For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AIR-GAP SEPARATION. A physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. An approved AIR-GAP SEPARATION shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the receiving vessel, in no case less than one inch (2.54 cm).
APPROVED. As herein used in reference to a water supply, shall mean a water supply that has been approved by the State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (Division of Health Services). The term APPROVED, as herein used in reference to air-gap separation, a pressure vacuum breaker, a double check valve assembly, a double check detector assembly, a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, a reduced pressure principle detector assembly or other backflow prevention assemblies or methods shall mean APPROVED by the town's Public Utilities Department.
BACKFLOW. The undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases or other substances into the distribution pipes of the consumer or public potable water system from any source or sources.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, APPROVED. An assembly used for containment and/or isolation purposes that has been investigated and approved by the town's Public Utilities Department and has been shown to meet the design and performance standards of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the Foundation for Cross- Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California. The APPROVAL OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES by the town shall be based on a favorable report by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California, recommending an approval. (To be approved, an assembly must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and shall successfully complete a one-year field evaluation within the town's water system.)
BACKFLOW PREVENTION, ASSEMBLY TESTER, CERTIFIED. A person who has proven his or her competency to the satisfaction of the town Public Utilities Department. Each person who is certified to make competent tests or to repair, overhaul and make reports on backflow prevention assemblies shall be knowledgeable of applicable laws, rules and regulations, shall be a licensed plumber or have at least two years of experience under the supervision of a licensed plumber by the town and have qualifications acceptable to the town and must hold a certificate of completion from an approved training program in the testing and repair of backflow prevention assemblies.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, UNAPPROVED. An assembly that has been investigated by the town's Public Utilities Department and has been determined to be unacceptable for installation within the town's water system. Consideration for disapproval and removal from the approved list shall be based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:
(1) Poor performance standards (i.e., significant failure rate);
(2) Lack of or unavailability of repair parts; and/or
(3) Poor service or response from assembly's factory representative(s).
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE, APPROVED. A device used for isolation purposes that has been shown to meet the design and performance standards of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, TYPE A. An assembly used to prevent backflow into a consumer or public potable water system. The type of assembly used should be based on the degree of hazard either existing or potential (as defined herein). The types are:
(1) Double check valve assembly (DCVA);
(2) Double check detector assembly (fire system) (DCDA);
(3) Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB);
(4) Reduced pressure principle assembly (RP); and
(5) Reduced pressure principle-detector assembly (fire system) (RPDA).
BACK-PRESSURE BACKFLOW. Any elevation in the consumer water system (by pump, elevation of piping or steam and/or air pressure) above the supply pressure at the point of delivery which would cause, or tend to cause, a reversal of the normal direction of flow.
BACK-SIPHONAGE BACKFLOW. A reversal of the normal direction of flow in the pipeline due to a negative pressure (vacuum) being created in the supply line with the backflow source subject to atmospheric pressure.
CHECK VALVE, APPROVED. A check valve that is drip-tight in the normal direction of flow when the inlet pressure is at least one psi and the outlet pressure is zero. The check valve shall permit no leakage in a direction reversed to the normal flow. The closure element (e.g., clapper, poppet or other design) shall be internally loaded to promote rapid and positive closure. An approved check valve is only one component of an approved backflow prevention assembly (i.e., pressure vacuum breaker, double check valve assembly, double check detector assembly, reduced pressure principle assembly or reduced pressure detector assembly).
CONSUMER. Any person, firm or corporation using or receiving water from the town's water system.
CONSUMER'S POTABLE WATER SYSTEM. The portion of the privately owned potable water system lying between the point of delivery and point of use and/or isolation protection. This system will include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment and appurtenances used to produce, convey, store or use potable water.
CONSUMER'S WATER SYSTEM. Any water system commencing at the point of delivery ( water meter) and continuing throughout the consumer's plumbing system, located on the consumer's premises, whether supplied by a public potable water or an auxiliary water supply. The system or systems may be either a potable water system or an industrial piping system.
CONTAINMENT. Preventing the impairment of the public potable water supply by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the water which creates a potential or actual hazard to the public health through the introduction of hazardous or toxic substances or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids or waste.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any unprotected actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public or a consumer's water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce any contamination or pollution, other than the intended potable water with which the system is supplied. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices and other temporary or permanent devices through which or because of which backflow can or may occur are considered to be CROSS-CONNECTIONS.
DOUBLE CHECK, VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly composed of two independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closing shut-off valves attached at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutant).
