Chapter 13.06
CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.06.030 Duties and responsibilities.
13.06.050 Facilities requiring backflow protection.
13.06.060 Fire sprinkler systems.
13.06.070 Facility inspections – Assembly maintenance – Record keeping.
13.06.080 Previously installed assemblies.
13.06.090 Termination of water service.
13.06.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter, in conjunction with the Uniform Plumbing Code and the current edition of Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross Connection Control Manual, Pacific Northwest Section of American Water Works Association, as a reference manual for accepted installation and assembly usage, is to protect the health of the water consumer and the potability of the water in the distribution system, in compliance with WAC 246-290-490. The objectives of this chapter are:
A. To provide standards for the protection of the public water supply;
B. To protect the public potable water system at the service connection by isolating within the consumer’s premises actual or potential pollution or contamination which may result from backflow through cross-connection;
C. To provide means whereby the consumer may segregate his domestic and industrial wastes into separate systems to prevent possible pollution or contamination of his private potable water system;
D. To provide a continuous program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination of the public potable water system. (Ord. 790 § 1, 2002)
13.06.020 Definitions.
A. Unless a provision explicitly states otherwise, the following terms and phrases, as used in this title, shall have the meanings hereinafter designated:
1. “Administrative authority” means the individual official, board, department or agency established and authorized by state, county, city, or other political subdivision created by law to administer and enforce provisions of the plumbing code as adopted under Chapter 19.27 RCW. This definition shall include the administrative authority’s authorized representative.
2. “Approved air gap” or “AG” means a physical separation between the free-flowing end of a potable water supply pipeline and the overflow rim of an open or nonpressurized receiving vessel. To be an air gap approved by the department, the separation must be at least:
a. Twice the diameter of the supply piping measured vertically from the overflow rim of the receiving vessel, and in no case be less than one inch, when unaffected by vertical surfaces (sidewalls); and
b. Three times the diameter of the supply piping, if the horizontal distance between the supply pipe and a vertical surface (sidewall) is less than or equal to three times the diameter of the supply pipe, or if the horizontal distance between the supply pipe and intersecting vertical surfaces (sidewalls) is less than or equal to four times the diameter of the supply pipe and in no case less than one and one-half inches.
3. “Approved backflow preventer” means an approved air gap, an approved backflow prevention assembly, or an approved AVB. The terms “approved backflow preventer,” “approved air gap,” or “approved backflow prevention assembly” refer only to those approved backflow preventers relied upon by the purveyor for the protection of the public water system.
4. “Approved backflow prevention assembly” means a “reduced pressure backflow assembly – RPBA,” a “reduced pressure detector assembly – RPDA,” a “double check valve assembly – DCVA,” a double check detector assembly – DCDA,” a “pressure vacuum breaker assembly – PVBA,” or “spill resistant vacuum breaker assembly – SVBA,” that appear on the State of Washington, Department of Health, approved backflow prevention assemblies list for installation in Washington State, are based on the Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies List published by the University of Southern California (USC) Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research; acceptable to the local administrative authority are considered approved by the department.
5. “Atmospheric vacuum breaker” or “AVB” (also known as an anti-siphon valve) means a device consisting of a single check valve in the supply line that opens to the atmosphere when the pressure in the line drops.
6. “Auxiliary supply” means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the public water supply (i.e., well, springs or pond).
7. “Backflow” is the undesirable reversal of flow of water or other substances through a cross-connection into the public water system or consumer’s potable water system.
8. “Backflow assembly tester” or “BAT” means a person holding a valid certificate in accordance with Chapter 246-292 WAC, approved to perform testing on backflow prevention assemblies.
9. “Backpressure” is a pressure (caused by a pump, elevated tank or piping, boiler, or other means) on the consumer’s side of the service connection that is greater than the pressure provided by the public water system and which may cause backflow.
10. “Backsiphonage” means backflow due to a reduction in system pressure in the purveyor’s distribution system compared to consumer’s water system pressure.
11. Building Inspector. See “administrative authority.”
12. “Consumer” means any person receiving water from a public water system from either the meter, or the point where the service line connects with the distribution system if no meter is present. For purposes of cross-connection control, “consumer” means the owner or operator of a water system connected to a public water system through a service connection.
