The purpose of this ordinance is to protect the water supply of City of Hailey from contamination or pollution from any cross connections exiting or potential; and to assure that approved backflow prevention assemblies are tested when put into service and at least on an annual basis thereafter. This ordinance is in compliance with Code 58.01.08.552.06 of the Idaho Administrative code (IDAPA) and the 2017 Plumbing Code as adopted by the State of ldaho.
A. Cross Connections Prohibited: The installation or maintenance of a cross connection is hereby prohibited. Any such cross connection now existing is declared a nuisance and shall be removed or abated upon order of the city. Failure to remove a cross connection or install an approved backflow prevention device as ordered within ten (10) days of the order shall result in discontinuance of municipal water service until compliance is made.
B. Backflow Prevention Devices: Any facility requiring a backflow prevention device shall follow the requirements of the cross connection standards, as amended. The minimum required backflow prevention device shall require a testable double check valve.
C. Inspections Of Existing Buildings, Structures Or Improvements: Inspections by the city or its authorized agent, bearing proper credentials and identification, may be made of any existing building, structures or improvements of any nature receiving water from the municipal water system. The city water division manager or his authorized agent shall make an inspection of any property, building, improvement or structure of any nature receiving water from the municipal water system if there appears probable cause to believe that a cross connection exists or that a backflow prevention device should be installed.
D. Required Installations: Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the owner's expense at the ties on the premises or within any premises where, in the judgment of the city, the nature and extent of activities or the materials stored on the premises would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health and/or be deleterious to the quality of the water should a cross connection occur, even though such cross connection does not exist at the time. In such circumstances, backflow prevention devices may be required in the following premises:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is in compliance with the cross connection standards and are acceptable to the City.
2. Premises having internal cross connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether cross connections exist.
3. Premises having a repeated history of cross connections.
4. Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the Municipal water system or where a cross connection could reasonably be expected to occur, including the handling of process waters and cooling waters.
5. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled in such a way that if back siphonage should occur, a health hazard might result.
6. The following premises, unless the City and/or a Health Officer determine that no hazard exists:
a. Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics.
b. Laboratories.
c. Metal plating industries.
d. Sewage treatment plants.
e. Food or beverage processing plants.
f. Chemical plants using a water process.
g. Petroleum processing or storage plants.
h. Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors.
i. Dry cleaners.
j. Others as specified by the Health Officer.
7. Other premises where backflow prevention devices are reasonably required to protect the Municipal water system.
8. Under circumstances set forth in this subsection, the City shall have the right to require a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device or a proper air gap separation to be installed at the property line.
E. Minimum Backflow Prevention Device: The type of backflow prevention device required to be installed conform with the requirements of the cross connection standards and shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists.
1. An air gap separation and/or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the Municipal water system may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature, or other contaminant which could cause a health or system hazard.
2. In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not hazardous to health, a double check valve assembly, air gap separation, or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed.
3. Where lawn sprinkling systems using the Municipal water system are installed, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, air gap separation, or pressure vacuum breaker assembly shall be installed.
F. Installation: Backflow prevention devices required by this section (with the exception of fire sprinkler or standpipe systems) shall be installed at the water meter no closer than five feet (5') from the property line of the premises, or at a location approved by the City. The device shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance, inspection and testing, and where no part of the device shall be submerged.
G. Annual Testing Required: Backflow prevention devices required by this chapter shall be installed under a permit issued by the City, tested upon installation by the installer and reported to the City, and inspected and approved by qualified City personnel. There shall be no charge for the permit and inspection by the City prior to approval of the installation. Thereafter, the owner shall have such backflow prevention device tested by a certified backflow prevention tester annually. Such testing, together with all maintenance and repair of such device, shall be at the owner's expense and shall be completed no later than one year from the prior year's testing date. All backflow prevention devices shall be tested by a certified backflow prevention device tester at the owner's expense. Whenever a device does not pass an annual test or is found to be defective, the devices shall, at the owner's expense, be repaired, replaced, or isolated within ten (10) business days. Failure of the owner to comply with the rules for installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, isolation, testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this section shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the premises.
H. Approved Backflow Preventive Devices: Any backflow preventive device required by this section shall conform with the requirements of the cross connection standards and Idaho Plumbing Code. These devices shall be furnished and installed by and at the expense of the owner.
I. Irrigation Systems: No irrigation system shall be installed without adequate backflow prevention devices at the point from which the water for irrigation is taken from the Municipal water system, or at a location approved by the City.
J. Fire Sprinkler Protection Systems And Fire Hydrants: All existing fire sprinkler or standpipe protection systems shall have an approved backflow prevention device installed and tested by a licensed fire sprinkler installer. Failure to properly install or maintain the device may result in daily fines as provided for by the International Fire Code and this Code. Any termination of water supply to a required fire sprinkler or standpipe system will prevent the continued occupancy or use of the building until the water supply is reestablished. Fire sprinkler and standpipe systems shall typically be installed on a separate water supply line prior to any water meter. No connection will be made to any fire hydrant by any person without having first received the permission of the City, except for firefighting purposes.
K. Private Water System: No person shall make or permit the cross connection of any private water system to a water line that is served by the Municipal water system, except as provided in this chapter. Whenever an owner connects to the Municipal water system, the owner, at owner's expense, shall physically disconnect any private water system from the Municipal water system in such a manner that water from a private water system will never pass through the same pipes that carry water from the Municipal water system, except as may be approved by the City and Health Officer. (Ord. 1264 § 1, 2020; Ord. 1217, 2017; Ord. 1177, 2015; Ord. 1140, 2013; Ord. 1094, 2011)