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(A) Determination.
(1) No service shall be approved until the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC has been provided with information or has surveyed the private water system to determine the degree of hazard and decides the type of backflow prevention assembly to be installed to protect the city public water supply.
(2) Any water service customer, making any modification to the private water system’s use or configuration, which may change the degree of hazard, shall notify in writing the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC before any modification is made. If the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC determines that such modification requires a greater degree of backflow prevention assembly, that assembly must be installed prior to any modification of use or configuration.
(3) If the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC or his or her designee is unable to survey any portion of a private water system to determine the degree of hazard, due to confidential activities, a reduced pressure zone assembly will be required.
(B) Degree of hazard.
(1) HEALTH HAZARD. Actual or potential threat of contamination that presents an imminent danger to the public health with consequence of serious illness or death.
(2) NON-HEALTH HAZARD. One that presents foreseeable and significant potential for pollution, nuisance, aesthetically objectionable or other undesirable alterations of the city’s public drinking water supply.
(C) Minimum backflow prevention assembly requirements.
(1) Minimum requirements for backflow prevention are as follows:
(1) Degree of Hazard
Degree of Hazard: | RPZ or RPDA | DCVA or DCDA | AG |
Health hazard | X | X | |
Non-health hazard | X | ||
Notes: AG = Airgap DCVA=Double check air valve assembly DCDA = Double check detector assembly (fire protection systems w/o chemicals or pumps) RPZ = Reduced pressure zone assembly RPDA = Reduced pressure detector assembly (fire protection systems with chemicals or pumps) | |||
(2) High Hazard Facilities that require a backflow prevention assembly:
a. Lawn sprinkler systems with chemical injection or booster pump
b. Wastewater treatment plants
c. Connection to an unapproved water system or unapproved auxiliary water supply
d. Connection to tanks, pumps, lines, steam boilers or vessels that handle sewage,
e. lethal substances, toxic or radioactive substances
f. Fire sprinkler systems with booster pump facilities or chemical additives
g. Buildings with five or more stories above ground level
h. Hospitals and other medical facilities
i. Morgues, mortuaries and autopsy facilities
j. Metal plating facilities
k. Bottling plants (subject to back pressure)
l. Canneries
m. Battery manufacturers
n. Exterminators and lawn care companies
o. Chemical processing plants
p. Dairies
q. Film laboratories
r. Car wash facilities
s. Dye works
t. Laundries
u. Swimming pools
v. Waterfront facilities
(3) (a) Filling of tanks/tankers or any other container from a city fire hydrant is strictly prohibited unless it has been equipped with the proper meter and approved backflow prevention assembly. The city will issue a permit for this tank/tanker or container. Any unauthorized connection to a fire hydrant is considered an illegal cross-connection to the city’s public water system and will be subject to penalties as set forth in the Fee Schedule.
(b) Exemption: All fire apparatuses are exempt from the backflow prevention requirements only if fighting fire or training. If training they are asked to notify the city’s Backflow ORC. However, if fire apparatus has been used to haul non-potable water, it is to be cleaned and recertified prior to connecting to a city fire hydrant.
(c) All double check valve assemblies installed on irrigation systems prior to 2020 shall be allowed to remain in service until they fail and can longer be repaired. At that time, they shall be evaluated for degree of hazard.
(4) (a) If it has been determined a water service customer’s private water system has an imminent hazard, the water service customer must install an approved backflow prevention assembly specified by the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC and this division.
(b) This assembly must be installed within 24 hours of notification from the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC. If the water service customer fails to install the specified assembly within the allowed time period, water service to the water service customer’s private water system will be terminated and the water service customer may be subject to civil penalties.
(c) In the event the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC is unable to notify the water service customer within 24 hours of determining an imminent hazard exists, the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC may terminate water service until the specified assembly is installed. These actions may be carried out under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
(Ord. passed 6-19-18; Am. Ord. passed 1-21-20; Am. Ord. passed 11-19-24)
(A) In the event the water service customer’s private water system becomes contaminated or polluted the water service customer shall immediately notify the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC or the Distribution Superintendent.
(B) In the event the water service customer has reason to believe that a backflow incident has occurred between the water service customer’s private water system and the public water system the water service customer shall immediately notify the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC or the Distribution Superintendent so that appropriate actions can be taken to isolate and remove the contamination or pollution.
(Ord. passed 6-19-18; Am. Ord. passed 11-19-24)
(A) Notification of violation.
(1) A written notice will be presented to any water service customer who has been found to be in violation of any part of this division.
(2) This first notice must explain the violation and give the time period within which the violation must be corrected.
(3) A second notice will give 30 additional days to correct all violations as required by this division.
(4) A third notice will be a civil penalty allowing 15 more days to comply before the penalties begin.
(5) In the event a water service customer found to be in violation of this division fails to correct the violation within the specified time or, fails to pay any civil penalties expense assessed under this division, water service will be terminated.
(B) Civil and other penalties.
(1) Unprotected cross-connection involving a private water system, which is of a health hazard: $1,000 per day, not to exceed $10,000.
(2) Unprotected cross-connection involving a tank/tanker or other container hooked to a fire hydrant: $1,000 per occurrence.
(3) Unprotected cross-connection involving a private water system, which is of a non-health hazard: $500 per day, not to exceed $5,000.
(4) (a) Any violation of the requirements and prohibitions of this division including failure to address an unprotected cross connection is hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be corrected or abated as directed by the requirements of this division.
(b) Any person(s) creating a public nuisance or failing to abate such shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 6 Article II, “Nuisances,” governing such nuisances, including reimbursing the city for any costs incurred in removing, abating or remedying said nuisance.
(5) Tester submitting false records which are required by this division: $1,000. This will also result in removal of the tester from the approved testers list. Notification of the school where the tester was certified and the tester’s behavior shall be reported to the North Carolina Division of Water Resources.
(6) Failure to submit records which are required by this division: $500.
(7) Failure to test or maintain backflow prevention assemblies as required by this division: $100 per day, up to and including termination of water service.
(Ord. passed 6-19-18; Am. Ord. passed 1-21-20; Am. Ord. passed 11-19-24)
DIVISION 3: PRIVATE FIRE HYDRANTS AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
All connections and systems for private fire hydrants or sprinkler systems shall be made according to the requirements of this article.
(1989 Code, § 16-61) Penalty, see § 15-72
Plans for the proposed installation of private fire hydrants and sprinkler systems must be approved by the property owner’s insurance carrier. A copy of the approved plans must be submitted to the city for review by the City Project Manager and Chief Building Official who shall make recommendations to the City Manager for final approval. Connections for systems outside the city limits must be approved by the City Council or City Manager prior to compliance with this section.
(1989 Code, § 16-62)
(A) On all new systems referred to in this division and on all such systems being renovated, the owner shall:
(1) Provide and install at his expense a fire line meter where it is anticipated that water for purposes other than fire water will be used. The make, design and size must be approved, before purchase, by the city;
(2) Provide and install at his expense a detector check or fire line detector meter where it is anticipated that only fire water will be used. The make, design and size shall be approved by the city;
(3) A double check valve system shall be installed between the sprinkler system and the city water supply to prevent backflow. The detector check may be considered one check valve.
(B) If, after installation of the system and a detector check or fire line detector meter, it is determined that other than fire water is being used, the property owner shall be required to provide and install at his expense a fire line meter within 60 days of notification by the city according to division (A) above.
(1989 Code, § 16-63) Penalty, see § 15-72
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