(A) Introduction.
(1) This regulation shall apply to all users connected to the City of Goldsboro's public water system.
(2) This regulation complies with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), the North Carolina State Administrative Code (Title 15A, Subchapter 8C), and the North Carolina State Building Code (Volume II) as they pertain to cross connections with the public water supply.
(B) Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is:
(1) To define the city as the water purveyor in the elimination of all cross-connections within the public water system;
(2) To protect the public water system of the city from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolation within the customers’ internal potable water distribution system(s), or the customers’ private water system(s), such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water system;
(3) To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, direct or indirect, between the city’s customers' potable water system(s) and non-potable water systems, plumbing fixtures and industrial piping systems; and
(4) To provide a continuing inspection program of cross-connection control; which will systematically and effectively prevent potential contamination or pollution of the public water system.
(C) Responsibility. The city endeavors to protect its public water system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. If the city requires an approved backflow prevention assembly to protect the water distribution system, the city will give notice to the customer to install an approved backflow prevention assembly(s). If the assembly(s) is not installed as required by the city, the water service may be disconnected until such assembly(s) has been properly installed.
(D) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AIR GAP (AG). The unobstructed, vertical, physical separation between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other vessel and the flood level rim of said receiving vessel. An approved AIR GAP, shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, as measured vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel. In no case shall the AIR GAP be less than one inch.
APPROVED. Accepted by the city as meeting an applicable specification(s) stated or cited in this regulation, or as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY. Any water supply on or available to the consumer's premises other than the city's approved public water supply.
BACKFLOW. The reversal of the normal direction of flow of water caused by either backpressure or backsiphonage.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER. An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
BACKPRESSURE. Backpressure occurs when the customer's water system pressure exceeds the water purveyor's system pressure. This can occur through an increase in the downstream pressure, a decrease in the water purveyor's pressure or a combination of both. Increases in the customer's water pressure above the water purveyor's pressure can be created by booster pumps, temperature increases (such as in a boiler), head pressure caused by elevation and the like.
BACKSIPHONAGE. Backflow caused by negative or reduced pressure in the supply piping. BACKSIPHONAGE occurs when the supply line pressure falls below atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi). Decreases in the pressure of the potable water system can be caused by fire fighting, flushing of a water main, a break in the water main, water mains being shut down for maintenance and the like.
CERTIFIED TESTER. An individual who has demonstrated competency to test and repair backflow prevention assemblies as required by the city. Each person who is certified to make competent test, 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 must hold a certificate of completion from an approved training program in testing and repair of backflow prevention assemblies and have at least two years experience under and be employed by a state licensed plumber.
CONTAINMENT. Preventing the impairment of the potable water supply by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the potable water, which creates a potential or actual hazard to the public health through the introduction of hazardous or toxic substances or waterborne health hazards in the form of physical or chemical contaminants or biological organisms and pathogens.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any actual or potential connection, link or structural arrangement, direct or indirect, between the water purveyor's water supply and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into any part of the potable water system any substance other than the 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.
CROSS-CONNECTIONS CONTROLLED. A water service connection between a potable water system and a non-potable water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.
CUSTOMER. Any person, firm or corporation responsible for any property at which water from the city public water system is received. In the absence of other parties or the failure of other persons to accept the responsibilities herein set forth, the owner of the private water system or property owner shall be ultimately responsible.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY (DCVA). An assembly consisting of two independently operating spring loaded check valves with full flow characteristic resilient seated shut-off valves on each side of the check valves, plus four properly located resilient seated test cocks for the testing of each check valve. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California. To be approved by the city, these assemblies shall be readily accessible for in-line maintenance and testing, and be installed horizontally, unless specifically approved for vertical installation by the city.
DOUBLE CHECK DETECTOR ASSEMBLY (DCDA). 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. This assembly shall be used to protect against a moderate hazard.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF. The potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the public potable water distribution system as determined by the city.
(1) MODERATE HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of pollution or other adverse effect to the physical properties of the water purveyor’s or the customer’s potable water system.
(2) SEVERE HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical or toxic nature to the water purveyor's potable water system or to a customer's potable water system that could cause a danger to health, serious illness or death.
ISOLATION. The act of confining a localized hazard at the source of the said hazard within a plumbing or distribution system by installing approved backflow prevention assembly(s).
POINT OF SERVICE. The point of service will generally be at the property line of the customer, adjacent to the public right-of-way where the city water mains are located, or at a point on the customer's property where the meter is located.
POLLUTION. An impairment of the quality of the water to a degree that does not create a hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such water.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER (PVB). An assembly approved for residential lawn sprinkler irrigation systems consisting of a spring loaded air-inlet valve, with full flow characteristic resilient seated shut-off valves, one on the inlet and one on the outlet side of the PVB, plus two properly located resilient seated test cocks for testing the assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California. It cannot be subjected to backpressure of any kind and shall be installed at least 12 inches above the highest irrigation head and/or downstream piping. Chemigation or aspiration of any herbicide, pesticide, fungicide or fertilizer is not permitted for use with a PVB. To be approved by the city, these assemblies shall be readily accessible for in-line maintenance and testing, and be installed vertically in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.
