941.01 DEFINITIONS.

   Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meanings of the terms used in this chapter shall be as follows:

   (1)    "Air gap separation" means the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supply water to a tank, plumbing fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle.

   (2)    "Approved" means that a backflow preventer or method has been accepted by the water purveyor and the Director of Public Utilities as suitable for the proposed use.

   (3)    "Auxiliary water system" means any water system on or available to the premises other than the public water system and includes the water supplied by the system. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public water system; or water from a source such as wells, lakes or streams; or process fluids; or used water. They may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute a water source or system over which the water purveyor does not have control.

   (4)    "Backflow" means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than the intended source of the potable water supply.

   (5)    "Backsiphonage" means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water system by means of a reversal of flow pressure drop, pressure loss or induced vacuum.

   (6)    "Backflow preventer" means any device or means to prevent backflow into a potable water system.

   (7)    "Consumer" means the owner or person in control of any premises supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water system.

   (8)    "Consumer's water system" or "water distribution pipe" means any water system located on the consumer's premises as defined in the Ohio Plumbing Code, section 4101:2-51-01. A household plumbing system shall be considered to be a consumer's water system.

   (9)    "Contamination" means an impairment of the quality of the water by sewage, process fluids or waste to a degree which could create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through spread of disease by exposure.

   (10)    "Cross-connection" means any arrangement whereby backflow can occur.

   (11)    "Degree of hazard" is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse effect upon the potable water system.

   (12)    "Director" means the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

   (13)    "Double check valve assembly" means an assembly composed of two single, independently acting check valves including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the water-tightness of each check valve.

   (14)    "Health hazard" means any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation that creates, or may create, a danger to the health and well-being of users. "Severe", as used to qualify "health hazard", means a hazard to the health of the user that could reasonably be expected to result in significant morbidity or death.

   (15)    "Interchangeable connection" means an arrangement or device that will allow alternate but not simultaneous use of two sources of water.

   (16)    "Nonpotable water" means water not safe for drinking, personal or culinary use.

   (17)    "Person" means the State, any political subdivision, public or private corporation, individual, partnership or other legal entity.

   (18)    "Pollution" means the presence in water of any foreign substance that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.

   (19)    "Potable water" means water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the Department of Health of the State.

    (20)    "Process fluids" means any fluids or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, pollutional or system hazard if introduced into the public or a potable consumer water system. This includes, but not limited to:

      A.    Polluted or contaminated waters;

      B.    Process waters;

      C.    Used waters originating from the public water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;

      D.    Cooling waters;

      E.    Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams or irrigation systems;

      F.    Chemicals in solution or suspension;

      G.    Oils, gases, acids, alkalis and other liquids and gaseous fluids used on industrial or other processes, or for fire fighting purposes;

   (21)    "Public water system" means any publicly or privately owned potable water system subject to Ohio R.C. Chapter 6109.

   (22)    "Reduced pressure principle backflow preventer" means a device containing a minimum of two independently acting check valves together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the check valve at less than the supply pressure. The unit shall include tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with the properly located test cocks.

   (23)    "Service connection" means the terminal end of a water service pipe from the public water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.

   (24)    "System hazard" means a condition posing an actual or potential threat of damage to the physical properties of the public water system or a potable consumer's water system.

   (25)    "Pollutional hazard" means a condition through which aesthetically objectionable or degrading material not dangerous to health may enter the public water system or a potable consumer's water system.

   (26)    "User's water" means any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the service connection and is no longer under the control of the water purveyor.

      (Ord. 87-4-36. Passed 4-22-87.)

   (27)   "Water purveyor" means the individual at a facility responsible for the on-site supervision of technical operations and maintenance as assigned by and reporting to the Director of Public Utilities in accordance to Rules 3745-7-01 to 3745-7-16 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

   (28)   "Supplier of water" means the owner or operator of a public water system.

      (Ord. 97-10-119. Passed 10-22-97.)