A.
Responsibility of the Senior Water Operator. The Senior Water Operator,
or his or her designated agent, shall inspect the plumbing in every
building or premises in this district as frequently as in his or her
judgment may be necessary to ensure that such plumbing has been installed
in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of pollution of the
water supply of the district by the plumbing. The Senior Water Operator
shall notify or cause to be notified, in writing, the owner or authorized
agent of the owner of any such building or premises, to correct, within
a reasonable time set by the Senior Water Operator, any plumbing installed
or existing contrary to or in violation of this article, and which
in his or her judgment, may, therefore, permit the pollution of the
district water supply, or otherwise adversely affect the public health.
B.
Inspection. The Senior Water Operator, or his or her designated agent,
shall have the right of entry into any building, during reasonable
hours, for the purpose of making inspection of the plumbing systems
installed in such building or premises, provided that with respect
to the inspection of any single-family dwelling, consent to such inspection
shall first be obtained from a person of suitable age and discretion
therein or in control thereof.
As used in this article, the following definitions shall apply:
The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet, supplying water
to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood-level rim
of the receptacle.
Accepted by the agency as meeting an applicable specification
stated or cited in this article, or as suitable for the proposed use.
Any water source or system other than the potable water supply
that may be available in the building or premises.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances
into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any
source or sources other than its intended source. Backsiphonage is
one type of backflow.
A device or means to prevent backflow.
Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the distributing
pipes of a potable water source.
A loop of pipe rising at least 35 feet, at its topmost point,
above the highest fixture it supplies.
A self-closing device which is designed to permit the flow
of fluids in one direction and to close if there is a reversal of
flow.
See "pollution."
Any physical connection between a potable water supply and
any waste pipe, soil pipe, sewer, drain, or any unapproved source
or system. Furthermore, it is any potable water supply outlet which
is submerged or can be submerged in wastewater and/or any other source
of contamination. (See "backflow" and "backsiphonage.")
Any pipe that carries wastewater or waterborne wastes in
a building drainage system.
Installed receptacles, devices, or appliances supplied with
water or that receive or discharge liquids or liquid-borne wastes.
The edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.
Any conditions, devices, or practices in the water supply
system and its operation which create, or, in the judgment of the
Director, may create, a danger to the health and well-being of the
water consumer. An example of a health hazard is a structural defect
in the water supply system, whether of location, design or construction,
that regularly or occasionally may prevent satisfactory purification
of the water supply or cause it to be polluted from extraneous sources.
Any arrangement of plumbing, including piping and fixtures,
whereby a cross-connection is created.
A pressure vessel in which air pressure acts upon the surface
of the water contained within the vessel, pressurizing the water distribution
piping connected to the vessel.
The open end of the water supply pipe through which the water
is discharged into the plumbing fixture.
Includes the water supply and distribution pipes, plumbing
fixtures, and traps; soil, waste and vent pipes; building drains and
building sewers, including their respective connections, devices,
and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises; and water-treating
or water-using equipment.
The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic,
radiological, or biological) in water that tends to degrade its quality
so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
An assembly of differential valves and check valves, including
an automatically opened spillage port to the atmosphere designed to
prevent backflow.
The receiving, nonpressure vessel forming part of the airgap
separation between a potable and an auxiliary supply.
Any pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere.
A vacuum breaker designed so as not to be subjected to static
line pressure.
A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of
static line pressure.
Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of
questionable potability.
Water free from impurities in amounts sufficient to cause
disease or harmful physiological effects. Its bacteriological and
chemical quality shall conform to the requirements of the Public Health
Service Drinking Water Standards or to the regulations of the public
health authority having jurisdiction.
A potable water supply system shall be designed, installed,
and maintained in such manner as to prevent contamination from nonpotable
liquids, solids, or gases from being introduced into the potable water
supply through cross-connections or any other piping connections to
the system.
Cross-connections between potable water systems and other systems
or equipment containing water or other substances of unknown or questionable
safety are prohibited except when and where, as approved by the authority
having jurisdiction, suitable protective devices, such as the reduced
pressure zone backflow preventer or equal, are installed, tested,
and maintained to insure proper operation on a continuing basis.
Interconnection between two or more public water supplies shall
be permitted only with the approval of the health authority having
jurisdiction.
Cross-connections between an individual water supply and a potable
public supply shall not be made unless specifically approved by the
health authority having jurisdiction.
Potable water connections to boilers shall be made through an
airgap or provided with an approved backflow preventer.
Connection to the potable water supply system for the following is prohibited unless protected against backflow in accordance with § 296-33 or as set out herein:
A.
Bidets.
B.
Operating, dissection, embalming, and mortuary tables or similar
equipment, in such installation the hose used for water supply shall
terminate at least 12 inches away from every point of the table or
attachments.
C.
Pumps for nonpotable water, chemicals, or other substances, priming
connections may be made only through an airgap.
D.
Building drainage, sewer, or vent systems.
E.
Any other fixture of similar hazard.
