Chapter 13.12
CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Sections:
13.12.030 Cross-connections prohibited.
13.12.040 Use of backflow prevention devices.
13.12.050 Cross-connection inspection.
13.12.060 Installation permits.
13.12.070 Additional remedies.
13.12.010 Purpose and scope.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health of water consumers by the control of actual and/or potential cross-connections. (Ord. 436 § 1, 1986)
13.12.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
“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.
“Backflow prevention device” means a device to counteract back pressure or prevent back siphonage.
“Contamination” means the entry into or presence in a public water supply of any substance which may be deleterious to health and/or quality of the water.
“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 liquids of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply as a result of backflow.
“Director” means the city superintendent of the city of Pateros, or his or her authorized agent.
“Health officer” means the Okanogan County district health officers, or his or her authorized agent.
“Public water supply” means any system or water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic uses, including source, treatment storage, transmission and distribution facilities, where water is furnished to any collection or number of individuals, or is made available to the public for human consumption or domestic use.
“Purveyor” means the city of Pateros, or its authorized agent. (Ord. 436 § 2, 1986)
13.12.030 Cross-connections prohibited.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or continued in use by the purveyor unless the water supply is protected by backflow prevention devices as may be required by this chapter and Washington Administrative Code 248-54. The installation or maintenance of a cross-connection which will endanger the water quality of the potable water supply of the city shall be unlawful and is prohibited. Any such cross-connection now existing or hereafter installed is declared to be a public nuisance and the same shall be abated. The control or elimination of cross-connections shall be in accordance with this chapter and Washington Administration Code 248-54, together with the latest addition of appropriate manuals of standard practice pertaining to cross-connection control approved by the health officer. The director shall have the authority to establish requirements more stringent than state regulations if he or she deems that the conditions so dictate. The purveyor shall adopt rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 436 § 3, 1986)
13.12.040 Use of backflow prevention devices.
A. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the ties on the premises or the materials used in connection or within any premises where, in the judgement of the purveyor, the nature and extent of the activities, or the materials stored on the premises, would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health and/or be deleterious to the quality of the water should a cross-connection occur, even though such cross-connection does not exist at the time; the backflow prevention devices shall be installed under circumstances including but not limited to the following:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is in compliance with Washington Administrative Code 248-54-430 and is acceptable to the purveyor.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established.
5. 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 water.
6. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled in such a way that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard might result.
7. The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect the public water supply. A backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities unless the purveyor and director determine that no hazard exists:
a. Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics;
b. Laboratories;
c. Metal plating industries;
d. Piers and docks;
e. Sewage treatment plants;
f. Food or beverage processing plants;
g. Chemical plants using a water process;
h. Petroleum processing or storage plants;
i. Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors.
8. Other premises specified by the director, where backflow prevention devices are required to protect the public water supply.
B. The type of protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists:
1. An air-gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the public water supply may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature, or other contaminant which could cause a health or system hazard.
2. 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.
C. Backflow prevention devices required by this chapter shall be installed at the meter, at the property line of the premises when meters are not used, or at a location designated by the purveyor. The device shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, and furthermore, where no part of the device will be submerged.
D. Backflow prevention devices required by this chapter shall be installed under the supervision of, and with the approval of, the purveyor.
E. Any protective device required by this chapter shall be a model approved by the director. 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 director. These devices shall be furnished and installed by and at the expense of the customer.
F. Backflow prevention devices installed pursuant to this chapter except atmospheric vacuum breakers, shall be inspected and tested annually, or more often if necessary. Inspections, tests and maintenance shall be at the customer’s expense. Whenever the devices are found to be defective, they shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the customer’s expense. Inspections, tests, repairs and records thereof shall be accomplished under the purveyor’s supervision by certified testers.
G. No underground sprinkling device will be installed without adequate backflow prevention devices at the point from which the water for irrigation is taken from the public water supply.
H. Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this chapter and Washington Administrative Code 248-54 shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the premises, or, in the alternative, the installation of an air-gap separation at the customer’s expense.
(Ord. 436 § 4, 1986)
13.12.050 Cross-connection inspection.
A. No water shall be delivered to any structure hereafter built within the city or within areas served by city water until the same shall have been inspected by the purveyor for possible cross-connections and been approved as being free of same.
B. Any construction for industrial or other purpose which is classified as hazardous facilities pursuant to Section 13.12.040(A)(7) of this chapter, where it is reasonable to anticipate intermittent cross-connections, or as determined by the director, shall be protected by the installation of one or more backflow prevention devices at the point of service from the public water supply or any other location designated by the purveyor.
C. Inspections shall be made periodically of all buildings, structures, or improvements of any nature now receiving water through the city’s system, for the purpose of ascertaining whether cross-connections exist. Such inspections shall be made by the purveyor.
(Ord. 436 § 5, 1986)
13.12.060 Installation permits.
If cross-connection control devices are found to be necessary, the owner of the property served must apply to the purveyor for a specific installation permit. (Ord. 436 § 6, 1986)
13.12.070 Additional remedies.
In the event an improper cross-connection is not corrected within the time limit set by the director, or, in the event the purveyor is refused access to any property for the purpose of determining whether or not a cross-connection exists; delivery of water to the property shall cease until the deficiency is corrected to the purveyor’s satisfaction. In addition, the purveyor may effect the necessary repairs or modifications at the expense of the property owner and refuse delivery of water to the property until the cost thereof shall have been paid. (Ord. 436 § 7, 1986)
13.12.080 Violation—Penalty.
Any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, refuses to comply with, or resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations as adopted by the purveyor, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall for each offense be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00). (Ord. 436 § 8, 1986)