(A) Cross connection defined. A CROSS CONNECTION is any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which contains potable water from the municipal water system, and the other, water from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gases or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
(B) Prohibition of cross connections. No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be maintained any cross connection. No interconnection shall be established whereby potable water from a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the town may enter the supply or distribution system of the municipality, unless private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of the supply shall have been approved by the Town of Fremont and by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in accordance with 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(C) Duty of town. It shall be the duty of the town to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water system where cross connections with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and re-inspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be established by the town.
(D) Right of entry and inspection. Upon presentation of credentials, the representative of the Town of Fremont shall have the right to request entry at any reasonable time to examine the property served by a connection to the public water system of the town for cross connections. On request, the owner, lessee or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the inspection agency any pertinent information regarding the piping system or systems on such property. The refusal of access or refusal of requested pertinent information shall be deemed evidence of the presence of cross connections.
(E) Discontinuance of water service upon notice. The Town of Fremont is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of this section exists, and to take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service shall be discontinued only after reasonable notice is served on the owner, lessee or occupants of the property or premises where a violation is found or suspected to exist. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross connection(s) has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(F) Emergency discontinuance without notice.
(1) If it be deemed by the Town of Fremont that a cross connection or an emergency endangers public health, safety or welfare and requires immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the Clerk of the Town of Fremont and delivered to the consumer’s premises, service may be immediately discontinued. The consumer shall have an opportunity for a hearing within ten days of emergency discontinuance.
(G) Backflow preventers.
(1) All consumers using toxic or hazardous liquids, all hospitals, mortuaries, wastewater treatment plants, laboratories, and all other hazardous users install and maintain a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer in the main water line serving each building on the premises. The backflow preventer must be installed in an easily accessible location not subject to flooding or freezing.
(2) The reduced pressure principle backflow preventers shall not be installed below ground level.
(H) This section does not supersede the Indiana Plumbing Code, the IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10 or the town plumbing ordinance, but is supplementary to them.
(I) In addition to IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10-4(C), the following customer facilities need a backflow prevention device:
Insert facilities here.
(J) That if, in the judgement of the Superintendent of Water, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system, the Superintendent of Water will give notice to the water consumer to install such an approved device immediately. The water consumer shall, at his or her own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner approved by the Superintendent of Water and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices as required by the Superintendent of Water and in accordance with the IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(1996 Code, § 9-8) (Ord. 2013-04, passed 7-16-2013; Am. Ord. 2021-01, passed 4-20-2021; Am. Ord. 2022-02, passed 6-21-2022)