Chapter 12.12
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
Sections:
12.12.020 Adoption by reference.
12.12.040 Cross connection control—Customer responsibilities.
12.12.050 Backflow prevention assembly installation practices.
12.12.055 Premises isolation practices.
12.12.060 Backflow prevention assembly testing procedures.
12.12.080 Inspection of new construction.
12.12.090 Inspections of existing construction.
12.12.010 Purpose.
A. The purpose of the cross connection control program is to protect the health of water consumers and potability of the public water system by assuring:
1. The inspection and regulation of plumbing in existing and proposed piping networks; and
2. The proper installation and surveillance of backflow prevention assemblies when actual or potential cross connections exist and cannot be eliminated.
B. No cross connections shall exist except in accordance with this chapter and applicable state law as now exists or as may be hereafter amended. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.020 Adoption by reference.
A. Cross connections and backflow prevention assemblies and devices shall conform to the current edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as now exists or as may be hereafter amended, and the State Board of Health, Drinking Water Regulations, WAC 246-290-490, as now exist or as may be hereafter amended. Such codes are adopted by this reference as if fully set forth herein.
B. Policies, procedures and criteria for determining appropriate levels of cross connection protection shall be in accordance with the Cross Connection Control Manual, Accepted Procedure and Practice, Sixth Edition, December 1995, Cross Connection Control Committee, Pacific Northwest Section AWWA, or any superseding edition, which is adopted by this reference as if fully set forth herein. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.030 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be defined as follows:
“Accessible,” in reference to the installation of backflow preventers, means that such backflow preventers shall be placed so that they can be reached for testing and/or maintenance safely, but may allow access panels, doors, etc.
“Administrative authority” means the city superintendent of the city of Bridgeport or other person designated by the mayor, or other individual, department or agency given the responsibility and authority by the state, county or other political entity created by law to administer and enforce the provision of a cross connection control program.
“Air gap” means the vertical physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of the potable supply line and the overflow rim of the receiving vessel. In an “approved” air gap, the separation must be at least twice the inside diameter of the supply line, but never less than one inch. When the air gap is within three pipe diameters (measured horizontally) of a wall, the air gap shall be increased to three times the incoming pipe diameter, or four times the effective opening for intersecting walls.
“Approval/approved” means approved in writing by the health authority or other administrative authority having jurisdiction.
“Approved auxiliary water supply” means an auxiliary water supply which has been investigated and approved by the health authority, meets water quality regulations, and is accepted by the water purveyor.
“Aspiration” means the use of the venturi principle (a subatmospheric pressure condition caused by an increase of velocity in a water line through a localized restriction) to introduce a second substance in the water supply.
“ASSE” is the abbreviation for the American Society of Sanitary Engineering.
“Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)” means a device which contains a float check (poppet), a check seat and an air inlet vent. When water pressure is reduced to a gauge pressure of zero or below, the float check drops, allowing air to enter the device, preventing backsiphonage. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.
“Auxiliary water supply” means any water supply on, or available to, a premise in addition to the purveyor’s approved public potable water supply.
“AWWA” is the abbreviation for the American Water Works Association.
“Back flow” means the flow of water or other liquids, gases or solids from any source back into the customer’s plumbing system or the water purveyor’s water distribution system.
Backflow Prevention Assembly. The nomenclature “assembly” refers to a backflow preventer which is designed to be in-line tested and repaired, and to meet the head loss and flow requirements of the recognized approval authority. The “assembly” consists of the backflow prevention unit, two resilient seated shutoff valves, and test cock(s).
Backflow Prevention Device. The nomenclature “device” refers to a backflow preventer that is not designed for in-line testing.
Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester-Certified (BAT). See “Certified backflow assembly tester” in this section.
“Backpressure” means water pressure which exceeds the operating pressure of the purveyor’s potable water supply.
“Backsiphonage” means backflow due to a negative or reduced pressure within the purveyor’s potable water supply.
“Barometric loop (BL)” means a loop of pipe rising at least thirty-five feet at its uppermost point, above the highest point on the downstream piping.
“Capillary action” means a form of backflow where liquids can be drawn into small openings of a water outlet by capillary action. Capillary action (or attraction) is the energy that causes a liquid to adhere to the internal walls of a small pipe, overcoming the internal cohesion of the liquid.
“Certified backflow assembly tester” means a person who is certified by the administrative authority having jurisdiction to test backflow prevention assemblies.
“Certified cross connection control specialist/inspector” means a person who is certified by the administrative authority having jurisdiction to administer a cross connection control program and to conduct facility surveys.
