A. Established: Pursuant to title 17, sections 7583-7605, inclusive, of the California Code of Regulations, entitled "Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections", the City hereby establishes a cross-connection control program to protect the public water supply system from contamination due to potential and actual cross-connections.
B. Responsibility: The Building Inspector for the City shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing the cross-connection control program. An appropriate backflow prevention assembly shall be installed by and at the expense of the water user at each user connection where required to prevent backflow from the water user's premises to the domestic water system. It shall be the water user's responsibility to comply with the City's requirements.
C. Affected Services:
1. Premises having services over one inch (1") shall have an approved backflow device installed.
2. Premises where substances harmful to health are handled under pressure in a manner which could permit their entry into public water system shall have an approved backflow device installed.
3. Premises that have internal cross-connections which are not abated to the satisfaction of the City shall have an approved backflow device installed.
4. Premises where cross-connections are likely to occur and entry is restricted so that cross-connection inspection cannot be made with sufficient frequency shall have an approved backflow device installed.
5. Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established, the water user shall have an approved backflow device installed.
D. Cross-Connection Protection Requirements: The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow into the public water supply system shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard, actual or potential, that exists on the water user's premises. Unprotected cross-connections with the public water supply are prohibited. The type of backflow prevention assembly that may be required (listed in decreasing level of protection) includes: air-gap separation (AG), reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP) and a double check valve assembly (DC). The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the City. The minimum type of backflow protection required to protect the approved water supply at the user's water connection to premises with varying degrees of hazard are listed in Table 1 of section 7605, title 17. Situations which are not covered in Table 1 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the water supplier or health agency.
E. Backflow Prevention Assemblies:
1. Only backflow prevention assemblies which have been approved by the City shall be acceptable for installation by a water user. A list of approved backflow prevention assemblies will be provided upon request to any affected customer. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in a manner prescribed in section 7603, title 17. Location of the assemblies shall be as close as practical to the user's connection. The City shall have the final authority in determining the required location of a backflow prevention assembly.
2 Testing of backflow assemblies shall be conducted only by qualified testers, and testing will be the responsibility of the water user. Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation or repair. More frequent testing may be required if deemed necessary by the Building Inspector for the City. No assembly shall be placed back in service unless it is functioning as required. Assemblies shall be serviced, overhauled or replaced whenever they are found to be defective and all costs of testing, repair and maintenance shall be borne by the water user.
3. Approval must be obtained from the City prior to removing, relocating or replacing a backflow prevention assembly.
F. Administration: The cross-connection control program shall be administered by the Building Inspector for the City. The City will establish and maintain a list of approved backflow prevention assemblies as well as a list of approved backflow prevention assembly testers. The City shall conduct necessary surveys of water user premises to evaluate the degree of potential health hazards. The City shall notify user when an assembly needs to be tested. The notice shall contain the date when the test must be completed.
G. Water Service Termination: When the City encounters water uses that represent a clear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that cannot be immediately abated, the water service shall be immediately terminated, followed by registered mail of the notice of immediate hazard and of the termination of water service by the City. Conditions or water uses that create a basis for water service termination shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Refusal to install or test a backflow prevention assembly or to repair or replace a faulty backflow prevention assembly (perceived risk).
2. Direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer lines (confirmed risk).
3. Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a system or equipment containing contaminants (confirmed risk).
4. Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and an auxiliary water system (private well) (confirmed risk).
For condition 1, the City will terminate service to a water user's premises after proper notification has been sent by registered mail of intent to terminate water service. If no action is taken within the allowed time period, water service shall be terminated.
For condition 2, 3 or 4, the City shall take the following steps:
a. Make reasonable effort to advise the water user of the intent to terminate the water service.
b. Terminate water service and lock service valve. The water service shall remain inactive until correction of violations has been approved by the City. (Ord. 496 N.S., 8-17-1992; 1996 Code)