Loading...
The hazard potential to the public water supply systems from a customer's private plumbing system shall be determined using the following hazard factors as each is defined in section 27-70:
(1) Contamination.
(2) Cross-connection protection.
(3) Pollution.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04)
(1) Air gap (AG): The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the opening of the pipe or faucet supplying potable water to a tank, plumbing fixture or other device. An approved air gap shall be at least double the effective opening of the supply pipe or faucet and in no case less than one (1) inch above the flood rim.
(2) Reduced pressure principle assembly (RPA): An assembly containing two (2) independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves, and at the same time below the first check valve. The assembly shall include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly.
(3) Double check valve assembly (DCVA): An assembly composed of two (2) independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located test cocks.
(4) Pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVB): An assembly containing an independently operating, loaded check valve and an independently operating, loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly shall be equipped with properly located test cocks and tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly.
(5) Spill-resistant pressure vacuum breaker (SVB): An assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly shall be equipped with a properly located resilient seated test cock, properly located bleed/vent valve and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly.
(6) Double check detector assembly (DCDA or DDCVA): An assembly composed of a line size approved double check valve assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly.
(7) Reduced pressure principle detector assembly (RPDA): An assembly composed of a line size approved reduced pressure principle assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved reduced pressure principle assembly.
(b) A backflow prevention method may be approved by Tucson Water if it is contained in section 7.2 of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control, Ninth Edition, USC- FCCCHR, KAP-200 University Park MC 2531, Los Angeles, California, 90089-2531, December 1993 (cross connection manual). The current list of approved methods shall be available for inspection at Tucson Water to any customer required to install a backflow prevention assembly.
(c) Any backflow prevention assembly equipped with test cocks shall have been issued a certificate of approval by the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research or a third-party certifying entity that is unrelated to the product's manufacturer or vendor, and is approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Any backflow prevention assembly not equipped with test cocks shall be certified by a third party entity unrelated to the product's manufacturer or vendor and approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)
(a) Whenever the following items exist or activities are conducted on premises served by the public water systems, a potential hazard to the public water supplies shall be presumed, and a backflow prevention method of the type specified herein for that item or activity must be utilized or installed at each service connection for that premises. If an activity or item is not on the following list, it shall be evaluated by Tucson Water and a method of backflow prevention will be determined.
(1) Cooling tower, boiler, condenser, chiller, and other cooling systems: RPA.
(2) Tank, vessel, receptacle, and all other water connections, including mobile units, except emergency vehicles and private swimming pools: RPA.
(3) Icemaker (other than a residential service): RPA.
(4) Water-cooled equipment, boosters, pumps or autoclaves: RPA.
(5) Water treatment facilities and all water processing equipment (other than residential water softeners): RPA.
(6) Bottle washer, bedpan washer, garbage can washer: RPA.
(7) Pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer, and chemical applicators (other than typical in- home use): RPA.
(8) Aspirator: RPA.
(9) Commercial dishwashers, food processing and/or preparation equipment, carbonation equipment, or other food service processes: RPA.
(10) Decorative fountain, baptismal, or any location water is exposed to atmosphere: RPA.
(11) X-ray equipment, plating equipment, or any other photographic processing equipment: RPA.
(12) Auxiliary water supply and/or connections to unapproved water supply systems: RPA.
(13) Reclaimed water sites with potable water connection: RPA.
(14) Recreational vehicle dump stations (sewer), or any other location where water may be exposed to bacteria, virus or gas: RPA.
(15) Any premises on which chemicals, oils, solvents, pesticides, disinfectants, cleaning agents, acids or other pollutants and/or contaminants are handled in a manner by which they may come in direct contact with water, or there is evidence of the potential to contact water: RPA.
(16) Materials and piping systems unapproved by the City Plumbing Code or Environmental Protection Agency for potable water usage: RPA.
(17) Separately metered or unprotected irrigation systems, and construction water services: RPA or PVB/SVB as allowed.
(18) Any premises where a cross-connection is maintained or where internal backflow protection is required pursuant to the City Plumbing Code: RPA.
(19) Multimetered properties with more than one (1) meter connected: RPA.
(20) Fire systems--AWWA Classes 1 and 2 and all systems constructed of a piping material not approved for potable water pursuant to the City Plumbing Code: DCVA or Double Detector CVA. Furthermore, fire systems, Classes 1 and 2, that are under the jurisdiction of the fire department or a fire district that requires periodic sprinkler system testing similar to the city's are exempt from this article: DCVA.
(21) Fire systems--AWWA Class 3, 4, 5, 6: RPA or RPA with detector.