PROCESS WATER. Water that goes through various procedures in the making or treatment of a product.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. The potable water system owned and operated by the city. This system includes all distribution mains, lines, pipes, connections, storage tanks and other facilities conveying potable water from the water plant to the service connection of each customer.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE ASSEMBLY (RP). An assembly consisting of two independently operating spring loaded check valves with a hydraulically operating, spring loaded mechanical differential pressure relief valve located between the check valves, and at the same time lower than the first check valve. The assembly shall include four properly located resilient seated test cocks and full flow characteristic resilient seated shut-off valves at each end of the assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California. The assembly
shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves at an acceptable pressure level less than the pressure on the purveyor's supply side of the assembly. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the two check valves shall be less than the pressure on the purveyor's distribution supply side of the assembly. In case of leakage of either of the check valves, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain the reduced pressure in the zone between the check valves by discharging to the atmosphere. When the differential pressure in the zone is two pounds per square inch or less than the supply pressure, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere. To be approved by the city, these assemblies shall be readily accessible for in-line maintenance and testing, and be installed horizontally, in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.
REDUCED PRESSURE DETECTOR ASSEMBLY (RPDA). A specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved reduced pressure principle assembly with a specific bypass water meter and a meter-sized approved reduced pressure principle assembly. This assembly shall be used to protect against a severe hazard.
SERVICE CONNECTION. A piping connection between the water purveyor's public water system and a customer's system.
WATER, POTABLE. Water from any source, which has been approved for human consumption by the appropriate agency of the State of North Carolina.
WATER, NON-POTABLE. Water that has not been approved for human consumption by the appropriate agency of the State of North Carolina.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or operator of the public water distribution system.
(E) Water system.
(1) The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the city's water system and the customer's system.
(2) The city's system shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system; and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the city, up to the point where the customer's system begins.
(3) The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system.
(4) The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for the delivery of water from the source to the customer’s system.
(5) The customer’s system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the city’s distribution system, which are utilized in conveying potable water to points of use.
(F) Facilities that require assemblies.
(1) Any customer either operating or planning to operate facilities identified by the city as having a potential for backflow into the city's public water supply system, shall install an approved backflow prevention assembly on all such service connections according to the degree of hazard present. The following facilities have been identified by the city as having a potential for backflow and require backflow prevention assemblies as indicated:
(a) Automotive service station, dealerships.
1. Moderate hazard: DCVA
2. Severe hazard (such as wash pits, hydraulic equipment): RP
(b) Bakeries: DCVA
(c) Beauty shops/barber.
1. Moderate Hazard (such as hair cuts): DCVA
2. Severe hazard (such as washing hair, chemical treatment): RP
(d) Beverage bottling plants or breweries: RP
(e) Canneries, packing houses or rendering plants: RP
(f) Chemical processing plants: RP
(g) Church baptismal: DCVA
(h) Commercial carwash facilities: RP
(i) Commercial establishments using processed water:
1. Moderate hazard: DCVA
2. Severe hazard: RP
(j) Commercial greenhouses: RP
(k) Concrete/asphalt plants: RP
(l) Dairies or cold storage plants: RP
(m) Dentist or orthodontist: RP
(n) Dye works: RP
(o) Film laboratories or photo processing: RP
(p) Fire systems
1. Moderate hazard: DCDA
2. Severe hazard: (such as foam, antifreeze, booster pump): RPDA
(q) Funeral homes: RP
(r) Hospitals, medical buildings or medical clinics: RP
(s) Laboratories: RP
(t) Laundries:
1. Moderate hazard: DCVA
2. Severe hazard: (such as dry cleaners): RP
(u) Lawn irrigation systems:
1. Moderate hazard: PVB, RP
2. Severe hazard: (such as booster pump, chemical system): RP
(v) Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing or fabricating plants: RP
(w) Morgues, mortuaries or autopsy facilities: RP
(x) Multi-story buildings:
1. (Three or four stories) moderate hazard: DCVA
2. (Five or more stories) severe hazard: RP
(y) Nursing and convalescent homes: RP
(z) Oil and gas production, storage or transmission properties: RP
(aa) Pest control (exterminating or fumigating): RP
(bb) Power plants: RP
(cc) Restaurants: DCVA
(dd) Restricted, classified or other closed facilities: RP
(ee) Sand or gravel plants: RP
(ff) Schools:
1. Moderate hazard: DCVA
2. Severe hazard: RP
(gg) Sewage or storm drain facilities: RP
(hh) Swimming pools: RP
(ii) Veterinary hospitals or clinics: RP
(jj) Wastewater treatment plants: RP
(kk) Water treatment plants: RP
(ll) Waterfront commercial facilities and industries: RP
(2) Other types of facilities not listed may also be required to install approved backflow prevention assemblies if determined necessary by the city.
(3) Approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed on the customer's system at the point of service to any facility that the city has identified as having a potential for backflow.
(G) Policy.
