For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AIR GAP SEPARATION means 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 receptacle.
APPROVED means that a backflow prevention device or method has been accepted by the Water Department and the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY WATER SYSTEM. Any water system on or available to the premises, other than the public water system, and includes the water supplied by the system. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public water system, water from a source such as wells, lakes or streams, process fluids or used water. These waters may be polluted, contaminated or objectionable or may constitute a water source or system over which the water purveyor does not have control.
BACKFLOW. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply 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 back flow into a potable water system.
CONSUMER. The owner 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 consumer's premises, supplied by or in any manner connected to a public water system. A household plumbing system is considered to be a consumer's water system.
CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of water by sewage, process fluids or waste to a degree which could create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease by exposure.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any arrangement whereby backflow can occur.
DEGREE OF HAZARD. Derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to health and the adverse effect upon the potable water system.
DIRECTOR. The Director of the Ohio EPA.
DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly composed of two single, independently acting, check valves, including tightly closing shut-off valves, located at each end of the assembly, and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve.
HEALTH HAZARD. Any condition, device or practice in a water system or its operation that creates or may create a danger to the health and well being of users. SEVERE, as used to qualify HEALTH HAZARD, means a hazard to the health of the user that could reasonably be expected to result in significant morbidity or death.
INTERCHANGEABLE CONNECTION. An arrangement or device that will allow alternate but not simultaneous use of two sources of water.
NONPOTABLE WATER. Water not safe for drinking or for personal or culinary use.
PERSON. The state, a political subdivision, a public or private corporation or an individual, partnership or other legal entity.
POLLUTION. The presence in water of any foreign substance that tends to degrade the quality of such water 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 water for domestic use.
POLLUTION HAZARD. A condition through which an aesthetically objectionable or degrading material, not dangerous to health, may enter the public water system or a consumer's potable water system.
POTABLE WATER. Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the Ohio EPA.
PROCESS FLUIDS. Any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, pollution or system hazard if introduced into the public water system or into 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 system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality;
(4) Cooling waters;
(5) Contaminated natural waters taken from wells, lakes, streams or irrigation systems;
(6) Chemical 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 SYSTEM. Any publicly or privately owned potable water system subject to Ohio R.C. 6109.20.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACK-FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE. 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. During normal flow and at the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between these two checks shall be less than the supply pressure. 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. The unit must include tightly closing shut-off valves located at each end of the device, and each device shall be fitted with properly located test cocks.
SERVICE CONNECTION. The terminal end of a service line from the public water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then SERVICE CONNECTION means the downstream end of the meter.
SYSTEM HAZARD. A condition posing an actual or potential threat of damage to the physical properties of the public water system or a consumer's potable water system.
USED WATER. Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public water 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 purveyor.
WATER PURVEYOR. The owner or operator of a public water system.
(`82 Code, § 1041.02) (Ord. 88-58, passed 7-5-88)