Angels Camp Municipal Code Ch. 14.55 Control of Backflow and Cross-Connections

A. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is:

1. To protect the public potable water supply of city of Angels (COA) 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 inplant 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 contamination or pollution of all
potable water systems.

B. Responsibility. COA is 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. Backflow prevention assemblies are
required when there is a potential for backflow contamination of the public water supply.
This includes irrigation systems, wells, multifamily housing and all commercial and
industrial properties. If 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, COA shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such
an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) at specific location(s) on customer’s
premises. The consumer shall immediately install such an 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 said assembly(s) shall constitute a ground for
discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily
met.
(Ord. 551 (Att. A), 2025)

A. "City of Angels (COA)" means a public utility formed under the Public Utility District Act of the state of California originally enacted May 31, 1921.

B. "Air-gap separation" or "AG" means a physical vertical separation of at least two times the
effective pipe diameter between the free-flowing discharge end of a potable water supply
pipeline and the flood level of an open or nonpressurized receiving vessel, and in no case
less than one inch.

C. "Approved water supply" means a water source that has been approved by the State Water
Board for domestic use in a public water system and designated as such in a domestic water
supply permit issued pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 116525.

D. "Auxiliary water supply" means a source of water, other than an approved water supply,
that is either used or equipped, or can be equipped, to be used as a water supply and is located on the premises of, or available to, a water user.

E. "Backflow" means an undesired or unintended reversal of flow of water and/or other
liquids, gases, or other substances into a public water system’s distribution system or
approved water supply.

F. "Backflow prevention assembly" or "BPA" means a mechanical assembly designed and
constructed to prevent backflow, such that while in-line it can be maintained and its ability
to prevent backflow, as designed, can be field tested, inspected and evaluated.

G. "Backflow prevention assembly tester" means a person who is certified as a backflow
prevention assembly tester.

H. "Community water system" means a public water system that serves at least fifteen service
connections used by yearlong residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five yearlong
residents of the area served by the system.

I. "Contact hour" means not less than fifty minutes of a continuing education course.

J. "Continuing education course" means a presentation or training that transmits information
related to cross-connection control programs and backflow prevention and protection.

K. "Cross-connection" means any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement
between a public water system, including a piping system connected to the public water
system and located on the premises of a water user or available to the water user, and any
source or distribution system containing liquid, gas, or other substances not from an
approved water supply.

L. "Cross-connection control specialist" means a person who is certified as a cross-connection
control specialist.

M. "Distribution system" has the same meaning as defined in Section 63750.50 of CCR, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 2.

N. "Double check detector backflow prevention assembly" or "DCDA" means a double check
valve backflow prevention assembly that includes a bypass with a water meter and double
check backflow prevention assembly, with the bypass’s water meter accurately registering
flow rates up to two gallons per minute and visually showing a registration for all rates of
flow. This type of assembly may only be used to isolate low hazard cross-connections.

O. "Double check detector backflow prevention assembly--type II" or "DCDA-II" means a
double check valve backflow prevention assembly that includes a bypass around the second
check, with the bypass having a single check valve and a water meter accurately registering
flow rates up to two gallons per minute and visually showing a registration for all rates of
flow. This type of assembly may only be used to isolate low hazard cross-connections.

P. "Double check valve backflow prevention assembly" or "DC" means an assembly
consisting of two independently acting internally loaded check valves, with tightly closing
shut-off valves located at each end of the assembly (upstream and downstream of the two
check valves) and fitted with test cocks that enable accurate field testing of the assembly.
This type of assembly may only be used to isolate low hazard cross-connections.

Q. "Existing public water system" or "existing PWS" means a public water system initially permitted on or before July 1, 2024, as a public water system by the State Water Board.

R. "Hazard assessment" means an evaluation of a user premises designed to evaluate the types
and degrees of hazard at a user’s premises.

S. "High hazard cross-connection" means a cross-connection that poses a threat to the
potability or safety of the public water supply. Materials entering the public water supply
through a high hazard cross-connection are contaminants or health hazards.

T. "Low hazard cross-connection" means a cross-connection that has been found to not pose
a threat to the potability or safety of the public water supply but may adversely affect the
aesthetic quality of the potable water supply. Materials entering the public water supply
through a low hazard cross-connection are pollutants or nonhealth hazards.

U. "New public water system" or "new PWS" means a public water system permitted after
July 1, 2024, as a public water system by the State Water Board. A new public water system
includes a public water system receiving a new permit because of a change in ownership.

V. "Noncommunity water system" means a public water system that is not a community water system.

W. "Nontransient noncommunity water system" means a public water system that is not a
community water system and that regularly serves at least twenty-five of the same persons
over six months per year.

X. "Premises containment" means protection of a public water system’s distribution system
from backflow from a user’s premises through the installation of one or more air gaps or
BPAs, installed as close as practical to the user’s service connection, in a manner that
isolates the water user’s water supply from the public water system’s distribution system.