(1) When it has been determined by the city, that a requested service requires the installation of a backflow prevention assembly, the customer shall, prior to receiving such service, submit for review and approval, plans and specifications of the proposed facilities. The submittal shall include a description of proposed processes, operations and the like, in such detail as needed to evaluate potential effects on the city's system. Proposed assemblies shall be identified by size, manufacturer and model number or by specification.
(2) When it has been determined by the city, that an existing service may require the installation of a backflow prevention assembly, the customer shall submit for review such information as may be necessary to permit the city to evaluate the potential for undesirable effects on its system. Upon notification of the customer by the city that a backflow prevention assembly(s) is necessary, the customer shall submit plans and specifications for approval and install or cause to be installed entirely at the customer's expense such assemblies as may be necessary.
(3) If it has been determined by the city that an imminent health hazard exist, then the water service to the facility may be terminated.
(4) All existing facilities which pose a potential severe hazard to the public water system shall install a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the point of service within 60 days of notification by the city.
(5) All existing industrial and commercial facilities that have or may have an actual or potential cross-connection, that are not identified as a "severe hazard" shall be considered moderate hazard facilities. All existing moderate hazard facilities shall install a double-check valve assembly at the point of service within 90 days of notification by the city.
(6) When required, an approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service line to a customer’s water system in accordance with the requirements of the city.
(7) Reduced pressure principle assemblies shall be installed at the point of service in a horizontal position and in a location in which no portion of the assembly will become submerged under any circumstance or be subjected to temperatures below freezing. Pit and/or below grade installations are prohibited.
(8) All double-check valve assemblies shall be installed at the point of service in drainable pits wherever below ground installation is necessary. Double-check valve assemblies may be installed in a vertical position with prior approval from the city provided the flow of water is in an upward direction.
(9) Pressure vacuum breaker assemblies shall be installed a minimum of 12 inches above the highest outlet (sprinkler head) prior to any branching of the customer's water system.
(10) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed such that periodic testing and necessary repairs can be conveniently performed by city approved backflow testers.
(11) No water service shall be provided to any facility or service that requires the installation of a backflow prevention assembly until the installed assembly has passed the test performed by a certified tester, and the test results have been received by the city.
(12) No new or existing water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the city unless the water supply is protected by an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) as required by federal and state laws and regulations.
(13) Water mains served by the city but not maintained by the city shall be considered cross-connections. The degree of protection required shall be based upon the degree of hazard, as determined by the city.
(14) No person shall fill special use tanks or tankers from the public water system except at a city's approved location equipped with an air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly properly installed on the city's water supply, unless otherwise approved by the city.
(15) Ownership, testing, and maintenance of the assembly shall be the responsibility of the customer.
(16) It shall be the customer's responsibility to notify the city if the customer's water system becomes contaminated or polluted or if there is reason to believe that a backflow incident has occurred from the customer's water system into the public water system.
(17) Upon notification to the customer by the city that the existing backflow prevention assembly is not in compliance with these regulations, the customer shall replace the existing backflow prevention assembly with an approved backflow prevention assembly in accordance with the requirements of the city.
(18) Removal of an approved backflow prevention assembly from a service connection that has been deemed a hazard by the city may result in immediate disconnection from the city’s public water system.
(19) No person shall connect a hose to a fire hydrant unless an approved backflow prevention assembly is connected to the hydrant, unless otherwise approved by the city.
(20) The customer’s system shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times to the city's personnel to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the city may deny or immediately discontinue service to the premise by providing for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected the deficiency in compliance with these regulations.
(21) Backflow prevention assemblies that shall be connected to the city's public water system is limited to those assemblies approved by the city and the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California.
(22) Installation of all backflow assemblies shall be the customer's responsibility unless otherwise stated by the city. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be located downstream of the meter, at the point of service or at a location approved by the city.
(23) Any facility or customer found to be in noncompliance with the provisions of these regulations and/or that neglect to correct a violation may have their water service terminated.
(H) Testing and repair of assemblies.
(1) Testing of backflow prevention assemblies shall be performed by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester. Such tests shall be conducted upon installation, prior to receiving service, and annually or as needed thereafter. A record of all testing and repairs is to be retained by the customer. Copies of the records shall be provided to the city within ten business days after the completion of any testing, and/or repair work.
(2) (a) Any time that repairs to backflow prevention assemblies are deemed necessary, whether through annual or required testing, or routine inspection by the consumer or by the city, these repairs shall be completed within a specified time in accordance with the degree of hazard. In no case shall this time period exceed:
1. Moderate hazard facilities - 15 business days
2. Severe hazard facilities - ten business days.
(b) The city reserves the right to terminate water service if repairs are not initiated within the designated time frame.
(3) Submission of falsified test results or material that is incomplete in any manner by a certified tester may result in the tester being removed from the city's approved tester list.
(4) Only original manufactured parts maybe used to repair an assembly.
(5) All backflow prevention assembly testers shall submit a copy of their tester’s certification to the city prior to testing any backflow prevention assembly(s) connected to the city’s public water system.
(6) All equipment used to test backflow prevention assemblies within the city's public water system shall be properly maintained and calibrated annually in accordance to the manufacturer's guidelines. A copy of the calibration certificate shall be submitted to the city.
(Ord. 2004-89, passed 11-15-04)