An applicant desiring a water service connection with the City waterworks system shall file a written application at the City Hall, signed by the owner of the property for which the tap or service connection is desired or by the duly authorized agent of such owner. The application shall be accompanied by payment of the fee prescribed in § 242-17 to cover the cost of such service connection. In the event the application is made by an agent for the owner, then the application shall also be accompanied by the written authority of the owner to the agent for the making of the application. As soon as possible thereafter, the Superintendent shall authorize a service tap connection to be made.
All water service, whether for domestic, commercial or industrial
use, shall be metered. Water meters shall be located or relocated,
at the expense of the owner of the premises served, so as to control
the entire supply of water to the premises and in a clean, dry, safe
place so that the meter or meters will not be subject to great temperature
variance and will be properly protected from freezing and other hazards
and will be easily accessible for installation, maintenance, reading
and replacement. Meters shall at the time of installation be equipped
with a device which will permit said meter to be read without entry
into the building or other enclosure wherein the meter is located,
said device being known as a "remote reader." Whenever the Water Department
installs a remote reader in a service theretofore not equipped therewith,
whether in connection with the replacement of a meter by said Department
or on a meter then in place, the actual cost to the City thereof shall
be charged to the owner of such service, either at the option of such
owner, on a single bill or 1/4 of such cost plus the cost of the first
class mail on each of four successive bills. The register face of
the remote reader, the location of which may be prescribed by the
Superintendent of Public Works, shall be so placed and maintained
as to be readily accessible for reading at all reasonable times. Water
shall not be turned on for new connections until the meter has been
installed and all other requirements of this chapter on the part of
the property owner or the applicant have been fully complied with.
Whenever a meter is found to have been damaged by hot water
being forced back into it from the consumer's hot water or heating
apparatus or for any other cause within the control of the consumer,
the consumer shall pay the City for the actual cost of the removal,
repairing and replacing of the damaged meter, and all previous water
bills shall be corrected on an estimated basis to cover such period
as it appears that the meter was out of order for such damage.
The City shall have the right to refuse water service or to
discontinue water service without notice at any time to any consumer
if the City finds any apparatus or appliances, the operation of which
will be detrimental to the water system of the City or to any or all
of its consumers. Standpipes, hydrants, gate valves and any other
apparatus that cause water hammer or any danger to the water system
or other customers' plumbing shall be immediately repaired or removed
upon notice from the City or, at its option, the City may immediately
discontinue the service without notice and without any liability for
damages directly or resulting therefrom.
All persons are strictly forbidden to attach any electric ground
wire to any plumbing or water piping which is or may be connected
to any water service pipe, water meter or water main belonging to
the City. The City will hold the owner of the premises responsible
and liable for any damage to the property or injury to the employees
of the City caused by such ground wire. All owners and consumers shall
remove any existing ground wires immediately upon written notice from
the City. If not so disconnected within five days' written notice,
the City, through its officials, may enter the property and remove
such ground wires and the consumer shall pay all costs.
The City shall not be held responsible for or in any manner
liable to any person, company, consumer or public body for any claim
or damage, either direct or resulting from any shortage of water supply
or any shut-off of water supply for any reason, any bursting or leakage
of either the consumer's or City's mains, pipes and fixtures, any
pollution or impurity in water supply or any fire or water damage.
The right is reserved to suspend the use of lawn fountains and
hoses for sprinkling lawns and gardens whenever, in the opinion of
the City Council, public exigencies require it.
If any consumer fails to comply fully with any of the rules
and regulations in force, the City shall notify the consumer of such
failure. If the consumer does not remedy the same as the rules provide
and within a reasonable time, the City shall have the right to discontinue
service. Except in cases of nonpayment, emergency, necessity or as
otherwise provided, the City will not discontinue service for violation
of any rules until five days after notice has been given and the existing
violation has not been remedied.
A.
Access to premises. The City shall have access to all portions of
the premises of the consumer at any reasonable time for inspection
of the use of water and the consumer's pipes, fixtures, plumbing and
any other apparatus in any manner connected to the water system of
the City. The City shall have the right and option to demand change
or discontinuing use or to require any repair, change, removal or
improvement of any pipe, fixture, plumbing or other apparatus that
would in any manner affect the water supply or system of the City
of the supply or fixtures of other consumers.