“Check valve” is a generic term used for a variety of valves that specifically allow flow in one direction only. The variety of such valves include slanting disc checks, silent checks (wafer or globe), automatic control checks, rubber flapper checks, double disc swing checks, swing checks (internally or externally weighted), and a spring loaded check. A check valve in an approved assembly must be an approved check valve (components of double check valve assemblies, reduced pressure backflow assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers etc.) that is drip-tight in the normal direction of flow when the inlet pressure is at least one pound per square inch.
“City” means the city of Bridgeport and its authorized agents and employees.
“Confined space” means any space having a limited means of egress and not intended for continuous occupancy, which is subject to the accumulation of toxic or flammable contaminants or an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
“Containment” means to restrict or limit the flow of contaminated or polluted water to the meter or service connection where the public water enters the private (customer’s) water system. The two systems are separated by a backflow preventer commensurate with the degree of hazard. (See also “Premise isolation” in this section.)
“Contamination” means an impairment of the quality of the potable water which creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of diseases by sewage, industrial fluids or waste; also defined as severe or high hazard. (See “Pollution” and “maximum contaminant level” in this section.)
The term “contamination” used in EPA and state drinking water regulations phrase “maximum contamination level” bestows a different meaning than that used in describing a cross connection hazard.
“Critical level” means the point on a vacuum breaker which determines the minimum elevation above the flood level rim of the fixture or receptacle served at which the vacuum breaker may be installed.
“Cross connection” means any actual or potential physical connection between a potable water line and any pipe, vessel, or machine containing a nonpotable fluid or has the possibility of containing a nonpotable fluid, such that it is possible for the non-potable fluid to enter the water system by backflow. A cross connection could be any physical arrangement whereby a potable water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with any nonpotable or unapproved water supply system, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, or any other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, liquid, gases, sewage or other waste of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the potable water supply as a result of backflow. (See also “Point of hazard” in this section.)
“Customer” includes owner(s) of the property in which the customer system is located and the tenant(s) of such property.
“Customer system” means all plumbing, piping and appurtenances on the customer’s side of the point of metering or connection.
“Double check detector assembly (DCDA)” means an approved assembly consisting of two approved double check valve assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use.
“Double check value assembly (DCVA)” means an approved assembly consisting of two independently operating check valves, loaded to the closed position by springs or weights, and installed as a unit with, and between, two resilient seated shutoff valves and having suitable connections for testing.
“Distribution system” means the network of pipes and other facilities which are used to distribute water from the source, treatment, transmission or storage facilities to the water user.
“Dual distribution system” means a facility with two water systems, one potable and the other nonpotable. The purpose of the nonpotable water system is to reduce the cost of the potable water supply.
“Facility survey” means an on-site review of the water source, facilities, equipment, operation and maintenance for the purpose of evaluating the hazards to the potable water supply.
“Flood level” means the highest level to which water, or other liquid, will rise within a tank or fixture (i.e., the overflow rim of the receiving vessel).
“Gray water” means untreated household water which has not come into contact with sewage. Gray water can include used water from kitchen sinks, dishwasher wastewater, bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins and water from clothes washing machines and laundry tubs.
“Health authority” means the appropriate state department or districts of public health or, in some cases, a local agency having jurisdiction.
“Heat sink” means the use of the purveyor’s potable water system as a heat sink, by taking water from a water main, passing it through a heat exchanger and then returning the warm water back to the purveyor’s potable water system.
“High health hazard” means a physical or toxic hazard which could be detrimental to one’s health.
“Hose faucet vacuum breaker (HFVB)” means vacuum breakers that are either incorporated into or attached onto the hose faucet (hose bibb) threads.
Industrial Water. See “Process water” in this section.
“Industrial piping system” means a customer’s piping system that transmits, confines, or stores any fluids that are not approved potable water. Such a system would include all pipes, tanks, fixtures, equipment and other extensions of the nonpotable water system.
“In-plant isolation” means the practice of installing backflow prevention assemblies at the point of hazard to protect one or more actual or potential cross connections within a premises. (See “Point of hazard” in this section.)
“Internally-loaded check valve” means a check valve which is internally loaded, either by springs or weights, to the extent it will be drip tight with a one p.s.i. differential in the direction of flow.
“Internal protection” means the practice of installing backflow prevention assemblies to protect an area within a customer’s facility.
“Local enforcement authority” means an authorized agent of the administrative authority and/or the water purveyor.
