Chapter 12.25
CROSS-CONNECTIONS*
Sections:
12.25.020 Customer system open for inspection.
12.25.030 Backflow prevention requirements.
12.25.040 Type of backflow protection required.
12.25.050 Approval of assemblies.
12.25.060 Owner’s duty for inspection.
12.25.070 Previously installed assemblies.
*Code reviser’s note: Ordinance No. 796 re-enacts, ratifies and confirms those taxes, charges and fees approved in Ordinance No. 748.
12.25.010 Definitions.
“Air gap separation” means the physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipe line and the open or nonpressure receiving vessel.
“Approved backflow prevention assembly” means an assembly which has been approved by the state and the town, for preventing backflow.
“Atmospheric vacuum breaker” (also known as an anti-syphon 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 to atmospheric.
“Auxiliary water supply” means any supply of water used to augment the supply obtained through the town’s water system which serves the premises in question.
“Backflow” means the flow of water or other fluids in the direction opposite to the normal flow.
“Backflow prevention assembly tester” means an individual who is certified by the state and approved by the town to test backflow prevention assemblies.
“Check valve” means a valve that permits flow in only one direction.
“Contaminant” means any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water which may render water nonpotable, according to state regulations.
“Cross-connection” means any link or channel between piping which carries potable water and the piping or fixtures which carry nonpotable water or other substances.
“Cross-connection inspector” means an individual certified by the state and approved by the town to inspect for cross-connections.
“Customer system” means all plumbing, piping, and appurtenances on the customer side of the point of metering or connection.
“Double check valve assembly” means an assembly of two independently acting check valves with a shut-off valve on each side of the two check valves. The assembly also has test ports for checking the water tightness of each check valve.
“Double detector check valve assembly” means the same as a double check valve assembly with the addition of a water meter and an additional double check valve assembly bypassing the main line assembly for the purpose of measuring low or proportional flow.
“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 drinking water supply.
“Pressure vacuum breaker assembly” means a mechanical assembly consisting of one spring loaded check valve in the supply line and a spring loaded air inlet on the downstream side of the check valve which will open to atmosphere when the pressure in the assembly drops below one pound per square inch. The complete assembly consists of two shut-off valves and two test ports for checking water tightness of the check valve.
“Reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly (RP)” means an assembly for preventing backflow incorporating two check valves, a differential relief valve located between the two check valves, two shut-off valves, one on each end of the assembly, test ports for checking water tightness of the check valves and the operation of the relief valve.
“Reduced pressure detector assembly (RPD)” means the same as an RP assembly with the addition of a water meter and an additional RP assembly bypassing the main line assembly for the purpose of measuring low or proportional flow.
“Safe drinking water (potable water)” means water which has sufficiently low concentrations of microbiological, inorganic 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 physical effects.
“Secondary contaminant” means a contaminant which at levels generally found in drinking water does not present unreasonable risk to health, but do adversely affect taste, odor, or color.
“Service connection” means the point of delivery of water at or near the property line, generally at the water meter. [Ord. 748 § 2, 1999.]
12.25.020 Customer system open for inspection.
The customer system shall be open for facility survey at all reasonable times to the town to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards including violations of these regulations exist. When such a condition becomes known, the town’s cross-connection inspector shall cause the service to the premises to be immediately discontinued or denied by a physical break in the service until the customer has corrected the condition in conformance with these regulations. [Ord. 748 § 3, 1999.]
12.25.030 Backflow prevention requirements.
Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed on each service line of a customer’s system at or near the property line or immediately inside the building being served, but in all cases before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever, in the opinion of the town’s cross-connection inspector, any of the following conditions exist:
(1) There is an auxiliary water supply which is, or could be, connected to the potable water piping.
(2) Where there is piping for conveying liquids other than potable water, and where that piping is installed and operated in a manner which could cause a cross-connection.
(3) There are cross-connections or intricate plumbing which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not a cross-connection exists.
(4) In the case where there has been a history of repeating the same or similar cross-connection or a backflow, even though these have been removed or disconnected.
(5) Where there is a building over two stories in height or any plumbing system that is greater than or equal to 30 feet above the water main from which it is served.
(6) Where fire hydrants or fire systems are connected to the potable domestic water service within the property being served.
(7) Where a single water service is used to supply three or more dwellings.
