(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 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, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
(B) No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or 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 such supply shall have been approved by the town utilities and by the State Department of Environmental Management in accordance with 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(C) It shall be the duty of the town utilities to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the public water system where cross connections with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and re-inspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be established by the town utilities.
(D) Upon presentation of credentials, the representative of the town utilities 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.
(1) 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.
(2) The refusal of access or refusal of requested pertinent information shall be deemed evidence of the presence of cross-connections.
(E) The town utilities 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 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 occupants 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(s) has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(F) (1) If it is deemed by the town utilities that a cross-connection or an emergency endangers public health, safety or welfare and requires immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the Clerk-Treasurer of the town and delivered to the consumer’s premises, service may be immediately discontinued.
(2) If requested in writing, the consumer shall have an opportunity for hearing before the Town Council within ten days of such emergency discontinuance.
(G) All consumers using toxic or hazardous liquids, all hospitals, mortuaries, wastewater treatment plants, laboratories and all other hazardous users 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.
(H) The reduced pressure principal backflow preventers shall not be installed below ground level.
(I) This section does not supersede the State Plumbing Code, being 675 I.A.C. 16, the IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10 or any town plumbing ordinance, but is supplementary to them.
(J) In addition to IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10-4(c), the following customer facilities need a backflow prevention device: funeral homes.
(K) (1) If, in the judgment of the Superintendent of Utilities, or his or her designee, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system, the Superintendent of Utilities will give notice to the water customer to install such an approved device immediately.
(2) The water consumer shall, at his or her own expense, install such an approved device at the location and in a manner approved by the Superintendent of Utilities and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices as required by the Superintendent of Utilities and in accordance with the IDEM Rule 327 I.A.C. 8-10.
(Ord. 2013-01, passed 3-11-2013)