Chapter 18.13
SYSTEM CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Sections:
18.13.020 Established criteria for control and elimination of cross-connections.
18.13.030 Program administration.
18.13.040 Conditions requiring installation of backflow prevention assemblies.
18.13.050 Inspection and testing.
18.13.060 Violations – Penalties.
18.13.070 Recovery of costs incurred by the city.
18.13.080 Falsifying information.
18.13.010 Purpose.
It is the purpose of this chapter to provide enforcement authority and to establish local regulating standards in accordance with state regulations in order to protect the city’s water supply from contamination or pollution from unprotected service connections. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 32-07].
18.13.020 Established criteria for control and elimination of cross-connections.
The control or elimination of cross-connections shall be governed by WAC 248-54-285 as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended. The policies, procedures and other criteria for determining appropriate levels of protection shall be in accordance with the Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross-Connection Control Manual, Pacific Northwest Section, American Water Work Association Sixth Edition or any superseding edition. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-04].
18.13.030 Program administration.
The cross-connection control program will be administered by the public works department. The director shall be known as the water purveyor as per the state regulations, and together with the water division supervisors, will delegate responsibility for the organization and implementation of this program. As water purveyor, the director reserves the right to deny service or discontinue the supply of water to any consumer not in compliance with this and all other applicable regulations pertaining to public water systems. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-04].
18.13.040 Conditions requiring installation of backflow prevention assemblies.
A. A premises isolation backflow assembly will be installed in all new commercial and/or industrial buildings and in existing buildings where:
1. There is auxiliary water supply on the premises which is of unacceptable or unknown quality and it is or can be connected to the potable water piping on the premises.
2. There is piping on the premises for conveying liquids other than potable water, and where that piping is under pressure and is installed and operated in a manner which could permit the entry of other liquids or substances into the potable water piping on the premises.
3. There are internal cross-connections that cannot be eliminated.
4. There are intricate plumbing arrangements on the premises which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.
5. There is reason to believe that there are cross-connections on the premises but the water user does not permit an inspection to be made.
6. There is possibility of backflow from contained quantities of potable water that are subject to contamination from controlled or uncontrolled sources.
B. A backflow assembly will be installed on residential properties as required to comply with this chapter, the Washington Administrative Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code.
The type of backflow prevention assemblies required shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard and shall be a model included on the state’s Department of Health list of approved assemblies or as approved assemblies. The water purveyor shall be the sole judge in determining the level of protection required under the following general guidelines:
1. An approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow assembly (RP) shall be installed where the substance that could backflow is hazardous to health.
2. An approved double check valve assembly shall be installed where the substance which could backflow is of objectionable content but is not or does not pose an unreasonable risk to health.
3. An acceptable type vacuum breaker shall be installed in a low-risk condition only. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 32-07].
18.13.050 Inspection and testing.
Authorized employees of the public works department with proper identification shall be granted access, at reasonable hours of the day, to all parts of a premises or within buildings to which water is supplied for the purpose of inspection. These authorized employees shall identify the premises where the potential for backflow is present, shall evaluate the conditions at those premises, and when appropriate, shall require the installation of premises isolation backflow prevention assemblies. All assemblies shall be installed in accordance with regulations and standards acceptable to the public works department.
The water user or owner of the premises, where one or more backflow assemblies have been installed to protect the public water system, shall have the assembly or assemblies tested at least once a year and any necessary corrective action taken. Where there are repeated failures, the testing shall be undertaken more frequently than once a year under the direction of the public works department. Assemblies shall be tested immediately after installation, repair, or relocation. The test shall be performed by a state certified tester, recognized by the water purveyor, and a copy of the test results forwarded to the purveyor.
Any installation, corrective measure, testing or disconnection fees shall be the sole expense of the owner. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 32-07].
18.13.060 Violations – Penalties.
Any person who violates an order of the city, or who fails to comply with (A) any provision of this ordinance, or (B) any regulation, rule, or permit of the city, issued pursuant to this ordinance, shall be liable to the city for a civil penalty as set forth in RMC 10.02.050(E). Each day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate violation. Such penalties may be recovered by judicial actions and/or, to the extent permissible by state law, by administrative procedures.
Provided, if the same violator has been found to have committed an infraction violation for the same or similar conduct two separate times, with the violations occurring at the same location and involving the same or similar sections of the Richland Municipal Code or other similar codes, the third or subsequent violation shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in RMC 1.30.010 for criminal offenses. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-04; Ord. 06-08; Ord. 06-10 § 1.32].
18.13.070 Recovery of costs incurred by the city.
Any water customer violating any of the provisions of this chapter, who causes damage to or impairs the city’s water system, shall be liable to the city for any expense, loss, or damage caused by such violation. The city shall by order bill the violator for the cost incurred by the city for any cleaning, repair, or replacement work caused by the violation. Refusal to pay the assessed costs shall constitute a violation of this chapter, enforceable under RMC 18.13.030 (Program administration). [Ord. 4-88].
18.13.080 Falsifying information.
Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, and plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter, or who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any testing device or method required under this chapter, shall (in addition to civil and/or criminal penalties provided by state law) have committed a civil infraction subject to a civil penalty as set forth in RMC 10.02.050(E).
Provided, if the same violator has been found to have committed an infraction violation for the same or similar conduct two separate times, with the violations occurring at the same location and involving the same or similar sections of the Richland Municipal Code or other similar codes, the third or subsequent violation shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in RMC 1.30.010 for criminal offenses. [Ord. 4-88; Ord. 06-10 § 1.32].