(A) Responsibility. The Water Utility shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water distribution system from contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of said Water Utility, an approved backflow prevention assembly is required as defined by the I.A.C., 327 I.A.C. 8-10, Rule 10 (at the customer's water service connection; or, within the customer's private water system) for the safety of the water system, the Water Utility shall give notice in writing by mail to said customer to install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) at specific location(s) on their premises. The consumer shall install such approved assembly(s) at the consumer's own expense; and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install, have tested and maintain said assembly(s) shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily met.
(B) Water system requirements. The water system shall be considered made up of two parts, the utility system and the customer system:
(1) The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system.
(2) The customer system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the utility distribution system which are utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of use.
(C) Compliance. No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the Water Utility unless the water supply is protected as required by State of Indiana rules and regulations and this chapter. Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the Water Utility if a backflow prevention assembly required by this chapter is not installed, tested and maintained, or if it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed, bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.
(D) Cross-connections. In no case shall there be cross-connections between the public water distribution system and a private water supply. Any cross-connections with other sources of water shall be made in conformity with the rules and regulations set forth in Title 327 Rule 10 327 I.A.C. 8-10. All plumbing shall conform to state and town codes, which do not permit physical connections between the public water supply and other water supplies, waste lines, process solution lines, tanks, and the like, unless the property is protected by approved backflow protection safety devices. A representative of the Water Utility Worker will make periodic inspections of customer's piping to establish violations and will report any violations to both the customer and the proper authorities. The town will not assume responsibility for damage, sickness or death arising from the existence of an improper cross-connection or the use or failure of a cross-connection. The discovery of a noncomplying installation shall lead to discontinuation of service.
(E) Right of entry. The properly authorized representatives of the Water Utility shall have the right to enter upon the premises of the customer all reasonable times for the purpose of inspecting cross- connections, protective devices, atmospheric tank applications, booster pump vacuum breaker valves, and general plumbing, as well as for the purpose of reading, inspecting, repairing, or replacing the meter at the termination of the contract or discontinuation of service. All representatives shall have proper credentials on their person at all times.
(F) Installation of backflow prevention. An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service line to a customer's water system at or near the property line or immediately inside the building being served; but in all cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever the following conditions exist:
(1) In case of the premises having an auxiliary water supply which is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and which is not acceptable as an additional source by the Water Utility, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard.
(2) In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substance is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow protection assembly in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the utility system which have been subject to deterioration of quality.
(3) In the case of premises having (A) internal cross-connection that cannot be permanently controlled or corrected, or (B) intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises are not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impractical or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connection(s) exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention device in the service line or lines where potential hazards could exist.
(4) In the case of the premises having an irrigation system buried below ground for use as a sprinkling outlet, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow protection device.
(5) In the case of the premises undergoing plumbing rehabilitation and all new construction, residential and commercial, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow protection device.
(G) Type of protective assembly. The type of assembly required shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists, as follows:
(1) In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(2) In the case of any premises where there is water or a substance that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
(3) In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health such as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(4) In the case of any premises where there are uncontrolled cross-connections, either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
(5) In the case of any premises where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow assembly on each service to the premises.
(6) In the case of any premises having a lawn irrigation system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved pressure vacuum breaker backflow prevention assembly or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(7) In the case of all new residential construction and any existing residential structures requiring extensive plumbing rehabilitation, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either an approved dual check valve backflow device or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
(H) Approval of backflow prevention assembly. Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a model and size approved by the Water Utility. The term APPROVED BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY shall mean an assembly that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) entitled AWWA C506-84 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices. Said assembly shall meet the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCC&HR) of the University of Southern California established by Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies-Section 10 of the most current issue of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control. Final approval shall be evidenced by a certificate of approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with the said AWWA standards and FCCC&HR specifications.
(I) Exemptions. All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet the requirements of this section that were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall be excluded from the requirement of these rules so long as the Water Utility is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the distribution system. However, whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Water Utility finds that the assembly or maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced, at the consumer's expense, by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirement of this section.
(J) Inspection of devices; time limits. To ensure that each cross-connection control device required by this chapter is in working order, the customer shall have each device inspected or tested (at the customer's expense) by a certified backflow technician at the time of construction or installation, and at the following intervals, in the following manner:
(1) Air-gaps shall be inspected at intervals not exceeding one year to ensure that they continue to meet the requirements set forth.
(2) Reduced pressure principle backflow assemblies shall be tested at intervals not exceeding six months to ensure that:
(a) Both check valves are drip-tight under all pressure differentials;
(b) The pressure differential relief valve will maintain pressure in the center chamber at least two pounds per square inch below that of the inlet chamber.
(3) Double check valve assemblies shall be tested at intervals not exceeding one year to ensure that both check valves are drip-tight under all pressure differentials.
(4) Pressure vacuum breakers shall be tested at intervals not exceeding one year to ensure that the air inlet opens fully when water pressure is at or below atmospheric.
Those customers granted an exemption shall report to the Director of Public Works any proposed changes in process, plumbing, or in materials used or stored at the facility at least 14 days prior to making the change.
(K) Inspectors; installers. All cross-connection device inspectors shall be registered with the State of Indiana. All cross-connection device installers shall be licensed plumbing contractor. The inspector shall report to the Water Works, the customer and, if requested, the IDEM Commissioner, the results of inspections and tests conducted on air-gaps, reduced pressure principle backflow preventers, double check valve assemblies, and pressure vacuum breakers. Reports shall be submitted within 30 days of the inspection or test.
(L) Certified testers. Certified testers shall be listed with the town annually, with proof of continuing certification. In addition, certified testers will provide proof that test gauges used in backflow prevention assemblies have been calibrated and certified annually.
(M) Violations. Any violation of any of the provisions of this code section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $2,500. Every day any violation of this code section shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 2009-2, passed 7-20-09)