(22) Fire systems which require backflow protection and where backflow protection is required on the industrial/domestic service connection that is located on the same premises, both service connections will have adequate backflow protection for the highest degree of hazard affecting either system: RPA (Requirement may be waived by Tucson Water).
(23) Any premises which has a source of water supply that is not accepted by the public water system and or not approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: As determined by Tucson Water.
(24) Any premises where an unprotected cross-connection exists or where there has previously occurred a cross connection problem within the premises: As determined by Tucson Water.
(25) Any premises where there is a significant possibility that a cross-connection problem will occur and entry onto the premises is restricted to the extent that cross-connection inspections can not be made with sufficient frequency or on sufficiently short notice to assure that unprotected cross-connections do not exist: As determined by Tucson Water.
(26) Multi-use commercial property: RPA.
(27) Properties with active private wells: RPA.
(28) Consecutive systems, when required by Tucson Water: RPA.
(29) Fire hydrant/construction water: RPA.
(30) Jumper connection to new water mains: RPA.
(31) Any building three (3) stories or greater than thirty-four (34) feet in height as measured from the service level: RPA.
(32) Any premise on which there is a pressurized gray water system: RPA.
(33) Any premise on which there is pressurized rain water harvesting system: RPA.
(b) When two (2) or more of the activities listed above are conducted on the same premises and served by the same service connection or multiple service connections, the most restrictive backflow prevention method required for any of the activities conducted on the premises shall be required to be installed at each service connection. The order of most restrictive to least restrictive backflow prevention methods shall be as follows:
(1) Air gap (AG).
(2) Reduced pressure principle assembly (RPA).
(3) Reduced pressure principal detector assembly (RPDA).
(4) Double check valve assembly (DCVA).
(5) Double check detector assembly (DCDA).
(6) Pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVB).
(7) Spill resistant pressure vacuum breaker (SVB).
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)
(a) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and maintained by the customer, at the customer's expense and in compliance with the standards and specifications adopted by the city, at each service connection. The customer is responsible for notifying Tucson Water of any installation, repair, relocation or replacement. A backflow prevention assembly shall be installed as close as practicable to the service connection. Any backflow prevention method shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and Tucson Water's standard details for installation.
(b) The assembly shall have a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the service connection or service line at point of connection. Each service connection will require its own backflow prevention assembly.
(c) The assembly shall be in an accessible location approved by Tucson Water. The RPA, RPDA, DCVA, DCDA, PVB, and SVB shall be installed above ground and per Tucson Water standard details.
(d) When a customer desires a continuous water supply, two (2) backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed parallel to one another at the service connection to allow a continuous water supply during testing and maintenance of the backflow prevention assemblies. When backflow prevention assemblies are installed parallel to one another, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the assemblies shall be at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the service connection or service line piping at the point of installation, and the assemblies shall be of the same type, size, and manufacturer.
(e) For an AG installation all piping installed between the user's connection and the receiving tank shall be entirely visible unless otherwise approved in writing by Tucson Water.
(f) Backflow prevention assemblies shall not be installed in a meter box, pit or vault.
(g) A PVB or SVB assembly may be installed for use on a landscape water irrigation system if:
(1) The water use beyond the assembly is for irrigation purposes only;
(2) The PVB/SVB is installed in accordance with manufacturer's specifications;
(3) The irrigation system is designed and constructed to be incapable of inducing backpressure;
(4) Chemigation, the injection of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, is not used or provided for in the irrigation system; and
(5) No other source of water is available on the premises.
If these five criteria are not met, then an RP assembly is required.
(h) No person shall alter, modify, bypass or remove a backflow prevention method without the approval of Tucson Water.
(i) Installation of the backflow prevention assembly must be completed within the time specified in the notice to install or within forty-five (45) days of the water meter installation. A time extension may be granted by Tucson Water.
(j) If a customer fails to install a backflow prevention assembly pursuant to this article, Tucson Water shall discontinue water service and assess a compliance fee pursuant to this article.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)
In addition to the requirements of section 27-75 the following shall also apply.
(a) Fire systems:
(1) Fire protection systems may consist of sprinklers, hose connections, and hydrants. Sprinkler systems may be dry or wet, open or closed. Systems consisting of fixed-spray nozzles may be used indoors or outdoors for protection of flammable-liquid and other hazardous processes. It is standard practice, especially in cities, to equip automatic sprinkler systems with fire department pumper connections.
(2) A meter (compound, detector check) should not normally be permitted as part of a backflow prevention assembly. An exception may be made, however, if the meter and backflow prevention assembly are specifically designed for that purpose.