B.
Meters open to inspection. All water meters and water fixtures, connections
and appurtenances on private property connected with the waterworks
system of the City shall be open to the inspection of the proper officers
and employees of the City at all reasonable hours.
[Amended 7-22-2002 by Ord. No. 07/22/2002-1; 2-27-2006 by Ord. No. 02/27/2006-3]
A.
All hydrants shall be owned, maintained and used only by the City.
Use of water from the fire hydrants by contractors and others shall
be only upon permission by the City after approved application to
the City.
B.
Use of hydrants to fill swimming pools is prohibited. In order to
prevent sudden drain on the water system, swimming pools should be
filled with the metered water from a garden hose or piping of a similar
diameter.
C.
The City shall not be held liable and will not assume any responsibility
for the condition of any fire hydrant inside or outside the City limits
or the pressure or amount of water obtainable therefrom or any damages,
either direct or resulting from the condition, pressure or amount
of water available from any fire hydrant.
D.
All public fire hydrants outside any City limits which are owned
by the City will be maintained in as good order as reasonably possible,
but the City will not undertake or assume any responsibility or liability
for their condition, use or abuse. Such public fire hydrants shall
be used only for the purpose of extinguishing fire, except when the
City may issue a special permit for their use to contractors, who
shall then be responsible for the hydrants and the use of water from
them.
A.
Responsibility of the Superintendent. The Superintendent or his designated
agent shall inspect the plumbing in every building or premises in
this City as frequently as in his 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 City by the
plumbing. The Superintendent 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
Superintendent, any plumbing installed or existing contrary to or
in violation of this chapter and which, in his judgment, may therefore
permit the pollution of the City water supply or otherwise adversely
affect the public health.
B.
Inspection. The Superintendent or his designated agent shall have
the right of entry into any building during reasonable hours for the
purpose of inspecting 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. Consistent refusal to allow inspection of a specific
dwelling may be cause for requiring installation of suitable backflow
protection or discontinuation of potable water service.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The department of the municipal government vested with the
authority and responsibility for the enactment and enforcement of
this article.
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.
That which is 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.
Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the distributing
pipes of a potable water supply.
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.
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 unapproved source or system through which backflow can occur.
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 Superintendent,
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 treatment 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, non-pressure vessel-forming part of the air
gap 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 contaminants in amounts sufficient to cause
disease or harmful physiological effects. Its bacteriological and
chemical quality shall conform to the requirements of the federal
and state drinking water regulations and to any regulations of the
public health authority having local jurisdiction.
A.
General. A potable water supply system shall be designed, installed
and maintained in such a 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.
B.
Cross-connections prohibited. Cross-connections between potable water
systems and other systems or equipment containing water or other substances
of unknown or questionable quality 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 ensure proper operation
on a continuous basis.
C.
Interconnections. Interconnection between two or more public water
supplies shall be permitted only with the approval of the state authority
having jurisdiction.
D.
Individual water supplies. Cross-connections between an individual
water supply and a potable public supply shall not be made unless
specifically approved by the state authority having jurisdiction.
E.
Connections to boilers. Potable water connections to boilers shall
be made through an air gap or provided with an approved backflow preventer.
F.
Prohibited connections to fixtures and equipment. Connection to the potable water supply system is prohibited unless protected against backflow in accordance with § 242-32 or as set out herein. Examples of fixtures and equipment from which the potable water supply system must be protected include:
(1)
Bidets.
(2)
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.
(3)
Pumps for nonpotable water, chemicals or other substances. Priming
connections may be made only through an air gap.
(4)
Building drainage, sewer or vent systems.
G.
Refrigerating unit condensers and cooling jackets. Except where potable
water 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 valve 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 refrigerant.
A.
Water outlets. A potable water system shall be protected against
backflow and backsiphonage by providing and maintaining at each outlet:
B.
Minimum required air gap.
