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For the purposes of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AIR-GAP SEPARATION. A physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. An APPROVED AIR-GAP SEPARATION shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the receiving vessel - in no case less than one inch (2.54 cm).
APPROVED.
(1) In reference to a water supply shall mean a water supply that has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
(2) In reference to air-gap separation, a pressure vacuum breaker, a double check valve assembly, a double check detector assembly, a reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, a reduced pressure principle detector assembly, or other backflow prevention assemblies or methods shall mean an approval by the city.
BACKFLOW. The undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases, or other substances into the distribution pipes of the consumer or public potable water system from any source or sources.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, APPROVED. An assembly used for containment and/or isolation purposes that has been investigated and approved by the city and has been shown to meet the design and performance standards of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), or the Foundation for Cross-connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California. The approval of backflow prevention assemblies by the city is based on a favorable report by the Foundation for Cross-connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California, recommending such an approval. To be approved, an assembly must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance, and shall successfully complete a one-year field evaluation within the city’s water system.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER, CERTIFIED. A person who has proven their competency to the satisfaction of the city. Each person who is certified to make competent tests, or to repair, overhaul, and make reports on backflow prevention assemblies shall be knowledgeable of applicable laws, rules and regulations, and must hold a current certificate of completion from an approved training program in the testing and repair of backflow prevention assemblies.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, TYPES. An assembly used to prevent backflow into a consumer or public potable water system. The type of assembly used should be based on the degree of hazard, either existing or potential (as defined herein). The types are:
(1) Double Check Valve Assembly (DCVA);
(2) Double Check Detector Assembly (Fire System) (DCDA);
(3) Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB);
(4) Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly (RP);
(5) Reduced Pressure Principle-Detector Assembly (Fire System) (RPDA).
BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY, UNAPPROVED. An assembly that has been investigated by the city and has been determined to be unacceptable for installation. Consideration for disapproval and removal from the approved list shall be based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:
(1) Poor performance standards (significant failure rate);
(2) Lack of, or unavailability of, repair parts; and/or
(3) Poor service or response from assembly’s factory representative(s).
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE, APPROVED. A device used for isolation purposes that has been investigated by the city and found to be acceptable, based upon it meeting the design and performance standards of the American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), or other equivalent association.
BACK-PRESSURE BACKFLOW. Any elevation in the consumer water system (by pump, elevation of piping, or steam and/or air pressure) above the supply pressure at the point of delivery which would cause - or tend to cause - a reversal of the normal direction of flow.
BACK-SIPHONAGE BACKFLOW. A reversal of the normal direction of flow in the pipeline due to a negative pressure (vacuum) being created in the supply line with the backflow source subject to atmospheric pressure.
CHECK VALVE, APPROVED. A check valve that is drip-tight in the normal direction of flow when the inlet pressure is at least one psi and the outlet pressure is zero. The check valve shall permit no leakage in a direction reversed to the normal flow. The closure element (e.g., clapper, poppet, or other design) shall be internally loaded to promote rapid and positive closure. An approved check valve is only one component of an approved backflow prevention assembly - i.e., pressure vacuum breaker, double check valve assembly, double check detector assembly, reduced pressure principle assembly, or reduced pressure detector assembly.
CONSUMER. Any person, firm, or corporation using or receiving water from the city’s water system.
CONSUMER’S POTABLE WATER SYSTEM. That portion of the privately owned potable water system lying between the point of delivery and point of use and/or isolation protection. This system will include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances used to produce, convey, store, or use potable water.
CONSUMER’S WATER SYSTEM. Includes any water system commencing at the point of delivery and continuing throughout the consumer’s plumbing system, located on the consumer’s premises, whether supplied by a public potable water or an auxiliary water supply. The system or systems may be either a potable water system or an industrial piping system.
CONTAINMENT. Preventing the impairment of the public potable water supply by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the water that creates a potential or actual hazard to the public health through the introduction of hazardous or toxic substances or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids, or waste.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any unprotected actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public or a consumer’s water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce any contamination or pollution, other than the intended potable water with which the system is supplied. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, and other temporary or permanent devices through which or because of which backflow can or may occur are considered to be CROSS-CONNECTIONS.
DOUBLE CHECK-DETECTOR ASSEMBLY. A specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved double check valve assembly with a specific bypass water meter and a meter-sized approved double check valve assembly. The meter shall register (in U.S. gallons) accurately for only very low rates of flow and shall show a registration for all rates of flow. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutant).