(3) For cross-connection control, fire protection systems shall be classified on the basis of water source and arrangement of supplies as follows:
a. Class 1: Direct connections from public water mains only; no pumps, tanks or reservoirs; no physical connection from other water supplies; no antifreeze or other additives of any kind; all sprinkler drains discharging to atmosphere, dry wells or other safe outlets.
b. Class 2: Same as class 1, except that booster pumps may be installed in the connections from the street mains. It is necessary to avoid drafting so much water that pressure in the water main is reduced below twenty (20) psi.
c. Class 3: Direct connection from public water supply main plus one (1) or more of the following: elevated storage tanks; fire pumps taking suction from above-ground covered reservoirs or tanks; and pressure tanks (all storage facilities are filled or connected to public water only, the water in the tanks to be maintained in a potable condition).
Otherwise, Class 3 systems are the same as class 1. Class 3 systems will generally require minimum protection (approved double check valves) to prevent stagnant waters from backflowing into the public potable water system.
d. Class 4: Directly supplied from public mains similar to classes 1 and 2, and with an auxiliary water supply on or available to the premises; or an auxiliary supply may be located within seventeen hundred (1,700) feet of the pumper connection. Class 4 systems will normally require backflow protection at the service connection. The type (air gap or reduced pressure) will generally depend on the quality of the auxiliary supply.
e. Class 5: Directly supplied from public mains, and interconnected with auxiliary supplies, such as: pumps taking suction from reservoirs exposed to contamination, or rivers and ponds; driven wells, mills or other industrial water systems; or where antifreeze or other additives are used. Classes 4 and 5 systems normally would need maximum protection (air gap or reduced pressure) to protect the public water system.
f. Class 6: Combined industrial and fire protection systems supplied from the public water mains only, with or without gravity storage or pump suction tanks. Class 6 system protection would depend on the requirements of both industry and fire protection, and could only be determined by a survey of the premises.
(b) Installation of assembly: When a backflow prevention assembly is required for a water service connection supplying water only to a fire system, the assembly shall be installed on the service line in compliance with standard specifications adopted by the city. (Installation of DCVA's or DDCVA's in a vertical position on the riser may be allowed on fire systems with Tucson Water approval.)
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04)
(a) A customer's water systems shall be available at all times during business operations for premises inspection and backflow prevention assembly testing by Tucson Water. The inspection shall be conducted to determine whether any cross-connection or other hazard potentials exist and to determine compliance with this article and modifications, if any, pursuant to section 27-81.
(b) Tucson Water shall inspect all new sites, assembly installations, assembly relocations and assemblies that have been repaired for compliance.
(c) A waived premise is a property for which Tucson Water has determined there are currently no hazard potentials. All waived premises shall be inspected periodically or when there has been a change in owner/tenant or there has been a use change.
(d) If a customer refuses entry to a premises for inspection during business operations, Tucson Water may discontinue water service, require backflow prevention or take any steps allowed by law to gain entry to the premises.
(e) Tucson Water shall inspect all new reclaimed water sites prior to the delivery of reclaimed water to ensure that no cross-connections with Tucson Water's potable system exist and that the site complies with all applicable state and local regulations.
(f) Beginning on January 1, 2015 all reclaimed water sites, except single family residences, are required to have an annual reclaimed water site inspection and cross-connection test performed by a reclaimed water site tester certified by and registered with Tucson Water. The inspection will ensure that no cross-connections with Tucson Water's potable system exist and that the site complies with all applicable state and local regulations, including regulations pertaining to signage, ponding, overspray, site plan, and discharge off of the site. The reclaimed water site inspection program will be administered as provided in section 27-80.
(g) All single family sites will be inspected once every five years by Tucson Water at no cost to the customer. The inspection will ensure that no cross-connections with Tucson Water's potable system exist and that the site complies with all applicable state and local regulations, including regulations pertaining to signage, ponding, overspray, site plan, and discharge off of the site.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)
(a) Installation permits for the installation of all backflow prevention assemblies required by Tucson Water shall be obtained from Tucson Water prior to installation. A separate permit shall be obtained for each required backflow prevention assembly to be installed, including replacement or relocation.
(b) It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by the permit to notify Tucson Water, orally or in writing, that the work is ready for inspection. Such notification shall be given not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the work is to be inspected and shall be given only if there is reason to believe that the work done will meet current city codes and regulations.
(c) Whenever any work is being done contrary to the provisions of the City Plumbing Code or this article, Tucson Water or an authorized representative may order the work stopped by notice in writing served on any persons engaged in the doing or causing such work to be done; and any such person shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by Tucson Water to proceed with the work.
(d) Any Tucson Water employee may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of this article, whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation of any provision of the City Plumbing Code or this article.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04)
Loading...