Alhambra Municipal Code Ch. 15.18 Cross-Connection Control

(A) Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is:

(1) To protect the public potable water supply of the city from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the customer's internal distribution system(s) or the consumer's private water system(s) such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water systems; and

(2) To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the consumer's in-plant potable water system(s) and nonpotable water system(s), plumbing fixtures and industrial piping systems; and

(3) To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the con-tamination or pollution of all potable water systems.

(B) Responsibility. The Director shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of the Director, an approved backflow prevention assembly is required at the customer's water service connection or within the customer's private water system for the safety of the water system, the Director or his designated agent shall give notice in writing to the customer to install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) at specific location(s) on his premises. The consumer shall immediately install such approved assembly(s) at the consumer's own expense; and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install, have tested and maintained the assembly(s) shall constitute a ground for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satis-factorily met.

('86 Code, § 15.18.010) (Ord. 4073, passed - - )

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

APPROVED. Accepted by the Director as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this chapter or as suitable for the proposed use.

AUXILIARY WATER SUPPLY. Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor's approved public water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural source(s) such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, and the like, or “used waters” or “industrial fluids.” These waters may be contaminated or polluted or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.

BACKFLOW. The reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either backpressure or back-siphonage.

BACKPRESSURE. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source or sources other than the intended source.

BACKSIPHONAGE. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than its intended source caused by the reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.

BACKFLOW PREVENTER. An assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.

(1) AIR-GAP. The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing, fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the vessel. An approved AIR-GAP shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically, above the overflow rim of the vessel; and in no case less than one inch.

(2) REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE ASSEMBLY. An assembly of two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent differential pressure relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves at each end of the assembly. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as deter-mined by a laboratory and a field evaluation program resulting in an approval by a recognized and agency approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. The assembly shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves at an acceptable level less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the assembly. At cessa-tion of a normal flow the pressure between the two check valves shall be less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. In case of leakage of either of the check valves, the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain the reduced pressure in the zone between the check valves by dis-charging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere. To be approved these assemblies must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and be installed in locations where no part of the assembly will be submerged.

(3) DOUBLE CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY. An assembly of two independently operating approved check valves with tightly closing shut-off valves on each end of the check valves, plus properly located test cocks for the testing of each check valve. The entire assembly shall meet the design and performance specifications as determined by a laboratory and field evaluation program resulting in an approval by a recognized and agency approved testing agency for backflow prevention assemblies. To be approved these assemblies must be readily access-ible for inline testing and maintenance.

CONTAMINATION. An impairment of the quality of the potable water by sewage, industrial fluids or waste liquids, compounds or other materials to a degree which creates an actual or potential hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.

CROSS-CONNECTION. Any physical connec-tion or arrangement of piping or fixtures between two otherwise separate piping systems one of which contains potable water and the other nonpotable water or industrial fluids of questionable safety, through which, or because of which, backflow may occur into the potable water system. This would include any temporary connections, such as swing connections, removable sections, four way plug valves, spools, dummy section of pipe, swivel or change-over devices or sliding multiport tube.

CROSS-CONNECTION—CONTROLLED. A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.

CROSS-CONNECTION—CONTROL BY CONTAINMENT. The installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly at the water service connection to any customer's premises where it is physically and economically infeasible to find and permanently eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within the customer's water system; or it shall mean the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer's water system where there are actual or potential cross-connections which cannot be effec-tively eliminated or controlled at the point of the cross-connection.

DIRECTOR. The Director of Public Works of the city is invested with the authority and respon-sibility for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforce-ment of the provisions of this ordinance.

HAZARD, DEGREE OF. An evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.

(1) HAZARD—HEALTH. Any condition, device or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create, or in the judgment of the Director, may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer.

(2) HAZARD—PLUMBING. A plumbing type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air-gap or approved backflow prevention assembly.

(3) HAZARD—POLLUTIONAL. An actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or to the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system but which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appur-tenances, but would not be dangerous to health.

(4) HAZARD—SYSTEM. An actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination which would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

INDUSTRIAL FLUIDS SYSTEMS. Any system containing a fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, system, pollutional or plumbing hazard if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but not be limited to: polluted or contaminated waters; all types of process waters and “used waters” originating from the public potable water system which may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form: plating acids and alkalines; circulating cooling waters connected to an open cooling tower and/or cooling towers that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, and the like; oils, gases, glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes or for fire-fighting purposes.

POLLUTION. The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, or biological) in water which tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness or quality of the water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect such waters for domestic use.

