The City has primary responsibility to protect the City-owned potable water system from actual and potential contamination by objectionable and hazardous liquids, solids, and gases. The City's responsibility includes the total water system and extends from the source of supply to the point of delivery to the consumer's water system. It is also the City's responsibility to ensure that the consumer has taken proper steps to protect the City's potable water system from actual and potential contamination from the consumer's water system.
A. Prohibited: Except as approved by the State Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as the Health Department, all "cross-connections" as herein defined, whether or not cross-connections are controlled by automatic devices such as check valves or by hand-operated mechanisms, such as gate valves or stopcocks, are hereby prohibited.
B. Definitions: For purposes of this regulation, cross-connects are defined as follows:
1. Any bypass, being defined as any physical arrangement whereby water may be diverted around any feature of purification process of the City.
2. Any emergency intake or secondary being defined as an intake or other device capable of introducing water into the public water system from a source of supply which, because of its unsafe characteristics, has not been approved for drinking and culinary purposes by the Idaho State Health Department.
3. Any other cross-connection as defined in the Manual of Cross-Connection Control published by the Foundation For Cross-Connection Control Research, University of Southern California, Eighth Edition, June 1988, or current addition.
AIR GAP SEPARATION: The vertical physical separation between a supply line and the overflow rim of a receiving vessel. This separation must be at least twice the inside diameter of the supply line, but never less than one inch (1").
APPROVED: Approved in writing by the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Environment Public Water Supplies or other agency having jurisdiction.
ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER (AVB): A device which contains a float check (poppet), a check seat, and air inlet port. When water pressure is reduced to gauge pressure of zero or below, air enters the device preventing back siphonage. An atmospheric vacuum breaker is designed to protect against back siphonage only.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY: Any water source or system, other than the public water supply, that may be available in the building to premises.
BACK PRESSURE: Backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other means that could create pressure within the system greater than the supply system.
BACK SIPHONAGE: A form of backflow due to a negative or subatmospheric pressure within a water system.
BACKFLOW: The flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system of a public water system.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE: A device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage.
CROSS-CONNECTION: A point in a plumbing system where the potable water supply is connected directly or can be connected directly to a nonpotable source.
DOUBLE-CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY: An assembly composed of two (2) single, independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end on the assembly and suitable connections for testing the water tightness of each valve.
INTERNALLY LOADED CHECK VALVE: A check valve, which is internally loaded, either weighted or spring loaded, to the extent it will be drip tight in the direction of flow with a one psi differential.
PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER (PVB): A device consisting of a spring-loaded check valve (3 inches and larger consists of 2), an independently operating air inlet valve, inlet and outlet shut-off valves and properly installed test cocks. The air inlet valve is internally loaded to the open position, normally by means of a spring. This internal loading allows the device to be installed on the pressure side of a shut-off valve. It is designed to protect against back siphonage only.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE: A device incorporating two (2) or more check valves and a automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two (2) checks, two (2) shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing.
WATER PURVEYOR: The owner or operator of the public potable water system supplying water to the public.
4. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all existing and all new construction utilizing the City potable water system.
C. Inspection:
1. Backflow Prevention Device Installation: The City shall review all water service connections and evaluate the degree of hazard and the type protection needed to comply with the requirements of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Rules and Regulations (section 16.01.8900,09). Where potential or actual cross-connection exists, the City shall notify the water consumer to the type of backflow prevention device that must be installed to provide adequate protection to the City's potable water system. The consumer shall proceed with the installation of the device at the location recommended by the City. When possible, the device shall be installed at the point of service delivery.
A certified backflow prevention device tester shall test all backflow prevention devices a minimum of one time each twelve (12) months, a list of approved certified plumbers will be available at City Hall. When a defective device is discovered, the consumer shall repair the defective device (time limit by degree of hazard) specified by the City.
A report sheet shall be filled out and completed by the tester after each test and upon completion of any repairs.
All new backflow prevention devices shall be on the current approved list and have passed a performance test conducted by University of Southern California Engineering Center or meet AWWA C-506-78 standards.
2. Underground Sprinkling Device: No underground sprinkling device will be installed without an approved backflow prevention device at the point at which the water for irrigation is taken from the domestic water system. Atmospheric vacuum breakers will not be approved for this type of installation.
Where there may be a separate system for irrigation purposes, it should never enter the consumer's residence or structure. Said system should terminate at least two feet (2') outside the residence or structure.
3. Construction For Industrial Or Other Purposes: Any construction for industrial or other purposes where it is reasonable to anticipate intermittent cross-connections such as laboratories, hospitals, manufacturing, will be protected by the installation of one or more approved backflow prevention devices at the point of service from the public potable water system.
