(A) A cross-connection shall be defined as any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise-separate systems, one of which contains potable water from the town’s 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, with the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
(B) No person, firm or corporation shall establish, permit to be established, maintain 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 said municipality unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of said supply shall have been approved by the town’s Municipal Water and by the state’s Department of Environmental Management, in accordance with 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(C) 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-connection with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspection and reinspection shall be established by the town based on the potential health hazards involved.
(D) Upon the presentation of credentials, a representative of the town 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. A refusal of access or a refusal of requested pertinent information shall be deemed evidence of the presence of cross-connections.
(E) The town’s Municipal Water 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 as are 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 occupant 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 has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(F) If it is deemed by the town’s Municipal Water that a cross-connection or an emergency endangers the public health, safety or welfare, requiring immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the Town Clerk-Treasurer and delivered to the consumer’s premises, then service may be immediately discontinued. The consumer shall have the opportunity for a hearing within ten days of such emergency discontinuance.
(G) All consumers using toxic or hazardous liquids and all hospitals, mortuaries, wastewater treatment plants, laboratories and all other hazardous users shall install and maintain a reduced-pressure principal 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 and shall not be installed below ground level.
(H) This section does not supersede the state’s Plumbing Code or 327 I.A.C. 8-10, but rather is supplementary to them.
(I) In addition to 327 I.A.C. 8-10-4(c), certain facilities may require a backflow-prevention device. The need for a device shall be determined by the Superintendent of Water. Once determined, the facility will have not less than 90 days to install a backflow-prevention device before being determined noncompliant.
(J) In the judgment of the Superintendent of Water, if an approved backflow-prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system, then the Superintendent of Water will give notice to the water consumer to install such approved device immediately. The water consumer, at his or her own expense, shall install such 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 device as are required by the Superintendent of Water and in accordance with 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(Ord. 2019-9, passed 9-3-2019) Penalty, see § 10.99