City of Plattsburgh, NY Article II Cross-Connections and Backflow Prevention

§ 348-8 General policy.

The purpose of this article is to:

A. Protect the public potable water supply of the City of Plattsburgh from the possibility of contamination by isolating within its customers' internal distribution system or its customers' private water system such contaminations or pollutants which could backflow into the public water supply system.

B. Comply with the requirements of the New York State Sanitary Code § 5-1.31.

§ 348-9 Definitions.

A. Terms defined. For the purpose of this article, unless it is plainly evident from the context that a different meaning is intended, certain terms used herein are defined as follows:

AIR GAP SEPARATION

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, and in no case less than one inch.

APPROVED CHECK VALVE

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 bushings shall be of bronze or other noncorrodible, nonsticking material and 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.

APPROVED DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY

An assembly of at least two independently acting approved check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check valve assembly and suitable test cocks plus connections available for testing watertightness of each valve.

APPROVED REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE

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 the 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, the devices must be readily accessible for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part of the device will be submerged.

APPROVED WATER SUPPLY

Any water supply approved by or under the public health supervision of a public health agency of the State of New York, the County of Clinton or the City of Plattsburgh. In determining what constitutes an "approved water supply," the Department of Public Health of the State of New York (herein called State Health Department) shall have the final judgment as to its safety and potability.

AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY

Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the City water supply.

CITY

The City of Plattsburgh.

CITY WATER SUPPLY

An approved water supply sold and delivered to consumers' premises through the waterworks system of the City of Plattsburgh.

CONSUMER

Any person to whom water is sold and furnished from the City of Plattsburgh.

CONTAMINATION

An impairment of the quality of the City water supply by the presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological or biological) to a degree which creates a hazard to the public health.

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER

The Clinton County Health Officer, his assistants or authorized deputies acting as, or any other person appointed as, Health Officer of the County of Clinton.

CROSS-CONNECTION

Any unprotected connection between any part of the City waterworks system used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or systems containing water or substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome and potable for human consumption.

NONTOXIC SUBSTANCE

Any substance of a nonpoisonous nature that may create a moderate or minor hazard to the water supply system.

PERSON

Any natural person, firm, association, organization, partnership, trust or association of persons, joint venture, corporation or company and includes the United States, the State of New York, the County of Clinton, any special purpose district and any officer or agent thereof.

PREMISES

Integrated land area, including improvements thereon, undivided by public thoroughfares or water distribution mains of the City of Plattsburgh where all parts of the premises are operated under the same management and for the same purpose.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE

Any of the following devices:

(1) Air gap separation.

(2) Approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.

(3) Approved double check valve assembly.

SERVICE CONNECTION

The terminal end of a service connection from the City water supply at its point of delivery to the consumer. If a meter is installed, "service connection" means the downstream end of the meter. No unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow protective device located at the point of delivery to the consumer shall be permitted.

SUPERINTENDENT

As used within Article II of this chapter, superintendent means the Building Inspector of the City of Plattsburgh. As used within Article III of this chapter, superintendent means the Superintendent of Water and Sewage of the City of Plattsburgh. Where the context in which the term "Superintendent" is used so suggests, the term includes any employee in the department of the Superintendent who is delegated the responsibility to administer or enforce this chapter.

[Amended by 12-20-1994]

TOXIC SUBSTANCE

Any substance (liquid, solid or gaseous), including raw sewage and lethal substances, that when introduced into the water supply system creates or may create a danger to the health and well-being of the consumer.

B. Word usage. "Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.

§ 348-10 Protection required; type of protection.

A. Auxiliary water supply. Each service connection from the City water supply for furnishing water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the City water supply.

(1) If the auxiliary water supply is handled in a separate piping system with no known cross-connection, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly installed at the service connection to the premises. When the auxiliary water supply may be contaminated, the Superintendent may order the City water supply protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device installed at the service connection.

(2) If the auxiliary water supply is handled in a separate piping system and cross-connections are known to exist between the City water supply and the auxiliary water supply which cannot presently be eliminated, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle flow prevention device installed at the service connection to the premises. When the auxiliary water supply may be contaminated, the Superintendent may order the City water supply protected by an air gap separation installed at the service connection.

B. Toxic or hazardous substances under pressure. 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 City 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 tank shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the City water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device which is acceptable to both Superintendent and the County Health Officer.

C. Toxic or hazardous substances not under pressure. At the service connection to any premises on which any material dangerous to health or toxic substance in toxic concentration is not handled under pressure but is otherwise handled in such a manner as to constitute a cross-connection, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, unless such cross-connection is abated to the satisfaction of the Superintendent and approved by the County Health Officer.

D. Nonhazardous substances. 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 City water supply is handled in such a manner as to constitute a cross-connection, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.

E. Sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. At the service connection to any sewage treatment plant or sewage pumping station, the City water supply shall be protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as practicable to the service connection, and all piping between the service connection and receiving tank shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot be reasonably met, the City water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, provided that this alternative is acceptable to both the Superintendent and the County Health Officer. A final decision in this matter shall be made by the State Health Department.

F. Fire systems. At the service connection to any premises in which a fire protection system is installed, the City water supply shall be protected based on the water source and arrangement of supplies in accordance with the following classifications:

(1) Class I: direct connection from public water mains only; no pumps, tanks or reservoirs; no physical connections from auxiliary water supplies; no antifreeze or other additives of any kind; all sprinkler drains discharging to atmosphere, dry wells or other safe outlets. Protection shall consist of a double check valve assembly.