13. “Consumer’s water system,” as used in WAC 246-290-490, means any potable and/or industrial water system that begins at the point of delivery from the public water system and is located on the consumer’s premises. The consumer’s water system includes all auxiliary sources of supply, storage, treatment, and distribution facilities, piping, plumbing, and fixtures under the control of the consumer.
14. “Contamination” means an impairment in the quality of the potable water caused by sewage, industrial fluids, waste liquids, compounds, or other material or fluids, to a degree which creates an actual hazard to the public health by poisoning or the spread of disease.
15. “Cross-connection” means any actual or potential physical connection between a piping system containing potable water and a piping system, vessel, or machine containing nonpotable fluid or has the possibility of containing a nonpotable fluid, such that it is possible for the nonpotable fluid to enter the water system by backflow. A cross-connection could be a 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 importing contamination to the potable water supply as a result of backflow.
16. “Cross-connection control specialist” means a person holding a valid CCS certificate issued in accordance with Chapter 246-292 WAC.
17. “Degree of hazard” expresses the potential risk to the public health or adverse effects of the hazard upon the public potable water distribution system.
18. “Double check valve assembly” or “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.
19. “Double detector check valve assembly” or “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.
20. “High health cross-connection hazard” means a cross-connection which could impair the quality of potable water and create an actual public health hazard through poisoning or spread of disease by sewage, industrial liquids or waste.
21. “Industrial fluids” means any fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health or plumbing hazard if introduced into a potable water supply. This may include, but is not limited to, all types of processed waters originating from the public water supply or auxiliary supply which may deteriorate in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; plating acids and alkalis; circulated cooling waters that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams and ponds.
22. “In-premises protection” means a method of protecting the health of consumers served by the consumer’s potable water system, located within the property lines of the consumer’s premises by the installation of an approved air gap or backflow prevention assembly at the point of hazard, which is generally a plumbing fixture.
23. “Inspector” means that person or persons employed by the water department who have been trained and are qualified to perform the designated inspection work. Also see “administrative authority.”
24. “Low health cross-connection hazard” means a cross-connection that could cause an impairment of the quality of potable water to a degree that does not create a hazard to the public health, but does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities (taste, odor and color, etc.) of such potable waters for domestic use.
25. “Nonpotable fluid” means water, gas or other liquid or substance which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable quality for human consumption.
26. “Plumbing hazard” means a cross-connection on a consumer’s potable water system that may permit backsiphonage in the event of a negative pressure in the supply line.
27. “Point of delivery (service connection)” means the terminal end of service from the public potable water system at the service cock or at the meter installation which shall include the backflow prevention device when said device is installed adjacent to the water meter. In other words, it is that point where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water in its delivery to the consumer.
28. “Pollution” means the presence of any organic, inorganic, or biological foreign substance in water which tends to degrade its quality or impair its usefulness to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health, but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic quality of such water for domestic use.
29. “Potable water” means any water which is safe for human consumption pursuant to the standards set forth by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments.
30. “Pressure vacuum breaker assembly” or “PVBA” 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 suitable connections for testing the device. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.
31. “Public potable water supply system” means the network of conduits, pipes, pumps, tanks, or other equipment under the control of the city used to deliver potable water from its source facilities to the user’s water supply system.
32. “Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly” or “RPBA” means an approved assembly consisting of two independently operating check valves, a 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 valve.
33. “Reduced pressure principle detector assembly” or “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 water purveyor.
34. “Water manager” means the certified water distribution manager for the city water system. Any act in this procedure required or authorized by the water manager may be done on his behalf by an authorized representative of the water department. (Ord. 790 § 2, 2002)
13.06.030 Duties and responsibilities.
A. 1. The water distribution manager shall be primarily responsible for the prevention of contamination and pollution of the public water mains. Such responsibility begins at the origin of the public water supply and includes adequate treatment facilities and water main, and ends at the point of entrance to the consumer’s water system, provided adequate backflow and back-siphonage protection is maintained on all consumer’s water supply systems directly connected to the city water system. The manager shall have secondary supervisory responsibility to the administrative authority for new installations, alterations or repairs of water supply systems.
