic chlorination machine. It is hereby declared that it is the responsibility of the person or persons causing the introduction of said unapproved or unsafe water into the pipelines to see that a procedure is developed and carried out to notify and protect users of this piping system during the emergency and that special precautions are taken to disinfect thoroughly and flush out all pipelines which may become contaminated before they are again used to furnish drinking water. In the event the means of protection of water consumers is by disinfection of the auxiliary fire-fighting supply, the installation and its use shall be thoroughly reliable. The public water supply must be protected against backflow from such dual domestic fire systems, as detailed in Article II of this chapter.
C.
Process waters.
(1)
Potable water pipelines connected to equipment for industrial processes
or operations shall be protected by a suitable backflow prevention
device located beyond the last point from which drinking water may
be taken, which device shall be provided on the feed line to process
piping or equipment.
(2)
In the event the particular process liquid is especially corrosive
or apt to prevent reliable action of the backflow prevention device,
air gap separation shall be provided. These devices shall be tested
by the water user at least once a year or more often in those instances
where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. The devices
shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced whenever they are found
to be defective. These tests must be performed by a qualified backflow
prevention device tester, and records of tests, repairs, and replacement
shall be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the Health
Department upon request.
D.
Sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. Sewage pumps shall
not have priming connections directly off any drinking water systems.
No connections shall exist between the drinking water system and any
other piping, equipment, or tank in any sewage treatment plant or
sewage pumping station.
E.
Plumbing connections.
(1)
Where the circumstances are such that there is special danger to
health by the backflow of sewage, as from sewers, toilets, hospital
bedpans and the like, into a drinking water system, a dependable device
or devices shall be installed to prevent such backflow.
(2)
The purpose of these regulations is not to transcend local plumbing
regulations but only to deal with those extraordinary situations where
sewage may be forced or drawn into the drinking water piping. These
regulations do not attempt to eliminate at this time the hazards of
back siphonage through Flushometer™ valves on all toilets but
deal with those situations where the likelihood of vacuum conditions
in the drinking water system is definite and there is special danger
to health. Devices suited to the purpose of avoiding back siphonage
from plumbing fixtures are roof tanks, barometric loops or separate
pressure systems separately piped to supply such fixtures, recognized
approved vacuum or siphon breakers and other backflow protection devices
which have been proved by appropriate tests to be dependable for destroying
the vacuum.
(3)
Inasmuch as many serious hazards of this kind are due to water supply
piping which is too small, thereby causing vacuum conditions when
fixtures are flushed or water is drawn from the system in other ways,
it is recommended that water supply piping that is too small be enlarged
whenever possible.
F.
Marking safe and unsafe waterlines.
(1)
Where the premises contain dual or multiple water systems and piping,
the exposed portions of pipelines shall be painted, banded or marked
at sufficient intervals to distinguish clearly which water is safe
and which is not safe. All outlets from secondary or other potentially
contaminated systems shall be posted as being contaminated and unsafe
for drinking purposes. All outlets intended for drinking purposes
shall be plainly marked to indicate that fact.
(2)
Water supervisor. The local Health Department and the water purveyor
shall be kept informed of the identity of the person responsible for
the water piping on all premises concerned with these regulations.
At each premises where it is necessary in the opinion of the water
purveyor, a water supervisor shall be designated. This water supervisor
shall be responsible for the installation and use of pipelines and
equipment and for the avoidance of cross-connections.
(3)
In the event of contamination or pollution of the drinking water
system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the local health
officer and water purveyor shall be promptly advised by the person
responsible for the water system so that appropriate measures may
be taken to overcome the contamination.
A.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or
maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected
as required by state regulations and this article.
B.
Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the water
purveyor if a backflow prevention device required by this article
and regulations is not installed, tested, and maintained; if any defect
is found in an installed backflow prevention device; if it is found
that a backflow prevention device has been removed or bypassed; or
if unprotected cross-connections exist on the premises, and service
will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.
All applications must be accompanied by plans, specifications
and an engineer's or architect's report describing the project in
detail. The application must be signed by a New-York-State-registered
professional engineer or architect. The project must first be submitted
to the water supplier, who will forward it to the local public health
engineer. This form must be prepared in quadruplicate with four copies
of all plans, specifications and descriptive literature. Electronic
versions of this information may be submitted.
The following is an example list of facilities that are especially
likely to have cross-connection hazards. The list is not intended
to be all-inclusive.
A.
Automotive plants.
B.
Auxiliary water systems such as wells.
C.
Beverage-bottling plants.
D.
Breweries.
E.
Food-processing plants.
F.
Chemical plants and plating facilities.
G.
Film laboratories.
H.
Hospitals, medical buildings, sanitariums, morgues and mortuaries.
I.
Irrigation systems.
J.
Laundries and dye works.
K.
Meat-packing plants.
L.
Metal manufacturing, cleaning and fabricating plants.
M.
Radioactive material production or research plants.
N.
Restricted, classified or other facilities closed to the public.
O.
Sewage.
P.
Buildings heated by boilers where treatment chemicals are used.
Q.
Building with certain types of air-conditioning systems.
R.
Printing operations.
S.
Furniture stripping.
T.
Lawn care services.
U.
Fire hydrants not under the control of the public water supplier.
A.
Any person who shall violate any provisions of this chapter shall be punished as provided in § 261-23 of this chapter.
B.
Termination of service.
(1)
In addition, upon determination of the Superintendent of Public Works
that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the Superintendent
of Public Works shall notify in writing the owner of the affected
premises by first-class mail at the last known address of such person,
setting forth specifically that water service may be terminated if
the violation is not corrected. If the violation is not rectified
within the time provided in said notice, the Superintendent of Public
Works may cause a notification of termination of water service to
be served on the property owner and occupants in the same manner setting
forth the date of termination, at least 20 days hence.
(2)
The notice of termination shall state that the owner or occupant
of the affected premises shall be entitled to a due process fair hearing,
prior to the termination of service. The owner or occupant of the
premises which will be affected by the termination of service shall
notify the Village Clerk that they request a fair hearing prior to
the termination of service. Said notification of the Village Clerk
shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Village Clerk within
10 days of the receipt of the notice that the water services will
be terminated. The Board of Trustees shall hear said appeal or may
designate a hearing officer. Said hearing and decision must be finalized
prior to the termination of any water service by the Village Water
Department.