Chapter 13.20
CROSS CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.20.020 Cross connection control
requirements.
13.20.070 Violation – Penalty.
13.20.080 Separate violations.
13.20.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following mean:
(1) "Air gap separation" means the physical vertical separation between the free-flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and the open or nonpressure receiving vessel.
(2) "Approval" or "approved" means approved in writing.
(3) "Auxiliary water supply" means any supply of water used to augment the supply obtained from the city water system which serves the premises in question.
(4) "AWWA" means the American Water Works Association.
(5) "Backflow" means the flow in the direction opposite to the normal flow.
(6) "Backflow prevention device" or "backflow prevention device assembly" means a backflow prevention device such as a pressure vacuum breaker, a double check valve, or a reduced pressure principle device, and the attached shut-off valves on the inlet and outlet ends of the device assembled as a complete unit.
(7) "Check valve" means a valve which allows flow in only one direction.
(8) "City water system" shall mean the potable water system of the city of Veneta.
(9) "Cross connection" means any link or channel between the piping which carries drinking water and the piping or fixtures which carry other water or other substances.
(10) "Division" means the Health Division of the Oregon Department of Human Resources.
(11) "Double check valve assembly" means an assembly of two independently acting check valves with shut-off valves on each side of the check valves and test cocks for checking the watertightness of each check valve.
(12) "Owner" means any person owning a beneficial interest with a right of possession in property served by the municipal water system, any occupant of any premises served by the city water system, and any customer or water user of the city water system.
(13) "Person" includes any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, municipal, state or federal agency, or joint stock company and includes any receiver, special master, trustee, assignee or other similar representative thereof.
(14) "Potable water" means safe drinking water.
(15) "Public works director" means the public works director for the city of Veneta or the public works director's designee.
(16) "Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device (RP device)" means a device for preventing backflow which has two check valves, a differential relief valve located between the two check valves, two shut-off valves, one on the upstream side and the other on the downstream side of the check valves, and four test cocks for checking the watertightness of the check valves and the operation of the relief valve.
(17) "Safe drinking water" means water which has sufficiently low concentrations of microbiological, inorganic chemical, organic chemical, radiological or physical substances so that individuals drinking such water at normal levels of consumption will not be exposed to disease organisms or other substances which may produce harmful physiological effects.
(18) "Service connection" means the piping connection by means of which water is conveyed from a distribution main of a public water system to a customer's premises. The portion of the service connection which conveys water from the distribution main to the customer's property line, or to the service meter where provided, is owned by and under the jurisdiction of the water supplier.
(19) "Water system" means a system for the provision of piped water for human consumption. (Ord. 302 § 1, 1988)
13.20.020 Cross connection control requirements.
(1) Whenever a water user or the owner of the premises obtaining water from the city water system treats the water in any way or adds any chemical or substance to the water, such person shall immediately notify the public works director.
(2) Backflow prevention device assemblies for protecting the city water system shall be installed on the owner's side of the service connection to premises where an approved air gap does not exist and:
(a) There is an auxiliary water supply which is connected to the potable water piping;
(b) There is an auxiliary water supply which could be connected to the potable water piping, unless all of the following requirements are met:
(i) The auxiliary water supply is not, in fact, connected to the potable water piping;
(ii) The auxiliary water supply is conspicuously posted with a sign identifying it as a nonpotable water supply and prohibiting it from being connected to the city water supply or any potable water supply system on the premises. The location and contents of the sign shall be determined by the public works director;
(iii) The owner permits inspections, at such time as the public works director may determine, to determine whether the auxiliary water supply has been connected to the potable water supply system or the city water supply system;
(iv) If any inspection reveals that the auxiliary water system has been connected to the city water system or any potable water system on the premises, the public works director may, upon 30 days' written notice to the owner, require installation of a backflow prevention device assembly at the service conner, require installation of a backflow prevention device assembly at the service connection;
(c) There is intricate plumbing which makes it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross connections exist;
(d) There is back siphonage potential;
(e) Cross connections or potential cross connections exist.