2. Whenever the manager has reasonable cause to believe that there exists any condition or violation of this code making the connection to the city water system unsafe, the manager may enter the building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect or perform duties imposed under the chapter.
B. 1. The administrative authority and/or plumbing official shall enforce the provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as adopted under RCW 19.27.031(4), so as to ensure the potability of the consumer’s water supply system from the point of entrance of the public water supply at the consumer’s service connection, to the extremities of the consumer’s water system. The plumbing official shall have primary enforcing responsibility of new installations, alterations, or repairs of water supply systems.
2. Whenever the administrative authority has reasonable cause to believe that there exists any condition or violation of this chapter making the building or premises unsafe, unsanitary, dangerous or hazardous, the administrative authority may enter the building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect or to perform duties imposed upon the administrative authority.
C. The consumer shall have the prime responsibility of preventing contaminants and pollutants from entering the water supply system, and from entering the public water main or water source from his water supply system. The consumer shall protect his/her water supply system against actual or potential cross-connection, backflow or backsiphonage, as required by the Uniform Plumbing Code and other applicable regulations. The consumer shall insure that all internal protective devices are tested and maintained in the working condition required. The consumer shall insure that all necessary plumbing permits are obtained and inspections completed for all new water supply system installation, and for alterations or repair to existing systems. (Ord. 790 § 3, 2002)
13.06.040 Protective devices.
All approved backflow preventers shall be installed at the service connection or within the facilities identified in DPMC 13.06.050, under the direction of the water purveyor and/or the administrative authority, commensurate with the degree of hazard as described below.
A. In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply, there shall be no physical connection between said auxiliary water supply and the customer’s water system which is served by the public water supply system. Where such connections are found, disconnection’s shall be accomplished and the public water system shall be protected against the possibility of future reconnection by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
B. In the case of any premises where there is water or a substance that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.
C. In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health which is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. Examples of premises where these conditions will exist include but are not limited to waste water treatment plants, waste water pumping stations, chemical plants and storage facilities, hospitals, mortuaries and plating plants.
D. In case of any premises where there are “uncontrolled” cross-connections, either actual or potential, to the public water system, they shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
E. In the case of premises where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water system shall be protected by the installation of an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
F. A backflow assembly may be required by the purveyor or administrative authority within a consumer’s water supply system if, upon inspection, localized instances of cross-connections are identified that will endanger the health of individuals coming in contact with the consumer’s water supply system. This backflow prevention may be in addition to or in lieu of the backflow prevention required at the service connection.
G. Backflow assemblies required by this chapter may be installed at internal primary protection points in lieu of the service connection, if, in the opinion of the purveyor, the public water supply system shall not be subject to pollution or contamination, provided those connections are not specifically listed within Table 9 of WAC 246-290-490(4)(b)(i). (Ord. 790 § 4, 2002)
13.06.050 Facilities requiring backflow protection.
A. All approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed at the service connection or within the following facilities under the direction of the water purveyor and/or the administrative authority having jurisdiction, commensurate with the degree of hazard, and per Table 9 of WAC 246-290-490(4)(b)(i), including but not limited to:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply – RPBA.
2. Premises having internal cross-connections or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not a cross-connection exists – RPBA.
3. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made – RPBA.
4. Premises having a history of repeated cross-connections – RPBA.
5. Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure and/or piped so as to permit entry into the public potable water system – RPBA.
6. Hospitals, mortuaries, medical clinics, nursing and convalescent homes, dental clinics, veterinary clinics, blood plasma centers – RPBA.
7. Wastewater treatment plants and pump stations – RPBA.
8. Food and beverage processing plants – RPBA.
9. Chemical plants, fertilizer and pesticide storage and dispersal facilities – RPBA.
10. Metal plating, manufacturing, cleaning, processing plants – RPBA.
11. Petroleum processing plants or storage tanks – RPBA.
12. Laboratories using toxic or nontoxic materials – RPBA.
13. Schools, colleges or universities – RPBA.
14. Car wash facilities – RPBA.
15. Commercial laundries and dry cleaners – RPBA.
16. Premises where both reclaimed water and potable water are provided – RPBA.
17. Film processing laboratories, facilities or equipment – RPBA.
18. Irrigation systems, except as described in this subsection – PVBA:
a. Premises where nonpotable water is used for irrigation – RPBA.
b. Systems utilizing fertilizer or pesticide injection systems – RPBA.
c. Systems interconnected by more than one service connections – RPBA.
d. Systems using potable water with nonpotable water piping – RPBA.
e. Systems designed and constructed capable of inducing backpressure at the service connection – RPBA.
