[Adopted 8-13-1991 by Ch. No. 983 as §§ 16-30
through 16-38 of the 1991 Code (Ch. No. 1090)]
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
This device must be in conformance with the latest revision of the
AWWA Standard C506.
Any water source or system, other than the public water system,
that may be available in the building or on the premises.
The flow of liquids in the direction opposite to the normal
flow or the introduction of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances
into the water system of the Town.
The entry into or presence in a public water supply system
of any substance which may be deleterious to health and/or quality
of the water.
Any physical arrangement where a public water system is connected,
directly or indirectly, with any other nondrinkable water system or
auxiliary system, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir,
plumbing fixture, or any other device which contains, or may contain,
contaminated water, sewage, or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality
which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water
system as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections,
removable sections, swivel or change-over devices, or other temporary
or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow
may occur are considered to be cross connections.
Derived from the evaluation of a health, system, plumbing
or pollutional hazard.
The Director of Public Works of the Town of Westerly, or
authorized agent.
An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical
or toxic nature to the public potable water system or the consumer's
potable water system that would be a danger to health.
An internal or plumbing-type cross connection in a consumer's
potable water system that may be either a pollutional or a contamination-type
hazard. This includes, but is not limited to, cross connections to
toilets, sinks, lavatories, wash trays, domestic washing machines
and lawn sprinkling systems. Plumbing-type cross connections can be
located in many types of structures including homes, apartment houses,
hotels and commercial or industrial establishments.
An actual or potential threat to the physical properties
of the water system or the potability of the public or the consumer's
potable water system but which would not constitute a health or system
hazard, as defined. The maximum degree of intensity of pollution to
which the potable water system could be degraded under this definition
would cause a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could
cause minor damage to the system or its appurtenances.
Any system of water supply intended or used for human consumption
or other domestic use.
Any piece of land to which water is provided including all
improvements, mobile home(s) and structures located on it.
An assembly containing two independently acting approved
check valves together with a hydraulically operated mechanically independent
pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves
and at the same time below the first check valve. The device shall
include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shutoff valves
at the end of the assembly.
An actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical
properties of the public or consumer's potable water system or of
a pollution or contamination which would have a detrimental effect
on the quality of the potable water in the system.
The Town of Westerly Water Department.
The purpose of this article is to protect the
water supply of the Town water system from contamination or pollution
due to any existing or potential cross connections.
No cross connections shall be created, installed,
used or maintained with the distribution system or having jurisdiction
over the area served and/or serviced by the Town water system except
in accordance with this article.
A.
All industrial and commercial users connected to the
Town water system shall install approved backflow prevention devices
at the expense of the user, either at the service connection or within
the premises, as determined by a certified cross connection inspector
employed by the Town Water Department. The type and number of devices
shall be determined and approved by the Director in accordance with
AWWA Standards and based on the degree of hazard and the type of equipment
in use.
B.
All residential properties that are not currently
connected to the Town water system shall be fitted with an approved
backflow prevention device prior to making such connection. The property
owner shall assume all responsibility for any backflow that should
occur.
To ensure proper operation and accessibility
of all backflow prevention devices, the following requirements shall
apply to the installation of these devices:
A.
No part of the backflow prevention device shall be
submerged in water or installed in a location subject to flooding.
If installed in a vault or basement, adequate drainage shall be provided.
B.
Devices must be installed at the point of the water
supply, before any branch in the line, on private property located
just inside the property line. Alternate locations must be approved
in writing by the Director prior to installations.
C.
The device must be protected from freezing and other
severe weather conditions.
D.
All backflow prevention assemblies shall be of a type
and model approved by the Town.
E.
Only devices specifically designed and approved by
the Town for vertical installation may be installed vertically.
F.
The device shall be readily accessible with adequate
room for maintenance and testing. Devices two inches and smaller shall
have at least six-inch clearance on all sides of the device. All devices
larger than two inches shall have a minimum clearance of 12 inches
on the backside, 24 inches on the test cock side, 12 inches below
the device and 36 inches above the device. Y-pattern double check
valve assemblies shall be installed so that the checks are horizontal
and the test cocks face upward.
G.
The property owner assumes all responsibility for
all maintenance of the device, as determined and required by the Director.
H.
If written permission is granted to install the backflow
device inside of the building, the device shall be readily accessible
during working hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
I.
If a device, with written permission, is installed
inside of a premises and is four inches or larger and is installed
four feet above the floor, it must be equipped with a rigidly and
permanently installed scaffolding acceptable to the Director. This
installation must also meet the requirements of the OSHA and Rhode
Island Health Codes.
J.
RPD device may be installed in a vault only if authorized
by the Director and the relief valve discharge can be drained to daylight
through a "boresite" type drain. The drain shall be of adequate capacity
to carry the full rated flow of the device and shall be screened at
both ends.
K.
An approved air gap shall be located at the relief
valve orifice. This air gap shall be at least twice the inside diameter
of the incoming supply line as measured vertically above the top of
the rim of the drain and in no case less than one inch.
L.
Upon completion of the installation, the Director
shall be notified and all devices must be inspected and tested. All
backflow devices must be registered with the Town. Registration shall
consist of date of installation, make, model and serial number of
the backflow device, and the initial test report.
M.
Any water pressure drop caused by the installation
of a backflow device is not the responsibility of the Town.
N.
All new construction shall install an approved backflow device prior to connection to the Town water system in accordance with § 251-20 above.
O.
A licensed plumber or fire sprinkler installer must install all testable
devices.
[Added 8-15-2011 by Ch. No. 1755]
P.
The Westerly Water Department is not responsible for any damage to
the premises caused by the backflow preventer, such as, but not limited
to, thermal expansion in a closed-loop system.
[Added 8-15-2011 by Ch. No. 1755]
[Amended 5-27-2003 by Ord. No. 1449]
Authorized employees of and inspector/testers
contracted by the Town, with proper identification, shall have access
during reasonable hours to all parts of a premises and within the
building to which water is supplied for the purpose of cross connection
inspection and backflow device testing.
[Amended 5-27-2003 by Ord. No. 1449; 8-15-2011 by Ch. No.
1755]
All testable backflow devices installed within
the distribution system having jurisdiction over the distribution
system served or serviced by the Town shall be tested annually by
a certified tester employed by or contracted by the Town, the cost
of which will be charged to the customer. All such devices found not
functioning properly shall be promptly repaired or replaced by the
water user. All devices found not functioning properly shall be repaired
or replaced by the water user within 30 days for high-level hazard
uses and 90 days for low-level hazard uses unless an extension is
granted by the Westerly Water Department. In cases of imminent or
actual contamination of the water system, the water service may be
terminated until corrected.
Any variances from these requirements shall
be requested in writing by the owner and approved by the Director
prior to device installation.
[Amended 8-15-2011 by Ch. No. 1755]]
Failure on the part of any customer upon due notification to discontinue the use of all cross connections and physically separate cross connections may result in termination of public water service to the premises. Failure to repair or replace nonfunctioning devices pursuant to § 251-23 may result in termination of public water service to the premises. Public water service to the premises may be terminated immediately for refusal of access pursuant to § 251-22 or if an immediate hazard is posed.