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly composed of two independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closing shut-off valves attached at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutants).
HAZARD, DEGREE OF. Derived from the evaluation of conditions within a system that can be classified as either a pollutant (non-health) hazard or a contamination (health) hazard.
HAZARD, HEALTH. An actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical, hazardous or toxic nature to the public or consumer’s potable water system to such a degree or intensity that there would be a danger to health.
HAZARD, NON-HEALTH. An actual or potential threat to the quality of the public or the consumer’s potable water system. A NON-HEALTH HAZARD is one that, if introduced into the public water supply system could be a nuisance to water customers, but would not adversely affect human health.
HAZARD, POLLUTANT. An actual or potential threat to the quality or the potability of the public or the consumer’s potable water system but that would not constitute a health or a system hazard, as defined. The maximum degree or intensity of 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.
HEALTH AGENCY. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS. Any fluid or solution that may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health or non-health hazard if introduced into a public or consumer potable water system. Such fluids may include, but are not limited to: process waters; chemicals in fluid form; acids and alkalis; oils, gases; and the like.
INDUSTRIAL PIPING SYSTEM, CONSUMER’S. Any system used by the consumer for transmission of or to confine or store any fluid, solid or gaseous substance other than an approved water supply. Such a system would include all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances used to produce, convey, or store substances that are or may be polluted or contaminated.
ISOLATION. The act of confining a localized hazard within a consumer’s water system by installing approved backflow prevention assemblies.
POINT OF DELIVERY. Generally at the property line of the customer, adjacent to the public street where the city’s mains are located, or at a point on the customer’s property where the meter is located. The customer shall be responsible for all water piping and control devices located on the customer’s side of the POINT OF DELIVERY.
POLLUTION. An impairment of the 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 the aesthetic qualities of such water for domestic use.
POTABLE WATER. Wwater from any source that has been investigated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and which has been approved for human consumption.
PUBLIC POTABLE WATER SYSTEM. Any publicly or privately owned water system operated as a public utility, under a current North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality permit, to supply water for public consumption or use. This system will include all sources, facilities, and appurtenances between the source and the point of delivery such as valves, pumps, pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment, and appurtenances used to produce, convey, treat, or store potable water for public consumption or use.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY. An assembly containing within its structure a minimum of two independently acting, approved check valves, together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent, pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The first check valve reduces the supply pressure a predetermined amount so that during normal flow and at cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the checks shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the pressure differential relief valve, by discharge to atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the checks less than the supply pressure. The unit shall include tightly closing shut-off valves located at each end of the assembly and each assembly shall be fitted with properly located test cocks. The assembly is designed to protect against a health hazard (i.e., contaminant).
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE-DETECTOR ASSEMBLY. A specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly with a specific bypass water meter and a meter sized approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. The meter shall register (in U.S. gallons) accurately for only very low rates of flow and shall show a registration for all rates of flow. This assembly shall be used to protect against health hazard (i.e., contaminant).
SERVICE CONNECTIONS. The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system, i.e., where the city loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer’s water system.
VACUUM BREAKER, ATMOSPHERIC. The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system, i.e., where the city loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the consumer’s water system.
VACUUM BREAKER, PRESSURE. An assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly is to be equipped with properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves attached at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a health hazard (i.e., contaminant) under a backsiphonage condition only.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or operator of a public potable water system, providing an approved water supply to the public.
WATER SUPPLY, APPROVED. Any public potable water supply that has been approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
WATER SUPPLY, AUXILIARY. Any water supply on or available to the premises other that the purveyor’s approved public potable water supply. AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLIES may include water from another purveyor’s public water supply or any natural source such as well, spring, river, stream, and the like. These waters may be polluted, contaminated, or objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.
WATER SUPPLY, UNAPPROVED. A water supply which has not been approved for human consumption by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
WATER, USED. Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public water system to a consumer’s water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the control of the water purveyor.
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
Authorized representative(s) from the city shall have the right to enter, upon presentation of proper credentials and identification, any building, structure, or premises during normal business hours, or at any time during the event of an emergency, to perform any duty imposed by this subchapter. Those duties may include sampling and testing of water, or inspections and observations of all piping systems connected to the public water supply. Where a user has security measures in force that would require proper identification and clearance before entry into their premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with the security guards so that upon presentation of suitable identification, city personnel will be permitted to enter, without delay, for the purposes of performing their specific responsibilities. Refusal to allow entry for these purposes may result in discontinuance of water service. On request, the consumer shall furnish to the city any pertinent information regarding the water supply system on such property where cross-connections and backflow are deemed possible.