Except where potable water is provided for a refrigerator condenser
or cooling jacket is entirely outside the piping or tank containing
a toxic refrigerant, the inlet connection shall be provided with an
approved check valve. Also adjacent to and at the outlet side of the
check valve, an approved pressure relief value set to relieve at five
psi above the maximum water pressure at the point of installation
shall be provided if the refrigeration units contain more than 20
pounds of refrigerants.
A.
Water outlets. A potable water system shall be protected against
backflow and backsiphonage by providing and maintaining at each outlet:
B.
Minimum required airgap.
(1)
How measured. The minimum required airgap shall be measured vertically
from the lowest end of a potable water outlet to the flood rim or
line of the fixture or receptacle into which it discharges.
(2)
Size. The minimum required airgap shall be twice the effective opening
of a potable water outlet unless the outlet is a distance less than
three times the effective opening away from a wall or similar vertical
surface, in which cases the minimum required airgap shall be three
times the effective opening of the outlet. In no case shall the minimum
required airgap be less than shown in Table I.
|
Table I
Minimum Airgaps for Generally Used Plumbing Fixtures
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Airgap
| |||
|
Fixture
|
When Not Affected by Near Wall1
(inches)
|
When Not Affected by Near Wall2
(inches)
| |
|
Lavatories and other fixtures with effective openings not greater
than 1/2 inch diameter
|
1.0
|
1.50
| |
|
Sink, laundry trays, goose-neck bath faucets and other fixtures
with effective openings not greater than 3/4 inch diameter
|
1.5
|
2.25
| |
|
Over rim bath fillers and other fixtures with effective openings
not greater than 1 inch diameter
|
2.0
|
3.0
| |
|
Drinking water fountains - single orifice 7/16 (0.437) inch
diameter or multiple orifices having total area of 0.150 square inch
(area of circle 7/16 inch diameter)
|
1.0
|
1.50
| |
|
Effective openings greater than 1 inch
|
3
|
4
| |
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Side walls, ribs, or similar obstructions do not affect airgaps
when spaced from inside edge of spout opening a distance greater than
three times the diameter of the effective opening for a single wall,
or a distance greater than four times the diameter of the effective
opening for two intersecting walls.
| |
|
2
|
Vertical walls, ribs, or similar obstructions extending from
the water surface to or above the horizontal plane of the spout opening
require a greater airgap when spaced closer to the nearest inside
edge of spout opening than specified in Note 1 above. The effect of
three or more such vertical walls or ribs has not been determined,
in such cases, the airgap shall be measured from the top of the wall.
| |
|
3
|
Two times diameter of effective openings.
| |
|
4
|
Three times diameter of effective openings.
| |
C.
Approval of devices.
(1)
Before any device for the prevention of backflow or backsiphonage
is installed, it shall have first been certified by a recognized testing
laboratory acceptable to the Senior Water Operator. Devices installed
in a building potable water supply distribution system for protection
against backflow shall be maintained in good working condition by
the person or persons responsible for the maintenance of the system.
(2)
The Senior Water Operator or his or her designee shall inspect routinely
such devices and if found to be defective or inoperative shall require
the replacement thereof.
D.
Installation of devices.
(1)
Vacuum breakers. Vacuum breakers shall be installed with the critical
level at least six inches above the flood level rim of the fixture
they serve and on the discharge side of the last control valve to
the fixture. No shutoff valve or faucet shall be installed beyond
the vacuum breaker. For closed equipment or vessel, such as pressure
sterilizers, the top of the vessel shall be treated as the flood level
rim but a check valve shall be installed on the discharge side of
the vacuum breaker.
(2)
Reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. A reduced pressure
principle type backflow preventer may be installed subject to full
static pressure.
(3)
Devices of all types. Backflow and backsiphonage preventing devices
shall be accessibly located preferably in the same room with the fixture
they serve. Installation in utility or service spaces, provided they
are readily accessible, is also permitted.
E.
Tanks, vats, below rim supply.
(1)
Where a potable water outlet terminates below the rim of a tank or
vat and the tank or vat has an overflow of diameter not less than
given in Table II, the overflow pipe shall be provided with an airgap
as close to the tank as possible
|
Table II
Sizes of Overflow Pipes for Water Supply Tanks
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Capacity of Water Supply Line to Tank
(gpm)
|
Diameter of Overflow Pipe
(inches ID)
| |
|
0 to 50
|
2
| |
|
50 to 150
|
2 1/2
| |
|
100 to 200
|
3
| |
|
200 to 400
|
4
| |
|
400 to 700
|
5
| |
|
700 to 1,000
|
6
| |
|
Over 1,000
|
8
| |
(2)
The potable water outlet to the tank or vat shall terminate a distance
not less than 1 1/2 times the height to which water can rise
in the tank above the top of the overflow. This level shall be established
at the maximum flow rate of the supply to the tank or vat and with
all outlets except the airgap overflow outlet closed.
(3)
The distance from the outlet to the high water level shall be measured
from the critical point of the potable water supply outlet.
F.
Protective devices required. Approved devices to protect against
backflow and backsiphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and
equipment where backflow and/or backsiphonage may occur and where
a minimum airgap cannot be provided between the water outlet to the
fixture or equipment and its flood level rim.