“Low health hazard” means those contaminants which, at the levels found in the water, could cause aesthetic problems such as adverse effects on the taste, odor and color of the water or have a detrimental effect on the quality of the purveyor’s potable water supply, but which does not present a danger to health.
“Maximum contaminant level (MCL)” means the maximum amount of a contaminant allowed in a sample of water according to federal and state regulations. The importance of this to cross connection control is that the presence of a higher level than at the source may signify the occurrence of a cross connection incident.
“Nonpotable fluid” means any water, other liquid, gas or other substance which is not safe for human consumption, or is not a part of the public potable water supply as described by the health authority.
“Nonpotable piping system” means a piping system which is made of nonpotable material. Such materials are to be considered nonpotable if they can affect either the aesthetics or degradation of the healthfulness of the water. Examples of such pipe are black iron and certain plastics.
“Pathogenic” is a specific agent (bacterium, virus or parasite) causing or capable of causing disease.
“Plumbing hazard” is a cross connection in a customer’s potable water system.
“Pollution” means:
1. An impairment of the quality of the public potable water supply which does not create a hazard to the public health but which does adversely affect the aesthetic qualities of such potable waters for domestic use; also defined as low hazard. (See also “Contaminant” and “maximum contaminant level” in this section.)
2. An impairment of the quality of potable water which creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of diseases by sewage, industrial fluids or waste; also defined as high hazard.
“Point of hazard” means the point where a real or potential cross connection (potable water coming in contact with nonpotable water, gases or other fluids) can be determined. More obvious points include fixtures and any systems including boilers, fire protection services or any system where the possibility of chemical contact or stagnation exists).
“Potable water” means water which is safe for human consumption, free from harmful or objectionable materials, as described by the health authority. (See “Safe drinking water” in this section.)
“Premise isolation” means the practice of protecting the public potable water supply by installing backflow prevention assemblies at or near the point where water enters the premises. This type of protection does not provide protection to personnel on the premises.
“Pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVBM)” means an approved assembly consisting of a spring loaded check valve loaded to the closed position, an independently operating air inlet valve loaded to the open position and installed as a unit with and between two resilient seated shutoff valves and with suitable connections for testing. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.
“Private hydrant” means any hydrant which is not owned, operated or maintained by the local water purveyor or his agent.
“Process water” means water that is directly connected to, or could come in contact with, an extreme high hazard situation, and must never be consumed by humans.
“Public health hazard” means a condition, device or practice which is conducive to the introduction of waterborne disease organisms, or harmful chemical, physical or radioactive substances into a potable water system, and which presents an unreasonable risk to health.
“Reasonable risk” means the amount of risk acceptable to a prudent and reasonable water purveyor using reasonable diligence.
“Reclaimed water” means wastewater that has been treated for nonpotable water use within the same facility or premise. Examples of use would be irrigation and for industrial use.
“Reduced pressure backflow assembly (RPBA)” means an approved assembly consisting of two independently operating check valves, spring loaded to the closed position, separated by a spring loaded differential pressure relief valve loaded to the open position, and installed as a unit with and between two resilient seated shutoff valves and having four suitable test cocks for checking the water tightness of the check valves and the operation of the relief value.
“Reduced pressure detector assembly (RPDA)” means an approved assembly consisting of two approved reduced pressure backflow assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use. This unit must be purchased as a complete assembly. The assembly may be allowed on fire line water services in place of an approved reduced pressure backflow assembly upon approval by the local water purveyor.
“Safe Drinking Water Act” refers to legislation that was enacted by the United States Congress in 1974 to ensure that the public is provided with safe drinking water, thereby protecting the public welfare.
“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.
“Service connection” means the piping connection by means of which water is conveyed from the water purveyor’s distribution main to a customer’s premises. For a community water system, 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 under the jurisdiction of the water purveyor.
“System hazard” means the actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical characteristics, as well as serious water quality deterioration of public and private plumbing systems, such as the damage caused by air or steam in piping systems not designed for such substances.
“Thermal expansion” means the pressure increase due to a rise in water temperature. The problem becomes acute in heated water piping systems when such system becomes “closed” due to a backflow preventor which disallows expansion beyond that point.
“Toxicity” means the degree to which a substance is toxic, that is poisonous, in relating to affecting the potability of the water supply.
“Unapproved auxiliary water supply” means an auxiliary water supply which is not approved by the health authority and the water purveyor.
“Unreasonable risk to health” means a risk to health which is not necessary or acceptable to the water purveyor and/or consumer; a term used to distinguish what type of backflow prevention should be required. (See also “Reasonable risk” in this section.)
