For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY; or ASSEMBLY. An assembly to counteract backpressure or prevent backsiphonage which appears on the list of approved assemblies issued by the Director and matches the type of assembly required for isolation of the subject premises as set forth in § 54.21. Types of assemblies include:
(1) AIR GAP. A physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply piping and/or appurtenance, and an open or nonpressure receiving vessel, plumbing fixture, or other device. An "approved AIR GAP separation" must be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel, plumbing fixture, or other device, in no case less than one inch. AIR GAPS can be used to protect against backpressure or backsiphonage of a high health or nonhealth hazard.
(2) ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE; ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER; or AVB. This device cannot be tested and cannot prevent back pressure backflow, but is used to prevent backsiphonage in nonhealth hazard conditions.
(3) DOUBLE CHECK DETECTOR BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; DOUBLE CHECK DETECTOR; or DCDA. An assembly composed of line-size approved double check assembly with bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly. The meter must register accurately for very low rates of flow.
(4) DOUBLE CHECK VALVE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; DOUBLE CHECK ASSEMBLY; DOUBLE CHECK; or DC. An assembly which consists of two independently operating check valves which are spring loaded or weighted. The assembly comes complete with a gate valve on each side of the checks, as well as test cocks to test the checks for tightness.
(5) PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER; or PVB. An assembly which protects against backsiphonage, but does not provide adequate protection against backpressure backflow. The assembly is a combination of a single check valve with an AVB and can be used with downstream shutoff valves. In addition, the assembly has suction and discharge gate valves and test cocks which allows the full testing of the assembly.
(6) REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE ASSEMBLY; RP ASSEMBLY; or RP. An assembly containing two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operated, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The assembly must include properly located resiliently seated test cocks and tightly closing resiliently seated shut-off valves at the end of the assembly.
(7) REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE DETECTOR BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY; REDUCED PRESSURE DETECTOR; or RPDA. An assembly composed of line-size approved reduced pressure principle assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. The meter must register accurately for very low rates of flow.
(8) SPILL-RESISTANT PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER or SVB. An assembly containing an independently operating, internally loaded check valve and independently operating,
loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. This assembly is to be equipped with a properly located test cock and shutoff valves on the suction and discharge ports of the assembly.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY. Any water supply on or available to a premises from a source other than directly through the city water system. AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLIES include all of the following:
(1) Water from another public water system;
(2) Water from a natural source, such as a well, spring, pond, river, or creek;
(3) Reclaimed water; and
(4) Any water supplied by a public water system, including the city water system, that has passed through a point of delivery and is no longer controlled by the city water system.
AWWA. The American Water Works Association.
BACKFLOW. The undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquid, gaseous, or other substances into the distribution pipes of the potable supply of water from any source or sources.
BACKPRESSURE. Any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system (by any means) above the supply pressure at the point of consideration which would cause, or tend to cause, a reversal of the normal direction of flow and the introduction of fluids, mixtures, or substances from any source other than the intended source.
BACKSIPHONAGE. A form of backflow due to a reduction in system pressure which causes a subatmospheric pressure to exist at a site in the water system.
BORESIGHT or BORESIGHT TO DAYLIGHT. Providing adequate drainage for backflow prevention
assemblies installed vaults through the use of an unobstructed drain pipe.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT. Any property or location which is primarily used for the manufacture, production, storage, wholesaling, or rebuilding of any goods or wares which are or may be placed in the flow of commerce, or any property or location which is used primarily for the provision of any service.
COMMISSION. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
CONTAINMENT. The installation of appropriate type or method of backflow protection at the service connection.
CONTAMINANTS. Any foreign material, solid or liquid, not common to the potable water supply which makes or may make the water unfit or undesirable for human consumption.
CONTAMINATION. The entry into or presence in a public water supply system of any substance which may be deleterious to health and/or the quality of the water.
CROSS CONNECTION. Any physical arrangement where a potable water supply is actually or potentially connected, directly or indirectly, with any other non-drinkable water system, used water system, or auxiliary water supply, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, air condition units, fire protection system, or any other assembly which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, sewage, or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of importing contamination into the public water system as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover assemblies, or other temporary or permanent assemblies through which, or because of which, backflow may occur are considered to be CROSS CONNECTIONS.
CUSTOMER. Any person contracting with the city to receive potable water service.
DEGREE OF HAZARD. The hazard classification attached to all actual or potential cross connections, specifically:
(1) HEALTH HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical or toxic nature to the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system that would be a danger to health.
(2) HIGH HAZARD. The classification assigned to an actual or potential cross connection that potentially can allow a substance to backflow into the potable water supply that may cause illness or death.
(3) LOW HAZARD. The classification assigned to an actual or potential cross connection that potentially could allow a substance that may be objectionable but not hazardous to a human's health to backflow into the potable water supply.
(4) PLUMBING HAZARD. An internal or plumbing-type cross connection in a consumer's potable water system that may be either a pollution or a contamination hazard.
(5) POLLUTION HAZARD. An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or the potability of the public or consumer's potable water system but which would not constitute a health or system hazard, as defined. The maximum degree of intensity of the pollution to which the potable water system could be degraded under this definition would cause a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause minor damage to the system or its appurtenances.
(6) SYSTEM HAZARD. An actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical properties of the public or consumer's potable water supply or of a pollution or contamination that would have a detrimental effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
DIRECTOR. The city's Director of Public Works.
NON-POTABLE WATER. Water that does not comply with the Commission's rules and regulations governing drinking water.
NON-RESIDENTIAL USES. All uses not specifically included in the definition of residential use.
POINT-OF-USE ISOLATION. The appropriate backflow prevention within the consumer's water system at the point at which the actual or potential cross connection exists.
POLLUTION. An impairment of the quality of the public water supply to a degree which does not create a hazard to the public health but does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such potable water for domestic use.
POTABLE WATER SUPPLY. Any water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic use.
PREMISES. Any lot, parcel, or tract of land to which water is provided, including all improvements, mobile structures, and structures located on it.
PREMISES ISOLATION. The appropriate backflow prevention at the service connection between the public water system and the water user.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM or SYSTEM. Any public or privately owned water system, which supplies water for public domestic use. The system must meet all the health requirements set forth by the Commission. The system will include all services, reservoirs, facilities, and any equipment used in the process of producing, treating, storing, or conveying water for public consumption.
RECOGNIZED TESTER. A person that is a state certified backflow prevention assembly tester. Recognized testers may consist of:
(1) FIRELINE TESTER. Qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on firelines only. The State Fire Marshal's office requires that a person performing maintenance on firelines must he employed by an approved fireline contractor.
(2) GENERAL TESTER. Qualified to test backflow prevention assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial, or irrigation service except firelines.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WATER SYSTEM. The Director.
RESIDENTIAL USE. Single-family dwellings, duplexes, multiplexes, housing and apartments where the individual units are each on a separate meter or the units are full-time dwellings in cases where two or more units are served by one meter.
SERVICE CONNECTION. The terminal end of a service line from the public potable water system, for example, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer's potable water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service connection, then the SERVICE CONNECTION means the downstream end of the meter.
THERMAL EXPANSION. Heated water that does not have the space to expand.
USED WATER. Water supplied by a public water system to a water user's system after it has passed through the service connection.
UTILITY. The city's Public Works Department.
WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION SPECIALIST. Any person who holds a license endorsement issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners to engage in the inspection, in connection with health and safety laws and ordinances, of the plumbing work or installation of a public water system distribution facility or of privately owned plumbing connected to that system's water distribution lines.
(Ord. 2019-22, passed 8-13-19)