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
When cross-connections are found to exist, the owner, his or her agent, occupant, or tenant will be notified in writing to disconnect the same within the time limit established by the city. Degree of protection required and maximum time allowed for compliance will be based upon the potential degree of hazard to the public water supply system. The maximum time limits are as follows:
(A) Cross-connections with private wells or other auxiliary water supplies shall be immediately disconnected.
(B) All facilities which pose a health hazard to the potable water system must have a containment assembly in the form of a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly within 60 days.
(C) All industrial and commercial facilities not identified as a “health hazard” shall be considered non-health hazard facilities. All non-health hazard facilities must install, as a minimum containment assembly, a double check valve assembly within 90 days.
(D) If, in the judgment of the city, an imminent health hazard exists, water service to the building or premises where a cross-connection exists may be terminated unless an air gap is immediately provided, or the cross-connection is immediately eliminated.
(E) (1) Based upon recommendation from the city, the consumer is responsible for installing sufficient internal isolation backflow prevention assemblies and/or methods (i.e., air gap, pressure vacuum breakers, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, double check valve assembly).
(2) Disclaimer: The city may make recommendations, upon facility inspection, as to the usages of isolation devices/assemblies, but does not assume or have responsibility whatsoever for such installations.
(F) In the event that the City Water Resources Director or designee does not have sufficient access to every portion of a private water system (i.e., classified research and development facilities; federal government property, and the like) to allow a complete evaluation of the degree of hazard associated with such private water systems, an approved reduced pressure principle assembly shall be required as a minimum of protection.
(G) No person shall fill special use tanks or tankers containing pesticides, fertilizers, other toxic chemicals or their residues from the public water system except at a location equipped with an air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly properly installed on the public water supply.
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
(A) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the specifications furnished by the city and/or the manufacturer’s installation instructions and/or in the latest edition of the North Carolina Building Code, whichever is most restrictive.
(B) All new construction plans and specifications, when required by the North Carolina Building Code and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, shall be made available to the city for review and approval, and to determine the degree of hazard.
(C) Ownership, testing, and maintenance of the assembly shall be the responsibility of the customer.
(D) All double check valve assemblies must be installed in drainable pits wherever below ground installation is necessary.
(E) Reduced pressure principle assemblies must be installed in a horizontal position and in a location in which no portion of the assembly can become submerged in any substance under any circumstances (pit and/or below grade installations are prohibited). Double check valve assemblies may be installed in a vertical position with prior approval from the city, provided the flow of water is in an upward direction.
(F) Any installed unapproved backflow prevention assembly must be replaced with an approved backflow prevention assembly.
(G) The installer is responsible to make sure a backflow prevention assembly is working properly upon installation and is required to furnish the following information to the city within 15 days after a reduced pressure principle backflow preventer (RP), double check-detector assembly (DCDA), pressure vacuum breaker (PVB), or reduced pressure principle detector assembly (RPDA) is installed:
(1) Service address where assembly is located;
(2) Owner (and address, if different from service address);
(3) Description of assembly’s location;
(4) Date of installation;
(5) Installer (include name, certification number, and project permit number);
(6) Type of assembly, size of assembly;
(7) Manufacturer, model number, serial number; and
(8) Test results/reports.
(H) When it is not possible to interrupt water service, provisions shall be made for a parallel installation of backflow prevention assemblies. The city will not accept an unprotected bypass around a backflow preventer when the assembly is in need of testing, repair, or replacement.
(I) The consumer shall, upon notification, install the appropriate containment assembly not to exceed the following time frame:
(1) Health hazard - 60 days.
(2) Non-health hazard - 90 days.
(J) Following installation, all RP, DCVA, PVB, DCDA, and RPDA assemblies are required to be tested by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester within ten days.
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
(A) Testing of backflow prevention assemblies shall be made by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester. Such tests are to be conducted upon installation and annually thereafter, or at a frequency established by the city. A record of all testing and repairs is to be retained by the customer. Copies of the records must be provided to the city within ten business days after the completion of any testing and/or repair work.
