The following terms are defined for use in this chapter.
1. “Approved backflow prevention assembly for containment” means a backflow prevention assembly which is approved by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. The approval listing shall include the limitations of use based on the degree of hazard. The backflow prevention assembly shall also be listed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) or by the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) as having met the requirements of ANSI/AWWA C510-07 Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly, or ANSI/AWWA C511-07, Reduced-Pressure Principle (RPZ) Backflow Prevention Assembly.
2. “Approved backflow prevention assembly for containment in a fire protection system” means a backflow prevention assembly to be used in a fire protection system which meets the requirements of Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FM) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL), in addition to the requirements of 93.01, Paragraph 1.
3. “Auxiliary water supply” means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the City’s public water supply such as, but not limited to a private well, pond, or river.
4. “Containment” means a method of backflow prevention which requires a backflow prevention assembly on certain water services. Containment requires that the backflow prevention assembly be installed on the water service as close to the public water supply main as is practical. Directly after the discharge end of the water meter is the best location.
5. “Cross connection” means any connection or arrangement, physical or otherwise, between a potable water supply system and any plumbing fixtures or tank, receptacle, equipment, or device, through which it may be possible for non potable, used, unclean, polluted, or contaminated water, or other substance, to enter into any part of such potable water system under any condition, including but not limited to lawn or other landscaping irrigation systems, water powered or water assisted sump pumps, yard hydrants, or other potentially hazardous water connections.
6. “Customer” means the owner, operator, or occupant of a building or property which has a water service from the public water system, or the owner or operator of a private water system which has water service from the public water system.
7. “Degree of hazard” means the rating of a cross connection or a water service which indicates if it has the potential to cause contamination (high hazard) or adverse effects (low hazard).
8. “Double check valve backflow prevention assembly” means a backflow prevention assembly consisting of two independently acting internally loaded check valves, four properly located test cocks, and two isolation valves. The degree of hazardous substance will dictate allowable materials to be used for the device and fittings, i.e. brass, stainless steel, etc.
9. “High hazard cross connection” means a cross connection which may cause an impairment of the quality of the potable water by creating an actual hazard to the public health, through poisoning or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids or wastes.
10. “Isolation” means a preferred method of backflow prevention which requires the installation of a backflow prevention assembly at a suitable location within a plumbing system to isolate a known or possible hazardous cross connection (e.g. boilers, commercial or industrial mixing processes, irrigation systems, etc.) rather than at the water service entrance.
11. “Licensed backflow prevention assembly technician” means a person meeting all requirements for the testing and repair of backflow prevention assemblies and who is licensed and registered with the Iowa Department of Public Health.
12. “Low hazard cross connection” means a cross connection which may cause an impairment of the quality of potable water to a degree which does not cause a hazard to the public health, but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such potable waters for domestic use.
13. “Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly” also referred to as a “Reduced pressure zone (RPZ)” device means a backflow prevention assembly consisting of two independently acting internally loaded check valves, a different pressure relief valve, four properly located test cocks, and two isolation valves. This assembly is required on all lawn or other landscaping irrigation systems, chemically treated boiler systems, or any system where any potential hazardous chemicals are present or can be introduced into the public water system during a failure of that system.
14. “Water Service”, depending on the context, means the physical connection between a public water system and a customer’s building, property or private water system, or the act of providing potable water from a public water system to a customer.
1. The administrative authority for this chapter is the City Council acting through the water utility or such persons or departments the City Council shall designate.
2. The City shall require the submission of plans, specifications and other information deemed necessary for a building, property or private water system to which a water service is proposed. The information submitted shall be reviewed to determine if cross connections will exist and the degree of hazard. Each customer shall survey the activities and processes which receive water from the water service and shall report to the City if cross connections exist and the degree of hazard.
3. The owner of a building, property or private water system shall install, or cause to be installed, an approved backflow prevention assembly for containment as directed by the City before water service is initiated.
4. The City shall have the right to access any property to inspect the plumbing of any building, property and private water system which has a water service to determine if cross connections exist and the degree of hazard. Failure to grant access for inspection shall be cause for termination of water service.
5. If the City determines that non-potable water may potentially enter the public water supply, the customer shall be required to install the appropriate backflow prevention assembly for containment. If a customer refuses to install a backflow prevention assembly for containment when it is required, water service to the customer may be discontinued until an appropriate backflow prevention assembly is installed.
6. Dual connections with a direct connection to the public water supply and other auxiliary supplies such as wells, ponds, rivers, industrial waters are strictly prohibited.
7. The City shall maintain all pertinent records of cross connection surveys, installations, testing records, or other required records.
1. Backflow prevention assemblies for containment shall be installed immediately following the water meter or as close to that location as deemed practical by the City.
2. A water service determined to present a high hazard shall be protected by an air gap or an approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
3. A water service determined to present a low hazard shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly, or an assembly approved in subsection 2. above.
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