(a) The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of these rules and regulations:
(1) "Air gap separation" means 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.
(2) "Approved" means that a backflow prevention device or method has been accepted by the supplier of water and the director as suitable for the proposed use.
(3) "Auxiliary water system" means any water system on or available to the premises other than the public water system and includes the water supplied by the system. These auxiliary water systems may include water from another supplier's public water system; or water from a source such as wells, lakes, or streams; or process fluids; or used water. They may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute a water source or system over which the supplier of water does not have control.
(4) "Backflow" means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than the intended source of the potable water supply.
(5) "Backflow prevention device" means any device, method, or type of construction intended to prevent backflow into a potable water system.
(6) "Consumer" means the owner or person in control of any premises supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water system.
(7) "Consumer's water system" means any water system, located on the consumer's premises, supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water system. A household plumbing system is considered to be a consumer's water system.
(8) "Contamination" means an impairment of the quality of the water by sewage or process fluid or waste to a degree which could create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through spread of disease by exposure.
(9) "Cross-connection" means any arrangement whereby backflow can occur.
(10) "Degree of hazard" is a term derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse effect upon the potable water system.
(11) "Director" means the director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or his duly authorized representative.
(12) "Double check valve assembly" means 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 testing the water-tightness of each check valve.
(13) "Health hazard" means any condition, device, or practice in a water system or its operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health and well- being of users. The word "severe" as used to qualify "health hazard" means a hazard to the health of the user that could reasonably be expected to result in significant morbidity or death.
(14) "Interchangeable connection" means an arrangement or device that will allow alternate but not simultaneous use of two sources of water.
(15) "Non-potable water" means water not safe for drinking, personal, or culinary use.
(16) "Person" means the state, any political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership, or other legal entity.
(17) "Pollution" means the presence in water of any foreign substance that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
(18) "Potable water" means water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
(19) "Process fluids" means 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 potable consumer's water system. This includes, but is not limited to:
A. Polluted or contaminated waters;
B. Process waters;
C. Used waters originating from the public water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
D. Cooling waters;
E. 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 fire fighting purposes.
(20) "Public water system" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Sections 6109.01 and 6109.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(21) "Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device" means a device containing a minimum of two independently acting check valves together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between two check valves. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks 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.
(22) "Service connection" means the terminal end of a service line from the public water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.
(23) "Supplier of water" means the owner or operator of a public water system.
(24) "System hazard" means a condition posing an actual or potential threat of damage to the physical properties of the public water system or a potable consumer's water system.
(25) "Pollutional hazard" means a condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading material not dangerous to health may enter the public water system or a potable consumer's water system.
(26) "Used water" means any water supplied by a supplier of water from a public water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the service connection and is no longer under the control of the supplier.
(Ord. 96-08. Passed 5-6-96.)