[HISTORY: Adopted by ordinance 6-14-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this ordinance the following terms shall
be deemed to have the meaning indicated below:
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, and shall be at least double the diameter of the
supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel.
In no case shall the gap be less than one inch.
As herein used in reference to a water supply system or backflow
prevention device (or method) shall mean one that has been approved
by the State regulatory agency.
Any water source or system, other than the public water supply,
that may be available in the building or premises.
Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other
means that could create pressure within the system greater than the
supply pressure.
A form of backflow due to a negative or sub-atmospheric pressure
within a water system.
The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any
foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system
of a public water supply.
A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
The owner or operator of a private potable-water system served
by a public potable-water system.
Any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is
connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system,
sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture,
or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water,
sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which
may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply
as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, and other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
could occur are considered to be cross connections.
The specific point or location in a public or a consumer's
potable-water system where a cross connection exists.
An assembly composed of two single, independently acting
check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at
each end of the assembly and suitable connections for in-line testing
the water- tightness of each check valve.
Expresses the results of an evaluation of a health, system,
or plumbing hazard.
Any condition, device, or practice in a water supply system
and its operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health
and well-being of a consumer.
A cross connection in a consumer's potable-water system that
may permit back siphonage in the event of a negative pressure in the
supply line. (Unprotected plumbing-type cross connections are considered
to be health hazards. They include, but are not limited to, faulty
connections to fixtures such as toilets, sinks, tubs, lavatories,
wash trays, and domestic washing machines.)
Any fluid or solution that may chemically, biologically,
or physically degrade the approved water supply.
A separate water piping system serving water-using devices,
with a backflow preventer or air gap separation on this line at the
point of takeoff from the potable-water line.
A system used by a consumer for transmission or storage of
anything (fluid, solid, or gas) other than the water supply intended
or used for human consumption or food processing. (Such a system would
include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment,
and appurtenances used to produce, convey, or store substances that
are or may be polluted.
One that is approved by the appropriate health agency and
water laboratory and is properly staffed and equipped with pumps,
meters, measuring devices, and other equipment to test and evaluate
fully a backflow prevention device for design, materials, construction,
and operation.
Water not safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
The presence in water of any foreign substance (organic,
inorganic, radiologic, or biologic) that tends to degrade its quality
so as to constitute a hazard or to impair its potability or usefulness.
Water that is safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption
or other domestic uses, including source, treatment, storage, transmission
and distribution facilities where water is furnished to any community,
collection or number of individuals, or is made available to the public
for human consumption or domestic use, but excluding water supplies
serving one single family residence.
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
in-line 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.
The terminal end of a service from the public potable-water
system — that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction
and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the
consumer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the
service connection, then the service connection means the downstream
end of the meter.
The consumer or his deputy charged with the responsibility
of maintaining a consumer's water system free from cross connections
and other sanitary defects. (A certified backflow prevention device
tester should not act as a water supervisor unless he is a full-time
employee of the consumer, having the day-to-day responsibility for
the installation and use of pipelines and equipment on the premises
and for the avoidance of cross connections.)
Any public or consumer's potable water supply that has been
investigated and approved by the state agency having jurisdiction.
Any publicly owned domestic water system operated under public-health
supervision. Such a system includes all sources, facilities, and appurtenances
between the source and the point of delivery, such as valves, pumps,
pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances
used to produce, convey, treat, or store a potable water for public
consumption or use.
Any water supplied from a public potable water system to
a consumer's water system after it has passed the point of delivery
and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water system operator.
A.
The purpose of this resolution is to establish a cross connection
control program to protect the health of water consumers by the control
of actual and/or potential cross connections through the proper installation
and surveillance of backflow prevention devices on service lines leading
to premises where cross connections exist or are likely to occur and
through the inspection and regulation of plumbing within the premises
to minimize the danger of contamination of the water system on the
premises or the public water supply itself.
1.
Protecting these supplies against contamination or pollution resulting
from backflow of objectionable fluids through cross connections.
