Chapter 13.20
CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL, GENERAL POLICY
Sections:
13.20.050 Backflow prevention.
13.20.060 Testing, inspection, maintenance and repair.
13.20.070 Expenses considered a lien.
13.20.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is:
A. To protect the public potable water supply of the city from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the customer’s internal distribution system or the customer’s private water system such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water systems;
B. To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the consumer’s in-plant potable water system and nonpotable water system, plumbing fixtures and piping systems;
C. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of all potable water systems. (Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.020 Responsibility.
The city public works department and State Health Department shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of the city public works department an approved backflow prevention assembly is required for the safety of the water system, the public works department or its designated agent shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such approved backflow prevention assembly at specific location on customer premises. The customer shall immediately install such approved assembly at the customer’s own expense; and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install and maintain said assembly shall constitute a ground for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily met. (Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.030 Authority.
The official in charge of the public works department of the city, or his appointed authority, is invested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.040 Regulations.
To comply with the “Regulations Relating to Cross Connections” (Title 17) of the State of California Department of Health Services, the city will require the installation of approved backflow prevention devices by and at the expense of the customer before service will be granted under any of the following conditions:
A. Where an unapproved fresh water supply is already available from a well, spring, reservoir, or any other source, unless the customer agrees to remove all pumps and piping necessary for the utilization of this supply, the installation of a backflow protective device will be required;
B. Where polluted water under pressure is available for industrial or fire protection purposes;
C. Where the premises are or may be engaged in industrial processes using or producing process waters or liquid wastes, or where the premises are or may be engaged in handling sewage or other dangerous substances;
D. Where circumstances are known or suspected such that there is special danger of backflow of sewage or other contaminated liquids through plumbing fixtures or water-using or treatment equipment, or storage tanks and reservoirs. (Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.050 Backflow prevention.
Wherever backflow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a customer’s premises, then any and all water supply lines form the city’s mains entering such premises, building, or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow device. The type of protection is dependent upon the degree of hazard. Backflow prevention devices shall be placed as required by Title 17 and as approved by the state of California Department of Health Services. (Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.060 Testing, inspection, maintenance and repair.
A. Testing Required. Backflow protection assemblies shall be inspected and tested after installation, repair or relocation, and at least annually thereafter. The owner of the premises on which a backflow assembly has been installed shall be responsible for having the required inspection and testing completed as set forth in this chapter. Inspection and testing must be done by a person certified by the state of California to perform cross-connection control testing and inspection. Any assembly that is found to be defective shall be repaired or replaced by the owner of the premises and the backflow protection assembly shall be re-tested before being placed back in service. All test reports shall be submitted to the city within the time limits set forth in this section.
B. Installation Testing. Each owner of premises on which a backflow protection assembly is required shall cause such assembly to be inspected and tested and shall submit the test report to the city within ten calendar days of the installation.
C. Annual Testing. Each owner of premises on which a backflow protection assembly is required shall cause such assembly to be inspected and tested annually and shall submit the test report to the city. The city will send a notice to the property owner and the water customer by July 1st of each year as notification that the inspection is due within sixty calendar days. The notice will be sent along with a test report form and a list of certified testers. If a completed test report is not received by the city by the due date set forth in the notice, the city may proceed to conduct the testing and charge the property owner for any expenses incurred for the administration and performance of the testing, and any repairs that may be necessary. All costs incurred in testing, inspection, servicing, repair, and replacement of a defective device will be billed to the owner in addition to an administrative fee.
D. Additional Inspection and Testing. Additional testing and inspection of backflow assemblies may be conducted by the city as necessary as determined by the public works superintendent. Such additional inspection and testing shall be at the expense of the owner. (Ord. 773 § 1, 2005: Ord. 470 § 1(part), 1987).
13.20.070 Expenses considered a lien.
Expenses incurred by the city for testing, inspection, maintenance and repair, and all penalties thereon when confirmed by the city council as provided in this chapter shall constitute a lien upon the real property served and such lien shall continue until the charge and all penalties are fully paid or the property is sold therefor. The lien shall be prior to all other liens recorded after the lien for inspection and testing expenses is recorded as provided in this section.
In addition, the city council may authorize the city clerk to place the lien on the tax roll of the property served.
The provisions for notice, hearing, separate remedy, and additional remedy as set forth in Sections 13.43.070 through 13.43.100 et seq. shall apply to this chapter. (Ord. 773 § 2, 2005).