Chapter 13.10
WATER CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL
Sections:
13.10.030 Backflow prevention assembly – When required, types, approved types.
13.10.040 Backflow prevention assemblies – Existing.
13.10.050 Backflow prevention assemblies – Installation – Times.
13.10.060 Inspections – Cross-connections, backflow prevention assemblies – Testing, delegation.
13.10.070 Disconnection of water service.
13.10.080 WAC rules and regulations.
13.10.090 Standards of practice.
13.10.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the health of the user and the potability of the water in the water system, by requiring the inspection and regulation of all actual or potential cross-connections between potable and nonpotable water systems in order to minimize the danger of contamination or pollution of the public water supply. Controlling and preventing cross-connection is accomplished by either installing an approved backflow prevention assembly or removing the cross-connection. [Ord. 654 §2, 1994].
13.10.020 Responsibility.
The public works superintendent shall be responsible for the protection of the water system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. [Ord. 654 §3, 1994].
13.10.030 Backflow prevention assembly – When required, types, approved types.
A. When Required. An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each water service connection to a customer’s water system at or near the property line or immediately inside the building being served before or in front of the first branch line leaving the service line whenever any of the following situations exist:
1. When a premises has an auxiliary water supply which is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and which is not acceptable as an additional source of water by the public works superintendent, then the city’s water system shall be protected against backflow from that premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the water service connection which is appropriate to counter the degree of hazard.
2. If a premises is one on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substance is handled in a way that creates an actual or potential hazard to the city’s water system, then the public water system shall be protected against backflow from that premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the water service connection which is appropriate to counter the degree of hazard. “Objectionable substances,” as used herein, includes, but is not limited to, process waters and waters originating from the city’s water system which have been subjected to a deterioration in quality.
3. On premises (a) having an internal cross-connection that cannot be permanently corrected or controlled, or (b) having an intricate plumbing and piping arrangement, or (c) where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspections purposes thus making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections exist, the city’s water system shall be protected against backflow from that premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the water service connection which is appropriate to counter the degree of hazard.
B. Types. The type of backflow prevention assembly required under subsection (A) of this section shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists to the potability of water in the city’s water system.
1. On any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as set forth in subsection (A)(1) of this section, the city’s water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, or an approved reduced pressure principle detector assembly.
2. On any premises where there is water or substance that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health if introduced into the city’s water system, the city’s water system shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly, or an approved double check-detector check valve assembly.
3. On any premises where there is any material dangerous to health which is handled in such a way that creates an actual or potential hazard to the city’s water system, the city’s water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, or an approved reduced pressure principle detector assembly. Examples of premises where these conditions exist include sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries, and plating plants.
4. On any premises where there are “uncontrolled” cross-connections, either actual or potential, the city’s water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, or an approved reduced pressure principle-detector assembly at the water service connection.
5. On any 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 city’s water system shall be protected against backflow from that premises by either an approved air gap separation, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, or an approved reduced pressure principle detector assembly on each water service connection to the premises.
C. Approved Types. Any backflow prevention assembly required by this section shall be a model and size approved by the public works superintendent. “Approved backflow prevention assembly” means an assembly that has been approved by the Department of Health. [Ord. 654 §4, 1994].
13.10.040 Backflow prevention assemblies – Existing.
All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet the requirements of PMC 13.10.030 but were approved devices for the purposes described therein at the time of installation and which have been properly maintained, shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under PMC 13.10.060, be excluded from the requirements of this chapter so long as the public works superintendent is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the city’s water system. Whenever the existing backflow prevention assembly is moved from its present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the public works superintendent finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of PMC 13.10.030. [Ord. 654 §5, 1994].
13.10.050 Backflow prevention assemblies – Installation – Times.
If, in the judgment of the public works superintendent, an approved backflow prevention assembly is required (at the customer’s water service connection or within the customer’s water system) for the safety of the city’s water system, the public works superintendent shall give notice in writing to that customer to install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(ies) at specific location(s) on the customer’s premises. New customers shall install an approved device(s) at the time of building permit issuance or within 90 calendar days after notification to do so. Existing customers shall install approved device(s) within 180 calendar days after notification to do so. [Ord. 654 §6, 1994].
13.10.060 Inspections – Cross-connections, backflow prevention assemblies – Testing, delegation.
A. Cross-Connections. Each customer’s water system shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times by authorized representatives of the city to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of the provisions of this chapter, exist. When such a condition becomes known to the public works superintendent, the public works superintendent shall deny or immediately discontinue service to that premises by providing for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected the condition(s) in conformance with state statutes and city ordinances relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
B. Backflow Prevention Assemblies – Testing. It shall be the duty of the customer at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified inspections and operational tests made upon installation and at least once per year. In those instances where the public works superintendent deems the hazard to be great enough, the public works superintendent may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water customer and shall be performed by a certified backflow assembly tester approved by the public works superintendent. The customer shall notify the public works superintendent in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that a representative of the city may witness the tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the customer whenever said assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs, and overhaul shall be submitted to the public works superintendent within 30 calendar days after the customer receives notification of the yearly test results.
C. Delegation. The public works superintendent may delegate inspection duties to a certified cross-connection control specialist. [Ord. 654 §7, 1994].
13.10.070 Disconnection of water service.
A. Failure, refusal, or inability on the part of a customer to install, have tested, and maintain backflow prevention assemblies shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to that premises until the requirements of this chapter have been satisfactorily met.
B. No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the city unless the water system is protected as required by state laws and regulations, and this chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the city if a backflow prevention assembly required by this chapter is not installed, tested, and maintained, or if it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed, by-passed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected. [Ord. 654 §8, 1994].
13.10.080 WAC rules and regulations.
Actions of the public works superintendent governing cross-connection prevention, control, and abatement shall conform to the rules and regulations set forth in WAC 246-290-490 as now existing and in accordance with any amendments that may hereafter be made thereto. [Ord. 654 §9, 1994].
13.10.090 Standards of practice.
The Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross Connection Control Manual, 5th Edition, published by the Pacific Northwest Section, American Waterworks Association, and the Uniform Plumbing Code, (1988 Edition), Chapter 10, Water Distribution, each as now existing and in accordance with any amendments that may hereafter be made thereto are adopted herein by reference as the city’s standards of practice for cross-connection regulatory actions. [Ord. 654 §10, 1994].
13.10.100 Construction.
The provisions of this chapter may supersede state regulations but in no event shall they be less stringent. [Ord. 654 §11, 1994].