19. Automotive repair with steam cleaners, acid cleaning equipment, or solvent facilities – RPBA.
20. Buildings greater than three stories in height or greater than 30 feet in height from curb level – DCVA.
21. Buildings used for commercial mini-warehouses or industrial uses where one service connection supplies more than one tenant or occupant of the building – RPBA.
22. Buildings with house pumps and/or portable water storage tanks – DCVA.
23. Buildings with landscape fountains, ponds or baptismal tanks – RPBA.
24. Cooling towers, boilers, chillers, and other heating and cooling systems utilizing potable water – RPBA.
25. Mobile home parks served by master meters – DCVA.
26. Multiple service connections interconnected for potable uses – DCVA.
27. Portable insecticide or herbicide spray tanks – RPBA or AG.
28. Public or private swimming pools with self-levelers, automatic fillers or other permanent means to maintain certain levels – DCVA.
29. Shopping centers served by master meters – RPBA.
30. Water trucks, water tanks or hydraulic wastewater cleaning equipment – RPBA or AG.
31. Others found as high hazards – RPBA.
32. Apartment complexes over four residential units – DCVA.
33. Beauty parlors and barber shops – DCVA.
34. Greenhouse and nurseries – DCVA.
35. Hotels and motels – DCVA.
36. Restaurants and food handlers – DCVA.
37. Service stations – DCVA.
38. Others, as found as low hazards – DCVA.
B. If the water purveyor determines after inspection of the consumer’s water supply system that a backflow prevention assembly less restrictive than required in this section will provide adequate protection of the public water supply system, or that no backflow potential exists or is likely to be created, the water purveyor may waive the requirement of a backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.
C. When two or more of the items or activities listed in subsection A of this section are present or conducted on the same premises and served by the same service connection, the consumer shall install the most restrictive backflow prevention assembly at the service connection. For purposes of this subsection, the order of most restrictive to least restrictive backflow prevention assemblies shall be as follows:
1. Air gap (AG) (most restrictive);
2. Reduced pressure principle backflow assembly (RPBA);
3. Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB);
4. Double check valve assembly (DCVA) (least restrictive).
D. In-premises backflow protection may be provided by the consumer as an alternate to on-premises isolation at the service connection.
1. The in-premises backflow assemblies shall provide a level of protection commensurate with the purveyor’s assessed degree of hazard.
2. Backflow prevention assemblies which provide the in-premises backflow protection shall meet the definition of approved backflow prevention assemblies as described in WAC 246-290-010.
3. The approved assemblies are installed, inspected, tested annually, maintained and repaired in accordance with provisions of this code.
4. The purveyor has reasonable access to the consumer’s premises to conduct an initial hazard evaluation and periodic reevaluations to determine whether the in-premises protection is adequate to protect the purveyor’s distribution system.
E. Backflow Protection of Residential Structures (One Family Dwelling up to Four Family Unit). Point of hazard protection by an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker assembly (AVB), pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) or double check valve assembly (DCVA) in accordance with WAC 51-46-0603, and installed per the Uniform Plumbing Code, for hazards such as irrigation systems, swimming pools, ponds and boilers, may be permitted as an alternative to premises isolation. (Ord. 790 § 5, 2002)
13.06.060 Fire sprinkler systems.
A. When a backflow prevention assembly is required for a water service connection supplying water only to a fire sprinkler system, the assembly shall be installed at or as close as possible to the service connection in compliance with installation specifications of the city.
B. If the chief of the fire district, or his designee, determines that a fire sprinkler system shall have a continuous water supply which may not be interrupted during testing of the backflow prevention assembly, the consumer shall install, at his expense, two backflow prevention assemblies parallel to one another at the service connection. The diameter of each assembly shall be at least equal to the diameter of the service connection.