2.
Protecting these supplies at the service connection by isolating
within the consumer's premises pollution or contamination that may
result from backflow through cross connections.
3.
Providing means whereby an industrial consumer may utilize a separate
system for his industrial uses so as to prevent possible pollution
or contamination of his internal potable water system.
The implementation of the program to control cross connections
required cooperation between the customer, the City Water Department,
the health officer and the plumbing authority. The City Water Department
has primary responsibility to prevent contamination of the public
water supply through cross connections. The customers served and the
Department are jointly responsible for preventing contamination of
the water system within the customer's premises. An effective control
program requires attention to both of these. Backflow prevention devices
are not a substitute for a continuing and aggressive program of cross
connection investigation, surveillance and control.
These regulations will be reasonably interpreted by the City
Water Department. It is the Department's intent to recognize the varying
degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection
shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard.
All cross connections, whether or not such cross connections
are controlled by automatic devices, such as check valves or by hand
operated mechanisms such as gate valves or stop cocks, are hereby
prohibited.
Failure on the part of persons, firms, or corporations to discontinue
the use of any and all cross connections and to physically separate
such cross connections will be sufficient cause for the discontinuance
of the public water service to the premises on which the cross connection
exists.
The City Water Department shall, in cooperation with the health
officer and/or the local plumbing inspection authority, make periodic
inspections of premises served by the water supply to check for the
presence of cross connections. Any cross connections found in such
inspection shall be ordered removed by the Department. If an immediate
hazard to health is caused by the cross connection, water service
to the premises shall be discontinued until it is verified that the
cross connection has been removed.
A.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection
or within any premises where in the judgment of the City Water Department
the nature and extent of activities on the premises, or the materials
used in connection with the activities, or materials stored on the
premises would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health
should a cross connection occur, even though such cross connection
does not exist at the time the backflow prevention device is required
to be installed. This shall include but not be limited to the following
situations:
1.
Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of
the auxiliary supply is in compliance with local standards, and is
acceptable to the Department.
2.
Premises having internal cross connections that are not correctable,
or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to
ascertain whether or not cross connections exist.
3.
Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross
connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently
short notice to assure that cross connections do not exist.
4.
Premises having a repeated history of cross connections being established
or re-established.
5.
Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to
permit entry into the public water supply, or where a cross connection
could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling
of process waters and cooling waters.
6.
Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled
such that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard
may result.
7.
The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above
categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect
the public water supply. A backflow prevention device shall be installed
at these facilities unless the Department determines no hazard exists.
Partial list:
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Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics
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Laboratories
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Schools with laboratories
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Nursing homes
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Sewage treatment plants
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Food or beverage processing plants
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Chemical plants using a water process
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Metal plating industries
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Petroleum processing or storage plants
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Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors
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Laundry and dyeing facilities
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Paper processing plants
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Auxiliary water systems
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Cooling systems
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Farming operations
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Fire protection systems
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Sprinkler systems filled with anti-freeze solutions
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Film processing equipment
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Irrigation systems
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Storage tanks, cooling towers, and circulating systems
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Steam generating systems
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Water treatment plants
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A.
The type of protective device required shall be determined by the
City Water Department and shall depend on the degree of hazard which
exists.
B.
An air gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention
device shall be installed where the water supply may be contaminated
with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature or other contaminant
which would cause a health or system hazard.
C.
In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not hazardous
to health, a double check valve assembly, air gap separation or a
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed.
D.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the meter, or at
a location designated by the Department. The device shall be located
so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, and where
no part of the device will be submerged.
E.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed by the customer at
the customer's expense.
[Amended 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 963]
F.
Any protective device required in this section shall be a model approved
by the Department. A double check valve assembly or a reduced pressure
principle backflow prevention device will be approved.
[Amended 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 963]
The customer shall annually inspect backflow prevention devices
and provide a satisfactory inspection report to the City Water Department
no later than May 1 of each year with an administrative fee of $10.
