The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
AGENCY: The Illinois environmental protection agency.
AIR GAP: The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the water discharge point and the flood level rim of the receptacle. All air gaps must be fixed proper air gaps, solidly piped; flexible couplings or spring hoses do not constitute an air gap.
APPROVED: Backflow prevention devices or methods approved by the Research Foundation For Cross-Connection Control Of The University Of Southern California, American Water Works Association (AWWA), American Society Of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) to be in compliance with applicable industry specifications.
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 composed of single, independently acting check valves under ASSE standard 1015. A double check valve assembly must include tight shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve.
APPROVED DOUBLE DETECTOR CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY: A double check valve that detects leakage or unauthorized use of water from fire or automatic sprinkler systems.
APPROVED FIRE ALARM RECEIPT POINT: A central facility constantly manned by trained personnel with equipment installed to receive a signal from a sprinkler alarm indicating that the sprinkler has been activated.
APPROVED INSTALLATION: The installation of approved backflow prevention devices specified by the Research Foundation For Cross-Connection Control Of The University Of Southern California, American Water Works Association, American Society Of Sanitary Engineering, or American National Standards Institute.
APPROVED REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE: A device containing a minimum of two (2) independently acting check valves, together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two (2) check valves and approved under ASSE standard 1013. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two (2) check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the check valves at less than the supply pressure. The unit must include tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with properly located test cocks.
APPROVED WATER SUPPLY: 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 regulation of the public health authority having local jurisdiction.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER: An antisiphon device consisting of a soft disc, reaction cup, stem guide with machined brass seat, and large atmospheric vent port hood.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY: Any water source or system on or available to the premises other than the public water supply system. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public water supply system; or water from a source such as wells, lakes or streams, or process fluids; or used water. These waters may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute a water source or system over which the water purveyor does not have control.
BACKFLOW: The flow of water of questionable quality, other liquids, mixtures, substances, wastes or other contaminants, into the distribution pipes of the public water supply system due to a reversal of flow, or from any source other than the intended source of the potable water supply.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE: Any device, method or type of construction intended to prevent backflow into a potable water system. All devices used for backflow prevention in the city must meet the standards of the Illinois state plumbing code and the Illinois environmental protection agency.
BOARD: The Illinois pollution control board.
CCCDI: Cross connection control device inspector.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or building complex which houses stores, offices, or businesses engaged in trade, sales, and services.
CONDITION OF SERVICE: All restrictions, requirements, permits, and fees required by a public water supply prior to installation or supply of water from the public water system.
CONSUMER OR CUSTOMER: The owner, official custodian or person in control of any premises supplied by or in any manner connected to the public water system.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM: Any water system located on the customer's premises. A building's plumbing system is considered to be a customer's water system.
CONTAINMENT: The proper installation of an approved backflow device or assembly at the service connection between the public water supply and the private water system so as to contain any pollutant or contaminant within the private water system, thus preventing its entrance into the public water supply distribution system.
CONTAMINANT: Any solid, liquid, or gaseous matter, any odor or any form of energy which, when present in the public water supply distribution system, may cause the water to degrade so that the applicable water quality standards are not met or physical illness or injury to persons consuming the water could result.
CONTAMINATION: An impairment of the quality of the city water supply by the entrance or presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological or biological solid, liquid or gas) to a degree which could create or creates a hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
CROSS CONNECTION: Any physical connection or arrangement between two (2) otherwise separate piping systems or vessels, one of which contains potable water and the other water of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gases, or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other.
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL DEVICE INSPECTOR OR CCCDI: A person who has successfully completed agency sponsored training and certification to install and test backflow devices, in accordance with law.
DIRECT CROSS CONNECTION: A cross connection formed when a potable water system is physically joined to a source of unknown or unsafe substance.
HEALTH HAZARD: Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation resulting from a real or potential danger to the health and well being of consumers. The word "severe", as used to qualify "health hazard", means a hazard to the health of the user that could be expected to result in death or significant reduction in the quality of life.
HIGH HAZARD CONNECTION: Any vessel, piping arrangement, or other direct connection to a public water supply containing a contaminant.
ILLINOIS STATE PLUMBING CODE: 77 Illinois administrative code 890.
INDIRECT CROSS CONNECTION: A cross connection formed when an unknown substance can be forced, drawn by vacuum or otherwise introduced into a safe potable water supply.
INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or building complex which houses mechanical, trade and/or manufacturing activities.
INSPECTION: A plumbing inspection to examine carefully and critically all materials, fixtures, piping and appurtenances, appliances and installations of a plumbing system for compliance with requirements of the Illinois state plumbing code.
INSPECTOR: A plumber licensed in the state who has successfully completed a course on cross connection control devices given by the agency and who has been certified by the agency to inspect and repair such devices.
INSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT: A building or building complex which houses activities for social, health, educational, or religious purposes such as hospitals, sanatoriums, correctional facilities, schools, churches, or charitable organizations or agencies.
INTERCONNECTION: A physical connection between two (2) or more potable water systems.
ISOLATION: The proper installation of an approved backflow device or assembly at each connection within the private water system, between the public water supply and each piping arrangement or plumbing appurtenance on those private premises.
LOW HAZARD CONNECTION: Any vessel, piping arrangement, or other direct connection to a public water supply containing a pollutant.
NFPA: The National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269.
NATIONAL CONSENSUS STANDARDS: Standards which are adopted by a nationally recognized organization which examines devices for such elements as the minimum requirements for the design, installation, operation and safety aspects of such devices, evaluated on the basis of sound engineering principles, test data, and field experience.
NONPOTABLE SOURCE: Any source of water not an integral part of a public water supply system or approved by the agency to be connected to a public water supply system according to law.
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, the county, any special purpose district, and any officer or agent thereof.
PLUMBING: The actual installation, repair, maintenance, alteration or extension of a plumbing system by any person. "Plumbing" includes all piping fixtures, appurtenances and appliances for a supply of water for all purposes, including, without limitation, lawn sprinkler systems, from the source of a private water supply on the premises or from the main in the street, alley or at the curb to, within and about any building where a person lives, works or assembles. "Plumbing" includes all piping from discharge of pumping units to and including pressure tanks in water supply systems. "Plumbing" includes all piping, fixtures, appurtenances, and appliances for a building drain and a sanitary drainage and related ventilation system of any building where a person lives, works or assembles from the point of connection of such building drain to the building sewer or private sewage disposal system five feet (5') beyond the foundation walls.
POLLUTANT: Any solid, liquid, or gaseous matter, or any odor or form of energy which, when present in the public water supply distribution system, may cause the water to be aesthetically degraded to the senses of taste, sight or smell without tending to cause any actual physical illness or injury to persons consuming the water.
POLLUTION: 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.
POTABLE WATER: Water which meets the requirements of 35 Illinois administrative code 607.104 for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes.
POTENTIAL CROSS CONNECTION: A fixture or appurtenance with threaded hose connection, tapered spout, or other connection which would facilitate extension of the water supply line beyond its legal termination point.
PREMISES: An integrated land area, including improvements thereon, undivided by public thoroughfares or water distribution mains of the city, and where all parts of the premises are operated under the same management and for the same purposes.
PRIVATE WATER SYSTEM: All pipes, structures, and plumbing appurtenances not part of a public water supply through which potable water is obtained and distributed.
PROCESS FLUID: Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, pollutional, or system hazard if introduced into the public or a consumer's potable water system. "Process fluid" includes, but is not limited to:
A. Polluted or contaminated waters.
B. Process waters.
C. Used water originating from the water supply system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality.
D. Cooling waters.
E. Questionable or contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams, or irrigation systems.
F. Chemicals in solution or suspension.
G. Oils, gases, acids, alkalis and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes, or for firefighting purposes.
PROTECTIVE DEVICE: Any of the following devices:
A. Air gap separation device.
B. Approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
C. Approved double check valve assembly.
D. Antisiphon vacuum breaker.
E. Approved double detector check valve assembly.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY: All mains, pipes and structures through which water is obtained and distributed to the public, including wells and well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, reservoirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally, actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or general domestic use.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW DEVICE: A device which includes two (2) in-line independently acting spring loaded check valves, one differential pressure relief valve vented to the atmosphere, plus four (4) test cocks. The RPZ device is also available with a detector check which measures water usage as an RPDC device.
REDUCED PRESSURE ZONE (RPZ) PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY: An assembly which includes two (2) in-line independently acting spring loaded check valves, one differential pressure relief valve vented to the atmosphere, plus four (4) test cocks and two (2) resilient seated valves with full ports. The RPZ assembly is also available with a detector check which measures water usage for use in fire safety systems and is referenced as an RPDC assembly.
RISERS: The vertical pipes in a sprinkler system. The system riser is the aboveground supply pipe directly connected to the water supply.
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.
SPRINKLER ALARM: An assembly of apparatus approved according to law and installed so that any flow of water in either direction from a sprinkler system which is equal to or greater than the flow from a single automatic sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed on the system will result in an audible alarm on the premises and transmission of a signal to an approved fire alarm receipt point.
SUBMERGED INLET: A water pipe or extension thereto from a public water supply terminating in a tank, vessel, fixture or appliance which may contain water of questionable quality, waste or other contaminant and which is unprotected against backflow.
SYSTEM HAZARD: A condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading material not dangerous to health may enter the public water supply system or a consumer's potable water system.
UL: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062.
USED WATER: Any water supplied by the public water supply system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the service connection and is no longer under the control of the city. (2006 Code § 7-1-15; amd. 2016 Code)