(1)
Connections not subject to backpressure. Where a water connection
is not subject to backpressure, a vacuum breaker shall be installed
on the discharge side of the last valve on the line serving the fixture
or equipment. A list of some conditions requiring protective devices
of this kind is given in Table III, "Cross-connections Where Protective
Devices are Required and Critical Level (C-L) Settings for Vacuum
Breakers."
|
Table III
Cross-Connections Where Protective Devices are Required
and Critical Level (C-L) Settings for Vacuum Breakers1
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Fixture or Equipment
|
Method of Installation
| |
|
Aspirators and ejectors
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of receptacle served
| |
|
Dental units
|
On models without built-in vacuum breakers: C-L at least 6 inches
above flood rim of bowl
| |
|
Dishwashing machines
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of machine; install
on both hot and cold water supply line
| |
|
Flushometers (closet & urinal)
|
C-L at least 6 inches above top of fixture supplies
| |
|
Garbage can cleaning machine
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of machine; install
on both hot and cold water supply lines
| |
|
Hose outlets
|
C-L at least 6 inches above highest point on hose line
| |
|
Laundry machines
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of machine; install
on both hot and cold water supply lines
| |
|
Lawn sprinklers
|
C-L at least 12 inches above highest sprinkler or discharge
outlet
| |
|
Steam tables
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level
| |
|
Tank and vats
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level rim or line.
| |
|
Trough urinals
|
C-L at least 30 inches above perforated flush pipe.
| |
|
Flush tanks
|
Equip with approved ball cock; where ball cocks touch tank water,
equip with vacuum breaker at least 1 inch above overflow outlets;
where ball cock does not touch tank water, install ball cock outlet
at least 1 inch above overflow outlet or provide vacuum breaker as
specified above
| |
|
Hose bibbs (where aspirators or ejectors could be connected)
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of receptacle served
| |
|
NOTES:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
"Critical level (C-L)" is defined as the level to which the
vacuum breaker may be submerged before backflow will occur. Where
the C-L is not shown on the preventer, the bottom of the device shall
be taken as the C-L.
| |
(2)
Connections subject to backpressure. Where a potable water connection
is made to a line, fixture, tank, vat, pump, or other equipment with
a hazard of backflow or backsiphonage where the water connection is
subject to backpressure, and an airgap cannot he installed, the Senior
Water Operator may require the use of an approved reduced pressure
principle backflow preventer. A partial list of such connections is
shown in Table IV.
|
Table IV
Partial List of Cross-Connections Which
May Be Subject to Backpressure
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Chemical lines
|
Pressure tanks
| |
|
Dock water outlets
|
Pumps
| |
|
Individual water supplies
|
Steam lines
| |
|
Industrial process water lines
|
Swimming pools
| |
|
Hose bibs
|
Tank and vats-bottom inlets
| |
G.
Barometric loop. Water connections where an actual or potential backsiphonage hazard exists may, in lieu of devices specified in Subsection F, be provided with a barometric loop. Barometric loops shall precede the point of connection.
H.
Double check double gate valves. The Senior Water Operator may authorize
installation of approved, double check double gate valve assemblies
with test cocks as protective devices against backflow in connections
between a potable water system and other fluid systems which present
no significant health hazard in the judgment of the Senior Water Operator.
I.
Low pressure cutoff required on booster pumps. When a booster pump
is used on a water pressure booster system and the possibility exists
that a positive pressure of 10 psi or less may occur on the suction
side of the pump, there shall be installed a low pressure cutoff on
the booster pump to prevent the creation of a vacuum or negative pressure
on the suction side of the pump, thus cutting off water to other outlets.
A.
General requirements. It shall be the responsibility of building
and premises owners to maintain all backflow preventers and vacuum
breakers within the building or on the premises in good working order
and to make no piping or other arrangements for the purpose of bypassing
backflow devices.
B.
Backflow preventers. Periodic testing and inspection schedules shall
be established by the Senior Water Operator for all backflow preventers,
and the interval between such testing and inspections and overhauls
of each device shall be established in accordance with the age and
condition of the device. Inspection intervals should not exceed one
year and overhaul intervals should not exceed five years. These devices
should be inspected frequently after the initial installation to assure
that they have been installed properly and that debris resulting from
the installation has not interfered with the functioning of the device.
The testing procedures shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions when approved by the Senior Water Operator.
A.
Notification of violation. The Senior Water Operator shall notify
the owner, or authorized agent of the owner, of the building or premises
in which there is found a violation of this article, of such violation.
The Senior Water Operator shall set a reasonable time for the owner
to have the violation removed or corrected. Upon failure of the owner
to have the defect corrected by the end of the specified time interval,
the Senior Water Operator may, if in his or her judgment an imminent
health hazard exists, cause the water service to the building or premises
to be terminated, and/or recommend such additional fines or penalties
to be invoked as herein may be provided.
B.
Penalties. The owner or authorized agent of the owner responsible for the maintenance of the plumbing systems in the building who knowingly permits a violation to remain uncorrected after the expiration of time set by the Senior Water Operator shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to the penalties as provided in Article V of this chapter.
