For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. If a word or term used in this subchapter is not contained in the following list, its definition, or other technical terms used, shall have the meanings or definitions listed in the most recent edition of the Manual of Cross Connection Control published by the foundation for Cross connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California, the following definitions shall apply to this subchapter.
AIR GAP. A physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply piping and/or appurtenance and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel, plumbing fixture or other device. An “approved air-gap separation” shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel, plumbing fixture or other device in no case less than one inch.
APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY Or ASSEMBLY. An assembly to counteract back pressure or prevent backsiphonage.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE or ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER OR AVB. A device used to prevent backsiphonage in non-health hazard conditions. This device cannot be tested and cannot prevent backpressure backflow.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY. Any water source or system other than the public water system that may be available in the building or on the property, including ground water or surface waters used for industrial, irrigation or any other purpose.
BACKFLOW. The flow in the direction opposite to the normal flow or the introduction of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the water system of the city’s water.
BACKPRESSURE. Any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system (by any means) above the supply pressure at the point of consideration which would cause, or tend to cause, a reversal of the normal direction of flow and the introduction of fluids, mixtures or substances from any source other than the intended source.
BACKSIPHONAGE. The flow of water or other liquids, mixture or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than its intended source caused by a sudden reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
BORE SIGHT or BORE SIGHT TO DAYLIGHT. Providing adequate drainage for backflow prevention assemblies installed in vaults through the use of an unobstructed drain pipe.
CITY or THE CITY. The City of Ferris, Texas or its representative.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT. Any property or location which is used primarily for the manufacture, production, storage, wholesaling or retailing of any good or ware which is or may be placed in the flow of commerce or any property or location which is used primarily for the provision of any service.
COMMISSION. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
CONTAMINATES. Any foreign material, solid or liquid, not common to the potable water supply which makes or may make the water unfit or undesirable for human or animal consumption.
CONTAMINATION. The admission of contaminants into the potable water supply system.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any connection, physical or otherwise, between a potable water supply system and any plumbing fixture or any tank, receptacle, equipment or device, through which it may be possible for any nonpotable, used, unclean, polluted and contaminated water, or other substances, to enter into any part of such potable water system under any conditions or set of conditions.
CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL DEVICE. Any device placed upon any connection, physical or otherwise, between a potable water supply system and any plumbing fixture or any tank, receptacle, equipment or device, which is designed to prevent non-potable, used, unclean, polluted and contaminated water, or other substances, from entering into any part of such potable water system under any condition or set of conditions.
DEGREE OF HAZARD. The low or high hazard classification that shall be attached to all actual or potential cross-connections.
(1) HEALTH HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical or toxic nature to the public potable water system or the consumer’s potable water system that would be a danger to health.
(2) HIGH HAZARD. The classification assigned to an actual or potential cross-connection that potentially could allow a substance that may cause illness or death to backflow into the potable water supply.
(3) LOW HAZARD. The classification assigned to an actual or potential cross-connections that potentially could allow a substance that may be objectionable but not hazardous to one’s health to backflow into the potable water supply.
(4) PLUMBING HAZARD. An internal or plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer’s potable water system that may be either a pollutional or a contamination-type hazard.
(5) POLLUTIONAL HAZARD. An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or the potability of the public or the consumer’s potable water system but which would not constitute a health or system hazard, as defined. Maximum degree of intensity of pollution which the potable water system could be degraded under this definition would cause a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances.
(6) SYSTEM HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical properties of the public or consumer’s potable water supply or of a pollution or contamination that would have a detrimental effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Public Works Department who is vested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
DOUBLE CHECK DETECTOR BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or DOUBLE CHECK DETECTOR or DCDA. An assembly composed of a line-size approved double check assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly. The meter shall register accurately for very low rates of flow.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE BACK-FLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or DOUBLE CHECK ASSEMBLY or DOUBLE CHECK or DC. An assembly which consists of two independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closing resilient seated test cocks.
FIRELINE TESTER. A tester who is employed by a state approved fire line contractor and is qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on firelines only.
GENERAL TESTER. A tester who is qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial or irrigation service except fireline.
MOBILE UNIT. Any operation which may have the potential to introduce contaminants into a potable water system from a mobile source. These include, but are not limited to, carpet-cleaning vehicles, water-hauling vehicles, street-cleaning vehicles, liquid-waste vehicles, power-wash operations and pest-control vehicles.
NON-RESIDENTIAL USE. Water used by any person other than a residential customer of the water supply and include all uses not specifically included in “residential uses”.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, associations, corporations, firms, clubs, trustees, receivers, and bodies politic and corporate.
POINT-OF-USE ISOLATION. The appropriate backflow prevention within the consumer’s water system at the point at which the actual or potential cross-connection exists.
POTABLE WATER SUPPLY. Any water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic use.
PREMISES. Any piece of property to which water is provided, including all improvements, mobile structures, and structures located on it.
PREMISES ISOLATION. The appropriate backflow prevention at the service connection between the public water system and the water user.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER or PVB. shall mean an assembly which provides protection against backsiphonage, but does not provide adequate protection against backpressure backflow. The assembly is a combination of a single check valve with an AVB and can be used with downstream resilient seated shutoff valves. In addition, the assembly has suction and discharge gate valves and resilient seated test cocks which allow the full testing of the assembly.
PUBLIC WASTER SYSTEM OR SYSTEM. Any public or privately owned water system which supplies water for public domestic use. The system will include all services, reservoirs, facilities, and any equipment use in the process of producing, treating, storing or conveying water for public consumption.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE ASSEMBLY or RP ASSEMBLY or RP. An assembly containing two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically-operated, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The assembly shall include properly located resilient seated test cocks and a tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valve at the end of the assembly.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE DETECTOR BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY or REDUCED PRESSURE DETECTOR or RPDA. An assembly composed of a line-sized approved reduced pressure principle assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. The meter shall register accurately for very low rates of flow.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY. Any municipal officer or department of the City of Ferris, appointed by the Mayor or City Manager to administer this subchapter.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WATER SYSTEM. A person designated by the City of Ferris to perform cross-connection control duties that shall include, but are not limited to, cross-connection inspections and water use surveys.
RESIDENTIAL USE. Waste used by any residential customer of the water supply and include single family dwellings, duplexes, multiplex, housing and apartments where the individual units are each on a separate meter; or, in cases where two or more units are served by one meter, the units are full-time dwellings.
SERVICE CONNECTION. The point of delivery which the water purveyor loses control of the water.
SPILL-RESISTANT PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER OR SVB. An assembly containing an independently operating, internally loaded check valve and independently operating, loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. This assembly is to be equipped with a properly located resilient seated test cock and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly.
TCEQ. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
TESTER. A person that is a certified backflow prevention assembly technician approved by and registered with the city and the TCEQ.
THERMAL EXPANSION. Heated water that does not have the space to expand.
USED WATER. Water supplied by a public water system to a water user’s system after it has passed through the service connection.
(Ord. O-16-821, passed 7-28-2016)