“USC FCCCHR” is the abbreviation for the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. It is an agency which tests and approves backflow prevention assemblies by approved standards.
“Used water” means any potable water which is no longer in the purveyor’s distribution system. In most cases, the potable water has moved past (downstream of) the water meter and/or the property line.
“Water purveyor” means any agency, subdivision of the state, municipal corporation, firm, company, mutual or cooperative association, institution, partnership, person or other entity that owns or operates a public potable water system. It also means the authorized agents of such entities.
“Water system” means a system for the provision of piped water for human consumption. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.040 Cross connection control—Customer responsibilities.
A. It is the responsibility of all customers to abide by the conditions of this chapter. In the event of any changes to the customer’s system, it is the responsibility of the customer to notify the city so a facility survey may be scheduled and conducted.
B. All costs associated with this chapter and the purchase, installation, testing or repair of devices are the responsibility of the customer.
C. The customer shall take all measures necessary to prevent the contamination of the customer’s system and the purveyor’s water system that may occur from backflow through any cross connection. These measures shall include the prevention of backflow under any back pressure or back siphonage condition, including the disruption of supply from the purveyor’s system that may occur by reason of routine system maintenance or during emergency conditions such as a water main break.
D. For cross connection control facility surveys or other public health related surveys, the customer shall provide free access for the employees of the water purveyor or other administrative authority to all parts of the premise during reasonable working hours of the day for routine facility surveys, and at all times during emergency.
E. The customer shall install all backflow prevention assemblies requested by the purveyor, and maintain those assemblies in good working order. The assemblies shall be of type, size and make approved by the water purveyor and the State Health Authority. The assemblies shall be installed in accordance with all standards established by the purveyor.
F. The customer shall have all backflow prevention assemblies tested upon installation, annually thereafter, or when requested by the purveyor, after repair and after relocation. A certified backflow assembly tester shall perform all testing. The results of the tests shall be reported within thirty days to the water purveyor on a form provided by or approved by the purveyor.
G. The customer acknowledges the right of the water purveyor, in keeping with state regulations to impose retroactive requirements imposed by the water purveyor for cross connection control measures.
H. The customer shall indemnify and hold harmless the city for all contamination of the customer’s system or the city’s water system that results from an unprotected or inadequately protected cross connection within their premises. This indemnification shall pertain to all backflow conditions that may arise from the city’s suspension of water supply or reduction of water pressure, recognizing that the air gap separation otherwise requires the customer to provide adequate facilities to collect, store and pump water from their premises. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.050 Backflow prevention assembly installation practices.
A. Elimination. Cross connections shall be removed and eliminated where reasonably practical.
B. Alternatives to Elimination. Where it is not reasonably practical to remove or eliminate a cross connection, the type of protection required shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
1. An air gap separation, reduced pressure backflow assembly (RPBA) or a reduced pressure detector assembly (RPDA) shall be installed if the cross connection creates an actual or potential public health or system hazard.
2. An air gap separation, RPBA, RPDA, double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DCVA), or double check detector assembly (DCDA) shall be installed if the cross connection is objectionable (low health hazard), but does not pose an unreasonable risk to health.
3. A pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVBA) or an atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB) may be installed where the substance which could backflow is objectionable, but does not pose an unreasonable risk to health (low health hazard) and where there is no possibility of back pressure in the downstream piping.
4. Backflow prevention assemblies, appropriate for the degree of hazard or air gaps and in some cases both, shall be installed at the service connection or within the following facilities, unless in the opinion of the city’s certified cross connection control inspector and the department of health, no hazard exists:
(a) Car washes;
(b) Chemical plants using water process;
(c) Facilities having an auxiliary water supply;
(d) Farms;
(e) Food and beverage processing plants;
(f) Hospitals, medical centers;
(g) Irrigation systems;
(h) Laboratories;
(i) Metal plating industries;
(j) Manufacturing plants;
(k) Mobilehome and recreational parks;
(l) Mortuaries;
(m) Nursing homes;
(n) Petroleum processing or storage plants;
(o) Piers, docks, marinas;
(p) Premises with heat exchangers and solar potable hot water systems;
(q) Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors;
(r) Sewage and wastewater treatment plants;
(s) Shopping malls;
(t) Veterinary clinics, medical clinics, dental clinics;
(u) Others specified by the city or other regulations of any administrative authority as now exist or may hereafter be amended.
