For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGENCY. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
APPROVED. Backflow prevention devices or methods approved by the Research Foundation for Cross-Connection Control of the University of Southern California, Association of State Sanitary Engineers, American Water Works Association, American National Standards Institute or certified by the National Sanitation Foundation.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM. Any water source or system on or available to the premises other than the public water supply system and includes the water supplied by the system. These AUXILIARY WATERS may include water from another purveyor’s public water supply system; or water from a source such as wells, lakes or streams or process fluids; or used water. These waters may be polluted or contaminated or objectionable or constitute a water source or system over which the water purveyor does not have control.
BACKFLOW. The backflow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water system from any source other than the intended source of the potable water supply.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE. Any device, method or type of construction intended to prevent backflow into a potable water system. All devices used for backflow prevention in the state must meet the standards of the state’s Plumbing Code and the state’s Environmental Protection Agency.
CONSUMER or CUSTOMER. The owner, official custodian or person in control of any premises supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water system.
CONSUMER’S WATER SYSTEM. Any water system located on the customer’s premises. A building plumbing system is considered to be a CUSTOMER’S WATER SYSTEM.
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the water by entrance of any substance to a degree which could create a health hazard.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other a substance of unknown or questionable safety or quality, whereby there may be a flow from one system into the other.
DIRECT CROSS-CONNECTION. A cross-connection formed when a water system is physically joined to a source of unknown or unsafe substance.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly composed of single, independently acting check valves approved under ASSE Standard 1015. A DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY and suitable connections for testing the water-tightness of each check valve.
FIXED PROPER AIR GAP. The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the water discharge point and the flood level rim of the receptacle.
HEALTH HAZARD. Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation resulting from a real or potential danger to the health and well-being of consumers. The word “severe”, as used to qualify HEALTH HAZARD, means a hazard to the health of the user that could be expected to result in death or significant reduction in the quality of life.
INDIRECT CROSS-CONNECTION. A cross-connection through which an unknown substance can be forced, drawn by vacuum or otherwise introduced into a safe potable water system
INSPECTION. A plumbing inspection to examine carefully and critically all materials, fixtures, piping and appurtenances, appliances and installations of a plumbing system for compliance with requirements of the state’s Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.
NON-POTABLE WATER. Water not safe for drinking, personal or culinary use as determined by the requirements as set forth in the Ill. Adm. Code.
PLUMBING. The actual installation, repair, maintenance, alteration or extension of a plumbing system by any person. PLUMBING includes all piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances for a supply of water for all purposes, including without limitation lawn sprinkler systems, from the source of a private water supply on the premises or from the main in the street, alley or at the curb to, within and about any building or buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble. PLUMBING includes all piping, from discharge of pumping units to and including pressure tanks in water supply systems. PLUMBING includes all piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances for a building drain and a sanitary drainage and related ventilation system of any building or buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble from the point of connection of such building drain to the building sewer or private sewage disposal system five feet beyond the foundation walls.
POLLUTION. The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological or biological) in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
POTABLE WATER. Water which meets the requirements as set forth in the Ill. Adm. Code for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes.
POTENTIAL CROSS-CONNECTION. A fixture or appurtenance with threaded hose connection, tapered spout or other connection which would facilitate extension of the water supply line beyond its legal termination point.
PROCESS FLUID(S). Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, or biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, polytonal or system hazard if introduced into the public or a consumer’s potable water system. This includes, but is not limited to:
(1) Polluted or contaminated waters;
(2) Process waters;
(3) Used waters originating from the public water supply system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
(4) Cooling waters;
(5) Questionable or contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams or irrigation systems;
(6) Chemicals in solution or suspension; and
(7) Oils, gases, acids, alkalis and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes or for fire fighting purposes.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY. All mains, pipes and structures through which water is obtained and distributed to the public, including wells and well structures, intakes and cribs, pumping stations, treatment plants, reservoirs, storage tanks and appurtenances, collectively or severally, actually used or intended for use for the purpose of furnishing water for drinking or general domestic use and which serve at least 15 service connections or which regularly serve at least 25 persons at least 60 days per year. A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY is either a “community water supply” or a “non-community water supply”.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE.
(1) A device containing a minimum of two independently acting check valves together with an automatically operated pressure differential relief valve located between the two check valves and approved under ASSE Standard 1013. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure.
(2) In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve, by discharging to the atmosphere, shall operate to maintain the pressure between the check valves at less than the supply pressure.
(3) The unit must include tightly closed shutoff valves located at each end of the device and each device shall be fitted with properly located test cocks.
SERVICE CONNECTION. The opening, including all fittings and appurtenances, at the water main through which water is supplied to the user.
SURVEY. The collection of information pertaining to a customer’s piping system regarding the location of all connections to the public water supply system and must include the location, type and most recent inspection and testing date of all cross-connection control devices and methods located within that customers piping system The SURVEY must be in written form, and should not be an actual plumbing inspection.
SYSTEM HAZARD. A condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading material not dangerous to health may enter the public water supply system or a consumer’s potable water system
USED WATER. Any water supplied by a public water supply system to a consumer’s water system after it has passed through the service connection and is no longer under the control of the water supply official custodian.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or official custodian of a public water system.
(2007 Code, § 38-3-34)