(B) Any time that repairs to backflow prevention assemblies are deemed necessary, whether through annual or required testing or routine inspection by the owner or by the city, these repairs must be completed within a specified time in accordance with the degree of hazard. In no case shall this time period exceed:
(1) Health hazard facilities - 14 days.
(2) Non-health hazard facilities - 21 days.
(C) All backflow prevention assemblies with test cocks are required to be tested annually or at frequency established by city’s regulations. Testing requires a water shutdown, usually lasting five to 20 minutes. For facilities that require an uninterrupted supply of water, and when it is not possible to provide water service from two separate meters, provisions shall be made for a parallel installation of backflow prevention assemblies.
(D) All certified backflow prevention assembly testers must obtain and employ backflow prevention assembly test equipment which has been evaluated and/or approved by the city. All test equipment shall be registered with the city. All test equipment shall be checked for accuracy annually (at a minimum), calibrated if necessary, and certified to the city as to such accuracy/calibration, employing a calibration method acceptable to the city.
(E) It shall be unlawful for any customer or certified tester to submit any record to the city which is false or incomplete in any material respect. It shall be unlawful for any customer or certified tester to fail to submit to the city any record which is required by this subchapter.
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
(A) Approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed on the service line to any premises that the city has identified as having a potential for backflow.
(B) The following types of facilities or services have been identified by the city as having a potential for backflow of non-potable water into the public water supply system. Therefore, an approved backflow prevention assembly will be required on all such services according to the degree of hazard present. Other types of facilities or services not listed below may also be required to install approved backflow prevention assemblies if determined necessary by the city. As a minimum requirement, all commercial services will be required to install a double check valve assembly, unless otherwise listed below.
DCVA = Double check valve assembly RPF = Reduced pressure principle assembly DCDA = Double check detector assembly RPDA = Reduced pressure detector assembly AG = Air gap PVB = Pressure vacuum breaker | |
Aircraft and missile plants | RP |
Automotive service stations, dealerships, and the like: No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RP |
Automotive plants | RP |
Auxiliary water systems: Approved public/private water supply Unapproved public/private water supply Used water and industrial fluids | DCVA AG RP |
Bakeries: No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RP |
Beauty shops/barber shops: No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RP |
Beverage bottling plants | RP |
Breweries | RP |
Buildings - Hotels, apartment houses, public and private buildings, or other structures having unprotected cross-connections: (Under five stories) No health hazard Health hazard (Over five stories) All | DCVA RP RP |
Canneries, packing houses, and rendering plants | RP |
Chemical plants - manufacturing, processing, compounding or treatment | RP |
Chemically contaminated water systems | RP |
Commercial car-wash facilities | RP |
Commercial greenhouses | RI |
Commercial sales establishments (department stores, malls, and the like): No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RP |
Concrete/asphalt plants | RP |
Dairies and cold storage plants | RI |
Dye works | RI |
Film laboratories | RI |
Fire systems: Systems 3/4-inch to 2-inch: No health hazard Health hazard (booster pumps, foam, antifreeze solution, and the like) Systems 2-1/2 inch to 10-inch, or larger: No health hazard Health hazard (booster pumps, foam, antifreeze solution, and the like) | DCDA RPDA DCDA RPDA |
Hospitals, medical buildings, sanitariums, morgues, mortuaries, autopsy facilities, nursing and convalescent homes, medical clinics, and veterinary hospitals | RP |
Industrial facilities: No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RP |
Laundries: No health hazard Health hazard (i.e., dry cleaners) | DCVA RP |
Lawn irrigation systems (split taps): No health hazard Health hazard (booster pumps, chemical systems) | DCVA RP |
Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing, and fabricating plants | RP |
Mobile home parks: No health hazard Health hazard | DCVA RI |
Oil and gas production, storage or transmission properties | RP |
Paper and paper products plants | RP |
Pest control (exterminating and fumigation) | RP |
Plating plant | RP |
Power plants | RP |
Radioactive materials or substances, plants or facilities handling | RP |
Restaurants: No health hazard Health hazard | DCDA RP |
Restricted, classified, or other closed facilities | RP |
Rubber plants (natural or synthetic) | RP |
Sand and gravel plants | RP |
Schools and colleges | RP |
Sewage and storm drain facilities | RP |
Swimming pools | RP |
Waterfront facilities and industries | RP |
All assemblies and installations shall be subject to inspection and approval by the city. | |
(Ord. O-10-24, passed 8-1-2024)
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