The purpose of this cross-connection control chapter is:
(A) Purpose.
(1) To protect the public potable water supply of the town from the possibility of contamination or pollution, due to back siphonage or backpressure, by isolation within the consumer's private water system such contaminants or pollutants, which could backflow into the public water system.
(2) To define the authority of the town as the water purveyor entitled to eliminating cross-connections, new or existing, within its public water system.
(3) To provide a continuing inspection program of cross-connections that may be installed in the future.
(4) This chapter will comply with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (P.L. 93-523), the North Carolina State Administrative Code (G.S. Title 15A, Subch. 8C), and the North Carolina State Building Code (Volume II) as they pertain to cross-connections within the public water supply.
(B) Responsibility, town. The responsibility of the town is as follows:
(1) The town will be primarily responsible for preventing any contamination or pollution of the public water system. This responsibility begins at the point of origin of the public water supply, includes all of the public water distribution system, including the service connection, and ends at the point of delivery (water meter) to the consumer's potable water system. The town shall exercise vigilance to ensure that the consumer/customer has taken the proper steps to protect the public potable water system.
(2) When it has been determined that a backflow protection assembly is required for the prevention of contamination of the public water system, the town shall notify the owner, in writing, of any such building or premises, to correct within a time set by this chapter, any plumbing installed or existing that is in violation of this chapter.
(3) After surveying the private water system, the town will select an approved backflow prevention assembly required for containment control to be installed at service.
(4) Prior to the installation of any backflow prevention assembly, the owner of the private water system must be notified that the installation of a backflow prevention assembly may create a closed system, and as a result thermal expansion may occur. Under such circumstance, the customer must understand and assume all liability and responsibilities for that phenomenon.
(C) Responsibility, customer. The responsibility of the customer is as follows:
(1) The customer has the responsibility of preventing contaminants and pollutants from entering the customer's private water system or the public water system operated by the town. The customer, at his or her own expense, shall install, operate, and maintain all backflow prevention assemblies specified within this policy.
(2) If a tenant customer does not maintain the private water system and has no authority to bring the system into compliance with the provisions of this policy, the town may assert any available action against the tenant to assure the private water system is brought into compliance with this chapter.
(Ord. passed 9-3-2013)