C. Backflow Prevention Assemblies/Devices. All installed RPBA’s, RPDA’s, DCVA’s, DCDA’s, and PVBA’s shall be models included on the current list of Washington State approved cross connection control backflow assembly devices at the time of installation. All installed RPBA’s, RPDA’s, DCVA’s, DCDA’s, and PVDA’s in service, but not listed on the current state approved cross connection control assembly list, may remain in service provided the backflow prevention assemblies:
1. Were listed on the current Washington State approved cross connection control assembly list at the time of installation;
2. Are properly maintained;
3. Are of a type appropriate for the degree of hazard; and
4. Are tested and have successfully passed the test annually.
When unlisted assemblies are moved or require more than minimum maintenance, the unlisted assemblies shall be replaced by an assembly listed on the current approved model list.
D. Installation of Backflow Prevention Assemblies/Devices. All air gaps and backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the Cross Connection Control Manual of the Pacific Northwest Section-AWWA.
E. Substitution. The purveyor may permit the substitution of a properly installed air gap in lieu of an approved backflow prevention assembly. All such air gap substitutions shall be inspected annually by the certified backflow assembly tester. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.055 Premises isolation practices.
In those situations specified below, the following premise isolation practices shall be used unless the Inspector finds a higher standard is necessary based upon the degree of hazard present.
A. Used Water.
1. The use of the potable water supply for cooling or heating, or other purposes, and return of the used water to the potable water system is prohibited.
2. The occurrence of two interconnected water services, including but not limited to those for large buildings or other customers requiring redundancy for assured supply, shall require premise isolation, in the form of a single soft-seated check valve installed on each service.
3. Where multiple interconnected water services exist (more than two), premises isolation shall be in the form of an approved DCVA.
B. Auxiliary Water Supply.
1. Approved and unapproved auxiliary water supplies, including but not limited to wells and stand-alone, elevated water storage facilities (e.g., water tanks) shall not be allowed to enter the water purveyor’s distribution system and must be separated and not interconnected with the potable water supply system of the city. The customer shall have the following options to address the aforementioned auxiliary water supply system situations, if present on the customer’s property:
a. Isolate the auxiliary water supply at the service connection by installing an approved reduced pressure backflow assembly (RPBA);
b. In the case of a well or stand alone water storage facility, formally abandon the same; or
c. Execute before a notary a backflow agreement and file the same of record on the property. Such backflow agreement shall be as approved by the city clerk and in substantially the following form:
BACKFLOW AGREEMENT
This Agreement is executed by Owner identified below in lieu of requiring the formal abandonment of an existing private well or a stand alone water storage facility, or the disconnection from an auxiliary water supply system as defined in Bridgeport Municipal Code Section 12.12.030 (hereinafter all referred to collectively as “Auxiliary Water Supply System”) located on the real property described in the attached Exhibit “A” to this Agreement. Owner has elected not to install a reduced pressure backflow assembly (RPBA) to prevent backflow from the Auxiliary Water Supply System to the City public water supply system. Owner asserts there are no known cross-connections between the City water system and the Auxiliary Water Supply System. Owner agrees to do nothing that would lead to the occurrence of a backflow event. Owner further agrees to accept full responsibility for all damages incurred as a result of any such interconnection, including backflow events. Owner acknowledges that Owner has been informed of City of Bridgeport backflow protection requirements and the consequences of a backflow event. Owner acknowledges this Backflow Agreement shall be recorded with the Douglas County
Auditor and shall be binding upon Owner, run with the land, and be binding upon heirs, successors, and assigns of Owner.
Owner shall pay the city a fee to cover the cost of processing and filing a backflow agreement in an amount established by resolution of the city council.
2. In the event the state of Washington or any government agency with jurisdiction determines that the water quality of the well, stand alone water storage facility, or auxiliary water supply system is unsatisfactory and must be abandoned, the option of executing a backflow agreement provided for in subsection (B)(1)(c) of this section shall not be available to the customer.
C. Gray Water System. All gray water systems shall be considered high health hazards. Premises isolation at the service connection by an approved air gap or RPBA shall be required.
D. Stormwater Reuse Systems. Stormwater reuse systems utilize the rain water collected from roof drains, roads, parking areas, and other impervious surfaces for lawn or crop irrigation. A residential stormwater reuse system contains a holding tank, an overflow to the building drains, irrigation distribution piping and a pump. All storm water reuse systems shall be considered a high health hazard. Premises isolation at the service connection by an approved air gap or RPBA shall be required.
