Chapter 14.82
CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Sections:
14.82.020 Control and elimination.
14.82.030 Discontinuance of water service.
14.82.040 Backflow prevention assemblies – Installation and maintenance.
14.82.050 Backflow prevention assemblies – Requirements.
14.82.060 Backflow prevention assemblies – Substitutes – Exemptions.
14.82.070 Backflow prevention assemblies – Inspection.
14.82.080 Accessibility of premises.
14.82.100 Conflicts with building codes.
14.82.110 Interconnection with city system prohibited.
14.82.120 Annual inspection and testing.
14.82.130 Indemnification and hold harmless.
14.82.010 Prohibited.
The installation or maintenance of any cross-connection with the public water supply of the city is prohibited, except as authorized herein. Any such cross-connection now existing or hereafter installed is hereby declared subject to immediate termination of water service and any such cross-connection shall be abated immediately. (Ord. 1395 § 1, 1998).
14.82.020 Control and elimination.
The control or elimination of cross-connections shall be in accordance with the provisions of WAC 246-290-490 as now existing and as hereafter amended. The policies, procedures, and criteria for determining appropriate levels of protection shall be in accordance with “The Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross-Connection Control Manual,” as published by the Pacific Northwest Section, American Waterworks Association, May 1990, Fifth Edition. (Ord. 1395 § 2, 1998).
14.82.030 Discontinuance of water service.
The city shall deny or discontinue water service to any customer failing to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of backflow prevention assemblies required and as stated in WAC 246-290-490. (Ord. 1395 § 3, 1998).
14.82.040 Backflow prevention assemblies – Installation and maintenance.
As a condition of new or continued water service, approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and maintained by all customers who:
A. Are industrial or commercial customers not entitled to an exemption under PMC 14.82.060.
B. Operate commercial or residential fire sprinkler systems connected to their plumbing.
C. Operate irrigation systems connected to their plumbing and the city’s system.
D. Maintain cross-connections of their water system with air conditioning systems, medical apparatuses, or other devices or processes where chemicals or other objectionable materials may be siphoned into the water system.
E. Maintain efficient plumbing arrangements which makes it impractical.
F. In the judgment of the public works administrator compromise the public’s health or safety. (Ord. 1395 § 4, 1998).
14.82.050 Backflow prevention assemblies – Requirements.
“An approved backflow prevention assembly” means a backflow prevention assembly model approved by the State of Washington Department of Health and the city. Unless an exemption is granted, the minimum requirement for a backflow prevention assembly shall be that it consist of a double-check valve assembly. The reduced pressure backflow assembly shall be installed at the service connection immediately downstream from the water meter prior to any branch connections. (Ord. 1395 § 5, 1998).
14.82.060 Backflow prevention assemblies – Substitutes – Exemptions.
Vacuum breakers may be substituted for other backflow prevention assemblies required under this regulation where the public works administrator determines that the circumstances and good engineering practices allow such substitution without compromising protection of water quality and public health. Where an industrial or commercial customer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the public works administrator that there are cross-connections with the water supply on their premises and that no health hazard is posed by reason of the presence of toxic materials on the environment, the public works administrator may grant the customer an exemption from the cross-connection requirements herein. Decisions made under this section shall be made at the sole discretion of the public works administrator to carry out the cross-connection control programs of the city. Exemptions are subject to periodic review and may be revoked whenever a cross-connection is made or a risk to public health or water quality is present. (Ord. 1395 § 6, 1998).
14.82.070 Backflow prevention assemblies – Inspection.
The public works administrator and such staff members as he or she may designate are delegated the authority to inspect, approve, and disapprove backflow prevention assemblies; to require corrections, modifications, repairs, or maintenance on backflow prevention assemblies and to inspect all premises of customers where backflow prevention assemblies may be required. The minimum standard for the maintenance and installation of backflow prevention assemblies shall be those set forth in the “Accepted Procedures and Practice in Cross-Connection Control Manual,” May, 1990, Fifth Edition, as published by the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Waterworks Association. The public works administrator is authorized to establish higher standards for installation and maintenance of backflow prevention assemblies where he or she finds that good engineering practice, industry standards or the protection of public health requires such higher standards. (Ord. 1395 § 7, 1998).
14.82.080 Accessibility of premises.
As a condition of a continued water service, customers shall make their premises, including buildings and structures, to which water is supplied, accessible to city personnel periodically to determine whether backflow prevention assemblies are required or are properly installed and maintained. Testing and inspections will be made annually. (Ord. 1395 § 8, 1998).
14.82.090 Permit required.
Prior to the installation of irrigation systems and backflow prevention assemblies, the customer shall obtain a permit from the city for such installation. (Ord. 1395 § 9, 1998).
14.82.100 Conflicts with building codes.
The requirements herein for backflow prevention assembly installation shall apply even though building codes may not require backflow prevention assemblies. (Ord. 1395 § 10, 1998).
14.82.110 Interconnection with city system prohibited.
The city prohibits interconnection of private water supplies with the city’s distribution system. Auxiliary water supplies (private wells, piped irrigation sources, etc.) are a major cross-connection control hazard and therefore, must be effectively isolated from the domestic water supply.
The city’s cross-connection control policies and requirements for customers with private wells are as follows:
A. No backflow protection is required if the source is verified to be permanently inactive and properly decommissioned in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Ecology, Chapter 173-160 WAC.
B. If the well remains active, an approved double-check valve assembly is required at the service connection to provide a measure of protection against inadvertent interconnection of the supplies.
New services will be locked off until compliance is verified by the city. Visual inspection of piping is required for premises retaining active well systems. (Ord. 1395 § 11, 1998).
14.82.120 Annual inspection and testing.
All backflow prevention assemblies are subject to annual inspection and testing. The cost of installation, annual performance testing, and any required maintenance of the backflow prevention assemblies is the responsibility of the property owner. (Ord. 1395 § 12, 1998).
14.82.130 Indemnification and hold harmless.
The customer shall indemnify and hold harmless the city for all damages that may arise from 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 include all backflow conditions that may arise from the city’s suspension of water supply, water main breaks, or reduction of water pressure. (Ord. 1395 § 13, 1998).