WATER—POTABLE. Any water which, according to recognized standards, is safe for human consumption.

WATER—NONPOTABLE. Water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable potability.

WATER—USED. Any water supplied by a Water Purveyor from a public potable water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the Water Purveyor.

WATER-SERVICE CONNECTION. The terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system; for example, where the Water Purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the customer's water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service connection, then the service connection shall mean the downstream end of the meter. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any meter or any backflow prevention assembly located at the point of delivery to the customer's water system. Service connection shall also include water service connection from a fire hydrant and all other temporary or emergency water service connec-tions from the public potable water system.

('86 Code, § 15.18.020) (Ord. 4073, passed - - )

(A) Water system.

(1) The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: The Utility System and the Customer System.

(2) Utility System shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system; and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the point where the customer's system begins.

(3) That source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system.

(4) The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for the delivery of water from the source to the customer's system.

(5) The customer's system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the utility distribution system which are utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of use.

(B) Policy.

(1) No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the Water Purveyor unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations and this ordinance. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the Water Purveyor if a backflow prevention assembly required by this ordinance 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.

(2) The customer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the city to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the Director shall deny or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected the condition(s) in conformance with the state and city statutes relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(3) An approved backflow prevention assembly shall also be installed on each service line to a customer's water system at or near the property line or immediately inside the building being served; but, in all cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever the following conditions exist:

(a) In the case of premises having 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 by the Director, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard.

(b) In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substance is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line appropriate to the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the utility system which have been subject to deterioration in quality.

(c) In the case of premises having internal cross-connection that cannot be permanently corrected or controlled, or intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line.

(4) The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow into the public water supply shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard that exists on the consumer's premises. The type of protective device that may be required (listed in an increasing level of protection) includes: Double Check Valve Assembly - (DC), Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Device (RP), and an Air-gap Separation - (AG). The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the water supplier. The minimum types of backflow protection required to protect the public water supply, at the water user's connection to premises with various degrees of hazard are given in Table 1 (see § 15.18.040). Situations which are not covered in Table 1 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the water supplier or health agency.

(C) Testing and maintenance of backflow presenters.

(1) The water supplier shall assure that adequate maintenance and periodic testing are provided by the water user to ensure their proper operation.

(2) Backflow presenters shall be tested by persons who have demonstrated their competency in testing of these devices to the water supplier or health agency.

(3) Backflow presenters shall be tested at least annually or more frequently if determined to be necessary by the health agency or water supplier. When devices are found to be defective, they shall be repaired or replaced in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(4) Backflow presenters shall be tested immediately after they are installed, relocated or repaired and not placed in service unless they are functioning as required.

(5) The water supplier shall notify the water user when testing of backflow presenters is needed. The notice shall contain the date when the test must be completed.

(6) Reports of testing and maintenance shall be maintained by the water supplier for a minimum of three years.

(7) Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a model and size approved by the Director. The term “Approved Backflow Preven-tion Assembly” shall mean an assembly that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association entitled:

AWWA C 506-84 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principles and Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Devices; and, have met completely the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California established by:

Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies-Section 10 of the most current issue of the MANUAL OF CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL

The AWWA and FCCC&HR standards and specifica-tions have been adopted by the Director. Final approval shall be evidenced by a “Certificate of Approval” issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with the AWWA standards and FCCC&HR specifications: The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the Director to test and certify backflow presenters:

Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research University of Southern California

University Park

Los Angeles, California 90089-0231

Testing laboratories other than the laboratory listed above will be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the Director.

(8) Backflow presenters which may be subjected to backpressure or backsiphonage that have been fully tested and have been granted a Certificate of Approval by the qualified laboratory and are listed on the laboratory's current list of “Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies” may be used without further test or qualification.

(9) It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified inspections and operational tests made at left once per year. In those instances where the Director deems the hazard to be great enough he may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and shall be performed by the assembly manufacturer's representative, Department of Water and Power personnel or by a certified tester approved by the Director. It shall be the duty of the Director to see that these tests are made in a timely manner. The customer-user shall notify the Director in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that an official representative may witness the tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired overhauled or replaced at the expense of the customer-user whenever the assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall be kept and made available to the Director.

(10) All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies which do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installa-tion and which have been properly maintained, shall, except for the inspection and maintenance require-ments under division (C)(9) of this section be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the Director is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Director finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this section.

('86 Code, § 15.18.030) (Ord. 4073, passed - - )

(‘86 Code, § 15.18.040) (Ord. 4073, passed - - )