4. Existing Structures: Annual inspections shall be made of all buildings, structures, or improvements of any nature, now receiving water through the City's system for the purpose of ascertaining whether any cross-connections exist. Such inspections shall be on a continuing, rotating basis and shall be made by City authorized personnel certified by the Idaho State Certification Board or the Health Department.
Such inspections shall be for the purpose of establishing the water uses on the premises, the existence of any possible cross-connection, the availability of pollutants, contaminants and other liquid, solid, or gaseous substances which may be used industrially for stabilization of water supplies, and may also include such other inspections and/or processes as necessary for determining whether a health hazard exists upon the premises.
5. Right To Accompany On Inspections: Representatives of the State Health Department or the U.S. Public Health Service or Idaho DEQ or EPA, shall have the right to accompany City personnel on any inspection and may request inspections or may reinspect as they may deem necessary.
6. Level Of Hazard: Depending on the level of hazard, whenever a consumer's water system incorporates only atmospheric vacuum breakers to prevent back siphonage, the City water system may be required to be protected by either a double check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device.
D. Correction, Reinspection:
1. If the City shall determine that by reason of a cross-connection a health hazard exists upon any premises inspected, the same shall be corrected by the landowner, at the landowner's expense.
2. The City has the right to direct the landowner as to a minimum acceptable procedure for correcting the situation. Standards shall be based upon the latest edition of the Cross-Connection Control Manual, Accepted Procedures and Practice.
3. The time limit as to the installation of a newly required device will be dependent upon the degree of health hazard that is present to the City's potable water supply. The higher the hazard, the shorter the time limit.
4. The representative of the City, in cooperation with the Idaho State Health Department, shall determine a reasonable time within which the property owner shall complete such correction and shall reinspect the premises after the expiration of such period of time.
E. Penalties: In the event an improper cross-connection shall be found and shall not be corrected within the time limits set by the Superintendent, or authorized personnel, (unless such time limit be extended for good cause by the Superintendent) or in the event any owner of real property shall refuse the Superintendent or authorized personnel access to any portion of such real property or to all improvements thereon for the purpose of determining whether or not any such cross-connection exists, in either event the service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the City if a backflow prevention device required by Idaho Administrative Procedures Manual or the City has not been installed, tested and maintained on an annual basis. Water service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected. The amount of any fees or costs incurred by the City in order to enforce the provisions of this regulation shall be paid by the consumer before water service is restored.
1. When a device has been required and installed and tested, it is not to be removed or tampered with in any way except by an authorized plumber and prior approval by the City's authorized personnel. Any violation shall be a misdemeanor and punishable as follows:
First violation | $ 500.00 fine |
Second violation | 750.00 fine and possible jail (3 month sentence) |
Third violation | 1,000.00 fine and possible jail (6 month sentence) |
Any violation will result in immediate termination of water service until said violation is corrected. Any fine will be levied on the next billing or may be required to be paid prior to having service reestablished.
2. Devices that have been installed on lawn sprinkling or irrigation systems for the purpose of protecting the domestic water supply may be tested by certified backflow prevention device tester with the results being sent to the City on an original or carbon copy form, but not a photocopy of the form and is to be pen ink not pencil, to be held valid. These devices are to be tested annually, preferably prior to the irrigation or sprinkling season. Faulty devices will be required to be corrected within seven (7) days of the failed test.
Anyone found to be filing incorrect forms (not doing the physical test) will be assessed a civil penalty as follows:
First violation | $ 500.00 |
Second violation | 750.00 |
Third violation | 1,000.00 |
F. Attorney Fees: In the event it shall become necessary for the City to incur any attorney fees or suit costs in order to enforce the provisions of this Section concerning cross-connections against any property owner, the amount of such fees and costs shall be paid by such owner before water service is restored to the premises.
G. Installation: Whereas it is deemed necessary for a backflow prevention device to be installed for protection of the public potable water system, said device shall never be placed below ground level or in a vault/pit or other structure except with these minimum requirements:
1. Twelve inches (12") plus the nominal diameter of the device clearance below the device.
2. Area is able to be drained to daylight, with a line at least twice the size of the device.
3. Drain line to be unrestricted in flow characteristics. Drain line is to have magnetic door to prevent rodents from entering and to prevent plugs from occurring.
4. Will not be subject to flood conditions/submerged.
5. At least twelve inches (12") clearance from the walls of the vault or structure.
6. Access to the area of the device by an authorized employee of the City is unrestricted and attainable (e.g., not covered in any way for beautification sake). (Ord. 659, 9-27-1994)