Chapter 13.16
WATER SYSTEM – CROSS-CONNECTIONS AND BACKFLOW PREVENTION
Sections:
13.16.150 Interpretation and intent.
13.16.160 Conformance to rules and regulations.
13.16.170 Organizations – Conformance.
13.16.190 Cross-connection – Prohibited – Exceptions.
13.16.200 Cross-connection – Failure to discontinue.
13.16.210 Cross-connection – Removal.
13.16.220 Backflow prevention device – Installation.
13.16.230 Backflow prevention device – Degree of hazard.
13.16.240 Backflow prevention device – Location.
13.16.250 Backflow prevention device – Installation – Supervision.
13.16.260 Protective device – Approval required.
13.16.270 Backflow prevention device – Inspections and tests.
13.16.280 Failure to comply – Termination.
13.16.150 Interpretation and intent.
The regulations set out in this chapter are to be reasonably interpreted. It is their intent to recognize the varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 4, 1974. Formerly 13.28.150).
13.16.160 Conformance to rules and regulations.
Any customer, regardless of whether residing within or without the city limits, who is now receiving water from the city system or who will in the future receive water from the city, shall comply with the rules and regulations contained in this chapter. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 1, 1974. Formerly 13.28.160).
13.16.170 Organizations – Conformance.
Any water district, municipal organization or other organization which is connected to the city water supply for water and/or which is furnished to people or members within said district or organization shall cause all the people or members within said district or organization, as well as the district or organization itself, to comply with the rules and regulations contained in this chapter. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 3, 1974. Formerly 13.28.170).
13.16.180 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context states otherwise, the following definitions shall apply:
A. “Air gap separation” means the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supply water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle, and shall be at least double the diameter of supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel. In no case shall the gap be less than one inch;
B. “Auxiliary supply” means any water source or system, other than the public water supply, that may be available in the building or premises;
C. “Backflow” means the flow other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system of a public water supply;
D. “Backflow prevention device” means a device to counteract back pressures or prevent back siphonage;
E. “Back pressure” means backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other means that could create pressure within the system greater than the supply pressure;
F. “Back siphonage” means a form of backflow due to a negative or subatmospheric pressure within a water system;
G. “Cross-connection” means any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, or other device which contains or may contain contaminated water, sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, and other temporary or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow could occur;
H. “Customer” means any person, family, business, corporation, partnership or firm connected to the city water supply;
I. “Double check valve assembly” means an assembly composed of two single, independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve;
J. “Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device” means a device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two checks, two shutoff valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves, less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere, thereby providing an air gap in the device. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § § 2 and 5, 1974. Formerly 13.28.180).
13.16.190 Cross-connection – Prohibited – Exceptions.
Except as provided in NBMC 13.16.220, all cross-connections as defined in NBMC 13.16.180(G), whether or not such cross-connections are controlled by automatic devices such as check valves, or by hand-operated mechanisms such as a gate valve or stopcocks, are prohibited. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 6 (A), 1974. Formerly 13.28.190).
13.16.200 Cross-connection – Failure to discontinue.
Failure on the part of persons, firms, or corporations to discontinue the use of any and all cross-connections and to physically separate such cross-connections will be sufficient cause for the discontinuance of the public water service to the premises on which the cross-connection exists. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 6 (B), 1974. Formerly 13.28.200).
13.16.210 Cross-connection – Removal.
The utilities superintendent shall, in cooperation with the health officer or the local plumbing inspector, make periodic inspections of premises served by the water supply to check for the presence of cross-connections. Any cross-connections found in such inspection shall be ordered removed by the responsible agency or authority. If an immediate hazard to health is caused by the cross-connection, water service to the premises shall be discontinued until it is verified that the cross-connection has been removed. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 6 (C), 1974. Formerly 13.28.210).
13.16.220 Backflow prevention device – Installation.
Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection or within any premises where in the judgment of the utilities superintendent, the nature and extent of the activities on the premises, or the materials used in connection with the activities, or materials stored on the premises would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health should a cross-connection occur, even though such cross-connection does not exist at the time the backflow prevention device is required to be installed. This shall include but not be limited to the following situations:
A. Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Health;
B. Premises having internal cross-connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist;
C. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure that cross-connections do not exist;
D. Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or reestablished;
E. Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water supply, or where a cross-connection could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling of process waters and cooling waters;
F. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled such that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard may result;
G. The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above categories where a backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities as set forth in this section unless the utilities superintendent determines no hazard exists:
1. Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics,
2. Laboratories,
3. Piers and docks,
4. Sewage treatment plants,
5. Food or beverage processing plants,
6. Chemical plants using a water process,
7. Metal plating industries,
8. Petroleum processing or storage plants,
9. Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors,
10. Others specified by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 7 (A), 1974. Formerly 13.28.220).
13.16.230 Backflow prevention device – Degree of hazard.
The type of protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists as follows:
A. An air gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the water supply may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature or other contaminant which would cause a health or system hazard;
B. In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not hazardous to health, a double check valve assembly, air gap separation, or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 7 (B), 1974. Formerly 13.28.230).
13.16.240 Backflow prevention device – Location.
Backflow prevention devices required in this chapter shall be installed at the property line of the premises or at the meter when meters are used or at a location designated by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services or the utilities superintendent of the city. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 7 (C), 1974. Formerly 13.28.240).
13.16.250 Backflow prevention device – Installation – Supervision.
Backflow prevention devices required in this chapter shall be installed under the supervision of, and with the approval of, the city. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 7 (D), 1974. Formerly 13.28.250).
13.16.260 Protective device – Approval required.
Any protective device required in this chapter shall be a model approved by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services. A double check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device will be approved if it has successfully passed performance tests of the University of Southern California Engineering Center or other testing laboratories satisfactory to the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 7 (E), 1974. Formerly 13.28.260).
13.16.270 Backflow prevention device – Inspections and tests.
Backflow prevention devices installed under this chapter shall be inspected and tested annually, or more often where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. The devices shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. Inspections, tests and repairs and records thereof shall be done under the city’s supervision. Charges for such inspections shall be as set forth in the Construction Administrative Code adopted by NBMC 15.02.010. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 1237 § 9 (part), 2005: Ord. 391 § 7 (F), 1974. Formerly 13.28.270).
13.16.280 Failure to comply – Termination.
Failure of any customer or any district organization to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing of backflow prevention devices, or the requirements of an air gap separation, shall be grounds for the termination of the water services at a point where such flow, which is to be terminated by the city, would best prevent possible contamination of the public water supply. (Ord. 1622 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2017: Ord. 391 § 8, 1974. Formerly 13.28.280).