A. Definitions: For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
APPROVED: Accepted by the town water department as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this section or as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY: Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor's approved public water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, etc., or used waters or industrial fluids. These waters may be contaminated or polluted or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.
BACK PRESSURE: The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source or sources other than the intended source.
BACK SIPHONAGE: The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than its intended source caused by the sudden reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
BACKFLOW: The reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either back pressure or back siphonage.
BACKFLOW PREVENTOR: A device or means designed to prevent backflow.
Air Gap: The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the vessel. An approved air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically, above the top of the overflow rim of the vessel and in no case less than one inch (1").
Double Check Valve Assembly: An assembly of two (2) independently operating approved check valves with tightly closing shutoff valves on each end of the check valves, plus properly located test cocks for the testing of each check valve. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by a laboratory and field evaluation program resulting in an approval by a recognized and approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for inline testing and maintenance.
Reduced Pressure Principle Device: An assembly of two (2) independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shutoff valves at each end of the assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by a laboratory and a field evaluation program resulting in an approval by a recognized and approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. The assembly shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two (2) check valves at an acceptable level less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. At cessation of normal flow the pressure between the two (2) check valves shall be less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. In case of leakage of either of the check valves, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain the reduced pressure in the zone between the check valves by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure is two (2) pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for inline testing and maintenance and be installed in a location where no part of the device will be submerged.
CONTAMINATION: An impairment of the quality of the potable water by sewage, industrial fluids or waste liquids, compounds or other materials to a degree which creates an actual or potential hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.
CONTROLLED CROSS CONNECTIONS: A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable water system with an approved backflow prevention device properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.
CROSS CONNECTION: Any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures between two (2) otherwise separate piping systems one of which contains potable water and the other nonpotable water or industrial fluids of questionable safety, through which, or because of which, backflow may occur into the potable water system. This would include any temporary connections such as swing connections, removable section, four- way plug valves, spools, dummy sections of pipe, swivel or changeover devices or sliding multiport tube.
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL OF CONTAINMENT: The installation of an approved backflow prevention device at the water service connection to any customer's premises where it is physically and economically infeasible to find and permanently eliminate or control all actual or potential cross connections within the customer's water system; or it means the installation of an approved backflow prevention device on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer's water system where there are actual or potential cross connections which cannot be effectively eliminated or controlled at the point of cross connection.
HAZARD, DEGREE OF: Derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.
Health Hazard: Any condition, device or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create or, in the judgment of the town water department, may create a danger to the health and well being of the water consumer.
Plumber Hazard: A plumbing type cross connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air gap or approved backflow prevention device.
Pollutional Hazard: An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or to the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system by which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances, but would not be dangerous to health.
System Hazard: An actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination which would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS SYSTEM: Any system containing a fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, system, pollutional or plumbing hazard if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but not be limited to, polluted or contaminated waters; all types of process waters and used waters originating from the public potable water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; plating acids and alkalies, circulating cooling waters connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling waters that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, etc.; oils, gases, glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes or for firefighting purposes.
POLLUTION: The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic or biological) in water which 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 and which does not adversely and unreasonably affect such water for domestic use.
PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR: An employee of the town designated or approved by the governing body who is vested with authority for the implementation of an effective cross connection control program and for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
TOWN WATER DEPARTMENT: That subdivision of the town government designated by the governing body to carry out the day to day functions of delivery, maintenance, production, treatment and safeguarding of the town's water distribution system.
WATER, NONPOTABLE: Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable quality.
WATER, POTABLE: Water which, according to recognized standards, is safe for human consumption.
WATER SERVICE CONNECTION: The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system; i.e., where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the customer's 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. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow prevention device located at the point of delivery to the customer's water system. Service connection shall also include water service connection from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service connections from the public potable water system.
WATER, USED: Any water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water purveyor. (1987 Code § 13.04.280)
B. Authority: The governing body, by delegation of its authority to the town's water department, shall have authority to protect the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection.