E. Fire Protection Systems.
1. Fire protection systems that are connected to the water purveyor’s potable water system, either directly or indirectly on the property site of a potable water service, shall be isolated with an approved backflow prevention assembly. The level of backflow protection shall be dependent upon the degree of hazard. All fire protection systems shall be considered a high health hazard unless the water purveyor has knowledge that a system does not contain and is unlikely to contain chemicals.
2. Backflow protection for fire systems shall be required as follows:
a. High Hazard Fire System. This category shall include:
i. All foamite systems;
ii. Systems where an unapproved auxiliary water supply is connected to a fire system, or is in close proximity and intended for use by fire pumper trucks; and
iii. Systems in which chemical additives or antifreeze are allowed;
iv. A high hazard fire system shall require, at a minimum, a RPBA or RPDA.
b. Low Hazard Fire System.
i. This category consists of all fire systems not included under subsection (E)(2)(a) of this section;
ii. A DCVA or DCDA shall be required for all low hazard fire systems. (Ord. 522 § , 2001; Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.060 Backflow prevention assembly testing procedures.
A. Inspection and Testing. The certified backflow assembly tester shall inspect and test all:
1. RPBA’s;
2. RPDA’s;
3. DCVA’s;
4. DCDA’s;
5. New PVDA installations; and
6. Existing PVBA’s discovered through routine inspections.
B. Timing. Timing tests and/or inspections shall be conducted as follows:
1. At the time of initial installation;
2. Annually after initial installation, or more frequently if tests indicate repeated failures; and
3. After the assembly is repaired.
C. Repair/Replacement. The assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced whenever found to be defective. Improperly installed or altered air gaps must be replumbed or replaced by an approved RPBA. Inspections, tests and repairs shall be made under the city inspector’s supervision and records thereof kept as required by the city. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.070 Enforcement.
A. Inspection/Administration. The city superintendent (“inspector”) shall be responsible for enforcement of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
B. Nuisance/Abatement/Termination of Water Service. The installation or maintenance of any cross connection which would endanger the public water supply of the city is prohibited. Any such cross connection now existing or hereafter installed is declared a nuisance subject to immediate termination of water service and any such cross connection shall be abated immediately.
C. Standards. The standards for the maintenance and installation of backflow prevention assemblies and premises isolation practices shall be those set forth in this chapter and in the Cross Connection Control Manual, Accepted Procedures and Practice, Sixth Edition, December 1995, Cross Connection Control Committee, Pacific Northwest Section AWWA, or superseding edition (the “Manual”). The inspector is authorized to establish higher standards for the installation and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies and premises isolation practices where he/she finds that good engineering practice, industry standards or the protection of public health requires such higher standards. If any conflict exists between this chapter and the Manual, the higher standard required shall control. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.080 Inspection of new construction.
A. Plans for new construction or enlargement of existing services shall be reviewed by the inspector in order to eliminate actual and potential cross connections.
B. The inspector shall inspect the actual construction performed for compliance of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
C. The inspector may only issue a certificate of compliance upon finding that the service complies with all such rules and regulations. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.090 Inspections of existing construction.
A. The inspector shall inspect existing service connections at least once a year for compliance with the rules and regulations as promulgated pursuant to this chapter.
B. The inspector may only issue a certificate of compliance upon finding that the service complies with all such rules and regulations. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.100 Inspection access.
The inspector, with proper identification, shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all parts of any premises to which water is supplied. Water services may be refused or terminated to any customer for failure to allow an inspection. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.110 Records.
The inspector shall maintain records of inspection of new and existing construction, certificates of compliance, and customers who are not in compliance. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.120 Penalty.
A. Service to any premises receiving water from the public water system shall be contingent upon compliance with all rules and regulations of this chapter, the department of health and the purveyor. Service shall be discontinued to any premises or failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the department and the purveyor.
B. Every customer, owner or occupant of any premises covered by this chapter is responsible for compliance with the terms of this chapter and shall be strictly liable for all damages, including but not limited to, costs and expenses of the city, including attorney’s fees, incurred as a result of failure to comply with the terms and provisions contained in this chapter. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)
12.12.130 Termination/notice.
A. Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, repair, inspection or testing of backflow prevention assemblies or air gap separation shall be grounds for termination of water service to the premises.
B. If an emergency situation exists, in the discretion of the inspector, water service may be terminated immediately.
C. If an emergency situation is not determined to exist, the water service may be terminated after seven days written notice to the customer. Notice will be deemed to have been given when deposited in the Bridgeport Branch of the United States Postal Service. (Ord. 517 § 1 (part), 2000)