(3) The type of backflow prevention device required under subsection (2) of this section shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard which exists:
(a) An approved air gap of at least twice the inside diameter, but not less than one inch, of the incoming supply line measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, or an approved reduced pressure (RP) device assembly, shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is hazardous to health, such as but not limited to sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, plating plants, hospitals, mortuaries, car washes, medical clinics;
(b) An approved double check valve assembly shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is objectionable, but does not pose an unreasonable risk to health;
(c) An approved pressure vacuum breaker or an atmospheric breaker shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is objectionable, but does not pose an unreasonable risk to health and where there is no possibility of back pressure in the downstream piping. A shut-off valve may be installed on the line downstream of a pressure vacuum breaker, but shall not be installed downstream of an atmospheric vacuum breaker.
(4) Except as set forth in subsection (6) of this section, all backflow prevention device assemblies required under this section shall be of a type or model approved by the division.
(5) All backflow prevention device assemblies shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 2 and Chapter 4, Recommended Installation Practice, Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross Connection Control Manual, November 1985, 4th Edition published by the Cross Connection Control Committee, Pacific Northwest Section, AWWA.
(6) Backflow prevention device assemblies installed before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter which were approved at the time they were installed, but are not on the current list of approved device assemblies maintained by the division, shall be permitted to remain in service provided they are properly maintained, are commensurate with the degree of hazard, are tested at least annually, and perform satisfactorily. When devices of this type are moved, or require more than minimum maintenance, they shall be replaced by device assemblies which are on the division list of approved device assemblies.
(7) The water user or the owner of the premises where one or more reduced pressured device assemblies, double check valve assemblies or pressure vacuum breakers have been installed shall have the device or devices tested, at the owner's or user's expense, at least once per year. Devices shall be tested immediately after installation and after they are moved. Reports on the test shall be prepared by the tester and copies of the reports shall be provided to the water user or the owner of the premises, to the city of Veneta, and to the division within 15 days of the date the test is conducted. Tests shall be performed by certified testers in conformance with Oregon Administrative Rule 333-61-070, governing cross connection control requirements.
(8) If any backflow prevention devices are found not to be functioning properly, the public works director shall give notice to the water user or owner of the premises. The notice shall require that the owner or water user repair the backflow prevention device within 30 days of the mailing of the notice, unless the public works director determines that the potential backflow could be hazardous to health, in which case the notice period may be shortened to such time as the public works director may determine. (Ord. 392 § 1, 1998; Ord. 302 § 2, 1988)
13.20.030 Notices.
Any notice required or permitted under this chapter shall be deemed given upon mailing to the address of the premises served or to the billing address of the water user listed with the city water department. (Ord. 302 § 3, 1988)
13.20.040 Shut-offs.
The public works director may shut off the water service to any premises when:
(1) A violation of the provisions of this chapter continues after the expiration of any notice period provided under this chapter;
(2) Immediately, upon determination that an emergency exits or that a substantial hazard exists due to the potential for backflow of hazardous substances;
(3) Immediately upon the refusal of any water user or owner of premises to permit inspection, or if the public works director is unable to contact the water user or owner to arrange for an inspection. (Ord. 302 § 4, 1988)
13.20.050 Inspections.
All water users and owners of premises served by the city water system shall permit inspections by the public works director, at such times as the public works director may designate, for purposes of determining whether the water user or owner is in compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 302 § 5, 1988)
13.20.060 Fees.
Fees for inspections by the public works director, and for signs posted in accordance with VMC 13.20.020(2)(b)(ii), shall be set by resolution. Fees for turn-ons and shut-offs shall be in accordance with the fee resolution implementing Chapter 13.05 VMC. (Ord. 302 § 6, 1988)
13.20.070 Violation – Penalty.
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000. (Ord. 302 § 7, 1988)
13.20.080 Separate violations.
Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate violation. (Ord. 302 § 8, 1988)