C. Notice Requiring Installation Of Backflow Prevention Device: If, in the judgment of the department, an approved backflow prevention device is required at the customer's water service connection or within the customer's private water system for the safety of the water system, the town water department, through its designated agent, shall give notice, in writing, to the customer to install such an approved backflow prevention device(s) at specific location(s) on his premises.
D. Failure To Comply: The customer shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt, install such approved device(s) at his own expense; and, failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install, have tested and maintain the device(s) shall constitute a grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily met. (1987 Code § 13.04.270)
E. Water System Requirements:
1. The water system shall be considered as made up of two (2) parts: the utility system and the customer system.
2. Utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system; and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the point where the customer's system begins.
3. The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system.
4. The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for the delivery of water from the source to the customer's system.
5. The customer's 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. (1987 Code § 13.04.290)
F. Backflow Prevention:
1. Protection Required: No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations, and this section. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the water purveyor if a backflow prevention device required by this chapter is not installed, tested and maintained, or if it is found that a backflow prevention device 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.
2. Inspection: The customer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representative of the town water department to determine whether cross connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the town water department shall deny or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected the condition(s) in conformance with state statutes and town ordinances relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
3. Location: An approved backflow prevention device shall also be installed in 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:
a. In the case of 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 town water department, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention device in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard.
b. 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 system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention device in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard. This shall include the holding of process waters and waters originating from the utility system which have been subject to deterioration in quality.
c. In the case of premises having: 1) internal cross connections that cannot be permanently corrected and controlled, or 2) intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross connections exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention device in the service line.
4. Type Of Device: The type of protective device required under subsections F3a, b, and c of this section shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
a. In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in subsection F3a of this section and it is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
b. In the case of any premises where there is water or 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.
c. In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health which is handled in such a fashion 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 any approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. Examples of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries and planting plants.
d. 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 any approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device at the service connection.
e. 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 device on each service to the premises.
5. Devices:
a. Model And Size: Any backflow prevention device required herein shall be a model and size approved by the town water department. "Approved backflow prevention device" means a device that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American waterworks association entitled: AWWA C506-78 standards for reduced pressure principle and double check valve backflow prevention devices; and have met completely the laboratory and field performance specifications of the foundation for cross connection control and hydraulic research of the University of Southern California established by: specifications of backflow prevention devices - #69-2 dated March 1969, or the most current issue.
b. Standards And Specifications: The AWWA and FCCC&HR standards and specifications have been adopted by the town water department. Final approval shall be evidenced by a certificate of approval issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with the AWWA standards and FCCC&HR specifications.
c. Testing Laboratory: The following testing laboratory has been determined by the town water department to test and certify backflow preventors:
Foundation for Cross Connection Control & Hydraulic Research
University of Southern California
University Park
Los Angeles, California 90007
d. Additional Laboratories: Testing laboratories other than the laboratory listed in subsection F5c of this section will be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the town water department.
e. No Further Testing Required: Backflow preventors which may be subjected to back pressure or back siphonage that have been fully tested and have been granted a certificate of approval of the qualified laboratory and are listed on the laboratory's current list of approved backflow prevention devices may be used without further test or qualification.
6. Certified Inspections; Operational Tests:
a. Duty To Perform: It shall be the duty of the customer/user at any premises where backflow prevention devices are installed to have certified inspections and operational tests made at least once per year. In those instances where the town water department deems the hazard to be great enough, it may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals.
b. Cost: These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and shall be performed by the device manufacturer's representative, the town personnel or by a certified tester approved by the town water department. It shall be the duty of the town water department to see that these tests are made in a timely manner.
c. Advance Notice To Town: The customer/user shall notify the town water department in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that he or his representative may witness the tests if so desired.
d. Repair, Overhaul Or Replacement: These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the customer/user where the devices are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhauls shall be kept and made available to the town water department.
7. Exceptions: All presently installed backflow prevention devices which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under subsection F6 of this section, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the town water department is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the town water department finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention device meeting the requirements of this section. (1987 Code § 13.04.300)