DOUBLE CHECK, DETECTOR ASSEMBLY. A specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved double check valve assembly with a specific bypass water meter and a meter-sized approved double check valve assembly. The meter shall register (in U.S. gallons) accurately for only very low rates of flow and shall show a registration for all rates of flow. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutant).
HAZARD, DEGREE OF. The evaluation of conditions within a system which can be classified as either a pollutional (non-health) or a contamination (health hazard).
HAZARD, HEALTH. An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical, hazardous or toxic nature to the public or consumer's potable water system to a degree or intensity that there would be a danger to health.
HAZARD, NON-HEALTH. An actual or potential threat to the quality of the public or the consumer's potable water system. A NON-HEALTH HAZARD is one that, if introduced into the public water supply system, could be a nuisance to water customers, but would not adversely affect human health.
HAZARD, POLLUTIONAL. An actual or potential threat to the quality or the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system but which would not constitute a health or a system hazard, as defined. The maximum degree or intensity of pollution to which the potable water system could be degraded under this definition would be one that causes a nuisance or is aesthetically objectionable or causes minor damage to the system or its appurtenances.
HEALTH AGENCY. The State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (Division of Health Services), NCDEHNR.
INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS. 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 or non-health hazard if introduced into a public or consumer potable water system. The FLUIDS may include, but are not limited to: process waters; chemicals in fluid form; acids and alkalis; oils, gases; and the like.
INDUSTRIAL PIPING SYSTEM, CONSUMER'S. Any system used by the consumer for transmission of or to confine or store any fluid, solid or gaseous substance other than an approved water supply. A system includes all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment and appurtenances used to produce, convey or store substances which are or may be polluted or contaminated.
ISOLATION. The act of confining a localized hazard within a consumer's water system by installing approved backflow prevention assemblies. (Disclaimer: town's Public Utilities Department may make recommendations, upon facility inspection, as to the usages of isolation devices/assemblies, but does not assume or have responsibility whatsoever for the installations.)
POINT OF DELIVERY. At the property line of the customer, adjacent to the public street where the town's mains are located or at a point on the customer's property where the meter is located. The customer shall be responsible for all water piping and control devices located on the customer's side of the point of delivery.
POLLUTION. An impairment of the 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 the aesthetic qualities of the waters for domestic use.
POTABLE WATER. Water from any source which has been investigated by the State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources (Division of Health Services) and which has been approved for human consumption.
PUBLIC POTABLE WATER SYSTEM. Any publicly or privately owned water system operated as a public utility, under a current State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources permit, to supply water for public consumption or use. This system will include 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.
REDUCED PRESSURE, PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY. An assembly containing within its structure a minimum of two independently acting, approved check valves, together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent, pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The first check valve reduces the supply pressure a predetermined amount so that during normal flow and at cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the pressure differential relief valve, by discharge to atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the checks less than the supply pressure. The unit shall include tightly closing shut-off valves located at each end of the assembly and each assembly shall be fitted with properly located test cocks. The assembly is designed to protect against a health hazard (i.e., contaminant).
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE, DETECTOR ASSEMBLY. A specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly with a specific bypass water meter and a meter-sized approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. The meter shall register (in U.S. gallons) accurately for only very low rates of flow and shall show a registration for all rates of flow. This assembly shall be used to protect against health hazard (i.e., contaminant).
SERVICE CONNECTIONS. The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system (i.e., where the town loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer's water system).
VACUUM BREAKER, ATMOSPHERIC TYPE. The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system (i.e., where the town loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer's water system).
VACUUM BREAKER, PRESSURE TYPE. An assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly must be equipped with properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves attached at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a health hazard (i.e., contaminant) under a back-siphonage condition only.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or operator of a public potable water system, providing an approved water supply to the public.
WATER SUPPLY, APPROVED.
(1) Any public potable water supply which has been investigated and approved by the State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources. The system must be operating under a valid health permit.
(2) In determining what constitutes an approved water supply, the State Division of Health Services shall have the final judgment as to its safety and potability.
WATER SUPPLY, AUXILIARY. Any water supply on or available to the premises other that the purveyor's approved public potable water supply. These auxiliary water supplies may include water from another purveyor's public water supply or any natural source such as well, spring, river, stream and the like, used water or industrial fluids. These waters may be polluted, contaminated or objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.
WATER SUPPLY, UNAPPROVED. A water supply which has not been approved for human consumption by the State Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.
WATER, USED. Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the control of the water purveyor.
(Ord. passed 6-21-2011)