C. Any fire sprinkler system where the possibility of unauthorized water consumption exists shall have an approved detector check assembly installed at the service connection.
D. The testing of backflow prevention assemblies on fire sprinkler systems shall be performed by an individual certified to operate fire sprinkler systems and certified with the state of Washington as a backflow assembly tester (BAT). (Ord. 790 § 6, 2002)
13.06.070 Facility inspections – Assembly maintenance – Record keeping.
A. Inspection shall be conducted by the purveyor to determine whether any cross-connections or other potential hazards exist and to determine compliance with this chapter. The consumer’s water supply system shall be available at all times during normal business hours for inspection by authorized personnel of the purveyor or administrative authority.
B. All RPBAs, DCVAs and PVBAs shall be tested by a certified backflow assembly tester (BAT) at the time of installation and at least annually. The purveyor shall issue a notice to the consumer when a backflow prevention assembly is due for testing. If the testing reveals the assembly to be defective or not functioning as designed, repairs shall be performed, including replacement of the assembly if necessary, which will return the assembly to satisfactory operating condition. All work to complete the testing, repair a device or replacement of a device found to not operate correctly, or retesting shall be completed within the 30 days after the date of the notice issued by the purveyor. The testing and maintenance of each assembly shall be performed at the expense of the consumer.
C. If the purveyor discovers during the annual inspection that a backflow prevention assembly is required for fixture or premises isolation, or an installed device is not functioning as designed, the user shall perform any necessary installation or repairs, including replacement if required, within a period of time as determined by the purveyor based upon the degree of hazard.
D. The testing of backflow prevention assemblies shall be performed by an individual certified and approved by the state of Washington. The purveyor will maintain and make available upon request to all persons required to install or maintain a backflow prevention assembly a list of certified testers. The purveyor may suspend or remove from the list a certified tester for improper testing, maintenance, reporting, or other practices determined by the purveyor to be improper.
E. The consumer shall maintain records, on forms approved by the purveyor, of the results of all tests and maintenance or replacement of all backflow prevention assemblies required by this chapter. The certified tester or consumer shall promptly submit a copy of the testing record within 14 days to the purveyor after completion of the activity for which the record is made. (Ord. 790 § 7, 2002)
13.06.080 Previously installed assemblies.
If the purveyor discovers installed backflow prevention assemblies which were approved at the time they were installed, but are not on the current list of approved assemblies, the device shall be permitted to remain in service provided they are properly maintained, are commensurate with the degree of hazard, are tested annually and perform satisfactorily. When assemblies of this type are moved, or require more than minimum maintenance, they shall be replaced by assemblies which are on the list of approved assemblies by the state of Washington. (Ord. 790 § 8, 2002)
13.06.090 Termination of water service.
A. If the purveyor discovers that a consumer has not installed a backflow assembly as required from inspection, or that a backflow assembly has been improperly tested, maintained, bypassed, or removed, or that an unprotected cross-connection exists in the consumer’s potable water supply system, the purveyor shall discontinue the water service to the service connection if the situation is not remedied within 30 days of notice sent by certified mail to the last known mailing address of the consumer.
B. The purveyor may disconnect, without notice, water service to any service connection if the consumer should fail to meet the requirement of an air gap separation as set forth in this chapter in lieu of a back flow assembly, or to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, repair, inspection and testing of backflow assemblies.
C. The purveyor may disconnect, without notice, water service to any service connection when the purveyor discovers, learns, or suspects that the consumer’s potable water supply system is, or has the potential to cause, a high health hazard contamination to the public potable water supply. (Ord. 790 § 9, 2002)
13.06.100 Fees.
An annual fee may be imposed by the city council for operation of the cross-connection control program. If such a fee is imposed, it shall be assessed annually to each consumer that is required to maintain a backflow prevention assembly regulated by this chapter. If such fee is established by resolution of the council, said fee shall be collected annually with processing of the January water utility bill. (Ord. 790 § 10, 2002)
13.06.110 Severability.
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any portion of this chapter is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such determination shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter, or its application to any other chapter of the municipal code. (Ord. 790 § 11, 2002)