For the purpose of this subchapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
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 devise or flood level rim of said vessel. An approved air-gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically, above the overflow rim of the vessel; and in no case less than one inch.
APPROVED.
Accepted by Peru Utilities as meeting applicable specification stated or cited in this subchapter, or as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY.
Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the utility’s approved public potable water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another utility’s public potable water supply or any natural source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream, and the like, 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 utility does not have sanitary control.
BACKFLOW.
The reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either backpressure or backsiphonage.
BACKPRESSURE.
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.
BACKSIPHONAGE.
The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply caused by the reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER.
An approved assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.
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.
CROSS CONNECTION.
Any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other non-potable water or industrial fluids of questionable safety, through which, or because of which, backflow may occur into the potable water system.
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL BY CONTAINMENT.
The installation of an approved backflow assembly at the water service connection to any customer’s premises where it is physically and economically unfeasible to find and permanently eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within the customer’s water system; or it shall mean the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly 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.
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROLLED.
A connection between a potable water system and a non-potable water system with an air gap or approved backflow prevention assembly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.
DEGREE OF HAZARD.
An evaluation of the potential risk and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY.
An assembly of two independently operating, approved check valves with resilient seated shut-off valves on each end of the check valves, plus properly located resilient seated test cocks for 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 Peru Utilities approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. To be approved these assemblies must be readily accessible for in line testing and maintenance. Confined space installations will not be accepted.
HEALTH HAZARD.
Any condition, device, or practice in the water supply system and its operation, which could create, or in the judgment of Peru Utilities, may create a danger to the health and well being of the water customer.
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 water” originating from the public potable water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; plating acids and alkalines, circulating cooling waters connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling towers that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as wells, springs, streams, rivers, irrigation canal or systems, and the like; oils, gases, glycerin, paraffin, caustic and acid solutions and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes or for fire-fighting purposes.
NON-POTABLE WATER.
Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable potability.
PLUMBING HAZARD.
A plumbing type cross-connection in a customer’s potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air-gap or approved backflow prevention assembly.
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 but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.
POLLUTIONAL HAZARD.
An actual or potential threat to the physical water system but which could constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances, but would not be dangerous to health.
POTABLE WATER.
Any water which, according to recognized standards, is safe for human consumption.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE ASSEMBLIES.
An assembly of two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent differential pressure relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time, below the first check valve, the unit shall include properly located resilient seated test cocks and resilient seated shut-off 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 approval by a recognized and Peru Utilities approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. The assembly shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the check valves at an acceptable level less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the assembly. At cessation of normal flow the pressure between the two check valves shall be less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the assembly. 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 pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere. To be approved these assemblies must be readily accessible for inline testing and maintenance and be installed in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged. Confined space installations will not be approved.
SUPERINTENDENT.
The Superintendent of the Division of Water Management of Peru Utilities who is vested with the authority and responsibility for the impletion of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement of provisions of this subchapter.
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 affect on the quality of the potable water in the system.
USED WATER.
Any water supplied by a water utility from a public potable water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water utility.
WATER SERVICE CONNECTION.
The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system; i.e., where the water utility 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
shall mean the downstream end of the meter, provided the meter is installed outside of a building; i.e., in a pit or vault. If the meter is installed inside a building, then the water utility’s jurisdiction terminates at the downstream end of the outside shut off valve to the water service. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the water service line ahead of any meter or ahead of any backflow prevention assembly.
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.
(Ord. 8, 2014, amended 4-17-14)