(8) Where the water meter serving the property is one and one-half inch or larger.
(9) Where there is backflow or backsiphonage potential.
(10) Where any fixture is subject to being submerged.
(11) Where the system is not open for inspection. [Ord. 748 § 4, 1999.]
12.25.040 Type of backflow protection required.
The type of protection required shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard which exists, in the opinion of the town’s cross-connection inspector, as follows:
(1) An approved air gap of least twice the inside diameter, but no less than one inch, of the incoming supply line measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, or an approved reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is a contaminant or potentially hazardous to health. Examples would include, but not be limited to, hospitals, mortuaries, car washes, medical clinics, auxiliary water systems, etc.
(2) An approved double check valve assembly shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is a secondary contaminant. Examples would include, but not be limited to, landscape irrigation systems, multiple dwelling units served by a single water service, etc.
(3) An approved pressure vacuum breaker or an atmospheric vacuum breaker shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is objectionable but does not pose a risk to health and where there is no possibility of backpressure in the downstream piping.
(4) In the case of all private fire systems, an approved backflow prevention assembly installed to the town’s construction specifications shall be required. The town may require a monitoring meter or detection system to detect unauthorized use or leakage within the system. The type of backflow prevention assembly shall be as follows:
(a) Low Hazard. Systems with or without a pumper connection but no auxiliary water supplies available, chemicals or additives, or other detectable cross-connections require a town-approved double check valve assembly.
(b) High Hazard. Systems with auxiliary water supplies, chemical additives, or other detectable cross-connections shall require a town-approved reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly. [Ord. 748 § 5, 1999.]
12.25.050 Approval of assemblies.
All backflow prevention assemblies required under this chapter shall be of a type and model approved by the state and the town of La Conner. [Ord. 748 § 6, 1999.]
12.25.060 Owner’s duty for inspection.
It shall be the duty of the assembly owner of any premises where backflow assemblies are installed to have the assembly tested and certified as working immediately upon installation, and at least once a year, or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. The frequency of these tests or the replacement of the assembly because of repeated failure is at the sole discretion of the town. The tests, repairs, and/or replacement of any backflow prevention assembly shall be at the sole and complete expense of the assembly owner and performed by a backflow prevention assembly tester who is currently certified by the state and approved by the town. Test, repair, and/or replacement shall be performed within 30 days of the test due date. The assembly owner is required to contact a tester who can perform the test in the necessary time period. The town will notify the owner each year when the assembly is due for testing. The assembly owner shall notify the town a minimum of 48 hours in advance of when a test is to be performed, so that the town’s cross-connection inspector may witness the test if they so desire. Records of such tests, repairs, and/or replacement shall be submitted to the town within 10 days of such tests, repairs, and/or replacement. [Ord. 748 § 7, 1999.]
12.25.070 Previously installed assemblies.
Backflow prevention assemblies which were approved at the time they were installed but are not on the current list of approved assemblies shall be permitted to remain in service provided they, in the opinion of the town, are properly maintained, are commensurate with the degree of hazard, are tested at least 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 and approved by the town. [Ord. 748 § 8, 1999.]
12.25.080 Enforcement.
(1) The cross-connection inspector shall cause the water service to the premises to be immediately discontinued or denied by a physical break in the service until the customer has corrected the condition in conformance with this chapter in any of the following situations:
(a) When it becomes known that a condition such as a cross-connection, plumbing, structural, or sanitary hazard, or other violation of this chapter is present.
(b) In those cases of extreme emergency, and where an immediate threat to life or public health is found to exist.
(c) When, in other cases and after a reasonable length of time has been allowed as determined solely by the town’s cross-connection inspector, the tests, repairs, and/or replacement of assemblies or any other requirement within this chapter are not performed in accordance with this chapter.
(2) Written notice of disconnection shall be provided to the property owner of record and the occupant. Within five days thereafter, the owner or occupant may appeal the disconnection by filing an appeal with the hearing examiner who shall have authority to hear such appeal. The hearing examiner shall conduct an open record hearing and render a decision within 10 days of receipt of a properly filed appeal. The appeal must be accompanied with a fee of $150.00 together with a $300.00 deposit to be used to defray, in full or part, the actual cost of the hearing examiner’s fees charged to the town. [Ord. 748 § 9, 1999.]