(1)
How measured. The minimum required air gap shall be measured vertically
from the lowest end of a potable water outlet to the flood-level rim
or line of the fixture or receptacle into which it discharges.
(2)
Size. The minimum required air gap 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 case, the minimum required air gap shall be three
times the effective opening of the outlet. In no case shall the minimum
required air gap be less than shown in Table I.
C.
Approval of devices. 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 Superintendent.
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.
|
Table I
Minimum Air Gaps for Generally Used Plumbing Fixtures
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum Air Gap
| ||
|
Fixture
|
When not affected by near wall1
(inches)
|
When 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
|
See Note 3.
|
See Note 4.
|
|
Notes:
| |
|
1
|
Side walls, ribs or similar obstructions do not affect air gaps
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 air gap 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 air gap shall be measured from the top of the wall.
|
|
3
|
Times diameter of effective opening.
|
|
4
|
Times diameter of effective opening.
|
D.
Installation of devices.
(1)
Non-pressure-type vacuum breakers. Atmospheric 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 shut-off valve or faucet
shall be installed beyond the vacuum breaker. For closed equipment
or vessels 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 and vats below rim supply.
(1)
Where a potable water outlet terminates below the rim on a tank or
vat and the tank or vat has an overflow of a diameter not less than
that given in Table II, the overflow pipe shall be provided with an
air gap as close to the tank as possible.
|
Table II
Sizes of Overflow Pipes for Water Supply Tanks
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum capacity of water supply line to tank
(gpm)
|
Diameter of overflow pipe
(inches ID)
|
Maximum capacity of water supply line to tank
(gpm)
|
Diameter of overflow pipe
(inches ID)
|
|
0 to 50
|
2
|
400 to 700
|
5
|
|
50 to 150
|
2 1/2
|
700 to 1,000
|
6
|
|
100 to 200
|
3
|
Over 1,000
|
8
|
|
200 to 400
|
4
| ||
(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 air gap overflow outlet closed. The distance
from the outlet to the high water level shall be measured from the
critical point of the potable water supply outlet. Figure 1 illustrates
this principle.
|
FIGURE 1
(Properly protected tank with below rim supply.)
 |
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 air gap 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.
(2)
Connections subject to back-pressure. Where a potable water connection
is made to a line, fixture, tank, vat, pump or other equipment with
a hazard of backflow or back-siphonage where the water connection
is subject to backpressure and an air gap cannot be installed, the
Superintendent will require adequate protection, which may include
the use of an approved reduced pressure principle backflow preventer.
A partial list of such connections is shown in Table IV.
|
Table III
Cross-Connections Where Protective Devices are Required and
Critical Level (C-L) Settings for Vacuum Breakers8
| |
|---|---|
|
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-level rim of bowl
|
|
Dish-washing machines
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood level of machine; install
on both hot and cold water supply lines
|
|
Flushometers (closet and urinal)
|
C-L at least 6 inches above top of fixture supplied
|
|
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; C-L at least 6 inches above flood level
|
|
Steam tables
|
C-L at least 6 inches above flood-level rim or line
|
|
Tanks and vats
|
C-L at least 30 inches above perforated flush pipe
|
|
Trough urinals
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
|
|
Note: "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.
|
|
Table IV
Partial List of Cross-Connections Which May Be Subject to Backpressure
| |
|---|---|
|
Chemical lines
|
Pumps
|
|
Dock water outlets
|
Steam lines
|
|
Individual water supplies
|
Swimming pools
|
|
Industrial process water lines
|
Tanks and vats - bottom inlets
|
|
Pressure tanks
|
Hose bibbs
|
G.
Low-pressure cut-off 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 less than 20 psi may occur on the suction
side of the pump, there shall be installed a low-pressure cut-off
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 Superintendent 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 shall not exceed one
year and overhaul intervals shall not exceed five years. These devices
should be inspected frequently after the initial installation to ensure
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 Superintendent.
A.
Notification of violation. The Superintendent 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
Superintendent 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
Superintendent may, if, in his 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 imposed as herein may be provided.
B.
Fines. 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 Superintendent shall, upon conviction thereof by the court, be required to pay a fine as provided in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty, of this Code.