(2) Class 2: same as Class 1, except booster pumps may be installed in the connections from the street mains. Protection shall consist of a double check valve assembly.

(3) Class 3: direct connection from public water supply main, plus one or more of the following: elevated storage tanks; fire pumps taking suction from aboveground covered reservoirs or tanks; and pressure tanks. Protection shall consist of a double check valve assembly.

(4) Class 4: directly supplied from public mains similar to Classes 1 and 2, and with an auxiliary water supply on or available to the premises; or an auxiliary supply may be located within 1,700 feet of the pumper connection. Protection shall consist of an air gap or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.

(5) Class 5: directly supplied from public mains and interconnected with auxiliary supplies, such as pumps taking suction from reservoirs exposed to contamination, or rivers and ponds; driven wells; mills or other industrial water systems; or where antifreeze or other industrial water systems; or where antifreeze or other additives are used. Protection shall consist of an air gap or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.

(6) Class 6: combined industrial and fire protection systems supplied from the public water mains only, with or without gravity storage or pump suction tanks. Protection shall be determined by the Superintendent upon review of engineering drawings of the system.

G. Pier and dock hydrants. At the service connection to any pier or dock hydrant used for supplying vessels at piers or waterfronts, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.

H. Lawn-sprinkling systems. At the service connection to any permanently installed lawn-sprinkling system, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly. If the lawn-sprinkling system handles liquid fertilizers or other chemicals, the City water supply shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.

§ 348-11 Responsibility of consumer.

A. Consumer responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of each consumer at his own expense to furnish, install and keep in good working order and safe condition any and all protective devices required in this chapter. The City shall not be responsible for any loss or damage directly or indirectly resulting from or caused by the improper or negligent installation, operation, use, repair, or maintenance of, or interfering with, any protective device by any consumer or any other person.

B. Conflicts. Whenever two or more conditions exist on any premises for the correction of which different protective devices are required in this chapter, the consumer shall be required only to install the protective device which, in the opinion of the Superintendent and County Health Officer, affords the maximum protection to the City water supply.

§ 348-12 Inspection; records; costs.

A. The consumer on whose premises any protective device is installed shall have each such device inspected annually. If successive inspections disclose repeated failures in the operation of any device, the Superintendent may require more frequent inspections. Each device shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the consumer whenever it is found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhauls shall be kept and a copy of such records forwarded to the Superintendent on an annual basis. The Superintendent shall have the duty of determining that the inspections required herein are performed properly. If, following demand therefor, the consumer fails to have any of the inspections made as required herein or to make the above described records available, the Superintendent shall have the right to inspect the device and the consumer shall pay the cost thereof. The cost of any inspection made by the Superintendent shall be included as a part of the next ensuing municipal water bill presented to the consumer.

B. The cost of inspections, including any separate fee or charge for maintaining inspection records, shall be established by resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plattsburgh.

[Amended by Ord. No. 12-20-94; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

§ 348-13 Noncompliance; discontinuance of service; notices and service.

A. No water service connection shall be installed on the premises of any consumer unless the City water supply is protected as required by this chapter.

B. Delivery of water to the premises of any consumer may be discontinued by the Superintendent if any protective device required by this chapter has not been installed, inspected, tested and maintained or is defective or has been removed or bypassed.

C. Delivery of water shall be discontinued immediately and without notice to the consumer if the Superintendent or County Health Officer determines that:

(1) The City water supply is being contaminated or is in immediate danger of contamination;

(2) A protective device required by this chapter has not been installed or is defective or has been removed or bypassed; and

(3) The consumer cannot immediately be located.

D. Delivery of water shall not be resumed until any protective device required by this chapter and approved by the Superintendent has been properly installed or until conditions at the consumer's premises causing the contamination or danger of contamination have been abated or corrected to the satisfaction of the Superintendent or County Health Officer.

E. Except as provided in Subsection C, delivery of water shall not be discontinued until written notice thereof has been given to the consumer. The notice shall state:

(1) The conditions or defects which must be corrected;

(2) The manner in which the stated conditions or defects are to be corrected; and

(3) The date on or after which delivery of water will be discontinued, and which shall not be less than 15 nor more than 90 days following the date of delivery of mailing of the notice. The Superintendent may grant the consumer an extension of an additional period not to exceed 90 days if he determines the consumer has exercised due diligence but has been unable to comply with the notice within the time originally allowed.

F. The notice shall be given by delivering the same to the consumer, the manager or agent thereof, or to any person in charge of, or employed in the place of business of the consumer; or if the consumer has no place of business, then at the place of residence of the consumer if known, or by leaving the notice as either the place of business or the residence of the consumer. If the consumer cannot be found and service of the notice shall be mailed, postage fully prepaid, addressed to the consumer at the place of business or residence set forth in the application of consumer for water service in the records of the City.

G. Once discontinued, delivery of water shall not be resumed until any protection device required by this chapter and approved by the Superintendent has been properly installed, or until the conditions at the consumer's premises creating the need for a protective device have been abated or corrected to the satisfaction of the Superintendent or the County Health Officer.

H. For the purpose of making any inspections of discharging the duties imposed by this chapter, the Superintendent or County Health Officer shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any consumer. Each consumer, as a condition of the continued delivery to his premises of water from the City water supply, shall be considered as having stated his consent to the entry upon his premises of the Superintendent and/or County Health Officer for the purposes stated herein.

§ 348-14 Presently installed devices.

All presently installed prevention devices which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under § 348-12 be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the Superintendent is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the City's water supply. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance which constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by a backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this article.