Y. "Pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly" or "PVB" means an
assembly with an independently acting internally loaded check valve and an independently
acting loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve; with test cocks
and tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly that enable accurate
field testing of the assembly. This type of assembly may only be used for protection from
backsiphonage and is not to be used to protect from backpressure.

Z. "Public water system" or "PWS" has the same meaning as defined in California Health and
Safety Code Section 116275(h).

AA. "Recycled water" is a wastewater which as a result of treatment is suitable for uses other
than potable use.

BB. "Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly" or "RP" means an assembly
with two independently acting internally loaded check valves, with a hydraulically
operating mechanically independent differential-pressure relief valve located between the
check valves and below the upstream check valve. The assembly shall have shut-off valves
located upstream and downstream of the two check valves, and test cocks to enable
accurate field testing of the assembly.

CC. "Reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly" or "RPDA" means a
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly that includes a bypass with a
water meter and reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, with the bypass’s water meter accurately registering flow rates up to two gallons per minute and
visually showing a registration for all rates of flow.

DD. "Reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly--type II" or "RPDA- II" means a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly that includes a bypass around the second check, with the bypass having a single check valve and a water meter accurately registering flow rates up to two gallons per minute and visually showing a registration for all rates of flow.

EE. "Spill-resistant pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly" or "SVB"
means an assembly with an independently acting internally loaded check valve and an
independently acting loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve;
with shutoff valves at each end and a test cock and bleed/vent port, to enable accurate field
testing of the assembly. This type of assembly may only be used for protection from
backsiphonage and is not to be used to protect from backpressure.

FF. "State Water Board," unless otherwise specified, means the State Water Resources Control
Board or the local primacy agency having been delegated the authority to enforce the
requirements of the CCCPH by the State Water Resources Control Board.

GG. "Swivel-ell" means a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly combined
with a changeover piping configuration (swivel-ell connection) designed and constructed
pursuant to this chapter.

HH. "Transient noncommunity water system" means a noncommunity water system that does
not regularly serve at least twenty-five of the same persons over six months per year.

II. "User premises" means the property under the ownership or control of a water user and is
served, or is readily capable of being served, with water via a service connection with a
public water system.

JJ. "User’s service connection" means either the point where a water user’s piping is connected
to a water system or the point in a water system where the approved water supply can be
protected from backflow using an air gap or backflow prevention assembly.

KK. "User supervisor" means a person designated by a water user to oversee a water use site
and responsible for the avoidance of cross-connections.

LL. "Water supplier" means a person who owns or operates a public water system.

MM. "Water user" means a person or entity who is authorized by the PWS to receive water.
(Ord. 551 (Att. A), 2025)

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. The 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 COA
unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations and this
chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by COA 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, bypassed 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 shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times to
authorized representatives of COA to determine whether cross-connections or other
structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When
such a condition becomes known, COA 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 county 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 COA, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow 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 (i) internal cross-connection that cannot be
permanently corrected or controlled, or (ii) 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. It is at the sole discretion of COA to assess the proper protection required, and the
type of protective assembly necessary under subsections (B)(3)(a), (B)(3)(b) and
(B)(3)(c) of this section shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists as
follows:

a. In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in
subsection (B)(3) of this section, and it is not subject to any of the following
rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap
separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention
assembly.

b. In the case of any premises where there is water or substance that would be
objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced into the public water
system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved double check
valve assembly.

c. In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health which is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. Examples of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries and plating plants. Further examples can be found in Appendix D, High Hazard Cross-Connection Control Premises, in the adopted CCCPH.

d. In the case of any premises where there is sewage treatment plant an approved
air-gap separation will be mandatory, in accordance with the adopted CCCPH
Appendix D, High Hazard Cross-Connection Control Premises.

e. In the case of any premises where there are "uncontrolled" cross-connections,
either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected by an
approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow
prevention assembly at the service connection.

f. In the case of 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 public water system shall be protected
against backflow from the premises by either an approved air-gap separation or
an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly on each
service to the premises.

5. Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a model and size
approved by COA. The term "approved backflow prevention assembly" shall mean
an assembly that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards
established by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) entitled "AWWA
C506-84 Standards for Reduced Pressure Principle 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 (FCCC&HR)

established by "Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies"--proper section of the most current issue of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control.

Said AWWA and FCCC&HR standards and specifications have been adopted by
COA. Final approval shall be evidenced by a "Certificate of Approval" issued by
an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with the said AWWA
standards and FCCC&HR specifications.

The FCCC&HR testing laboratory has been qualified by COA to test and certify
backflow preventers. Testing laboratories other than the FCCC&HR will be added to
an approved list as they are qualified by COA.

Backflow preventers which may be subjected to backpressure or back siphonage that
have been fully tested and have been granted a certificate of approval by said qualified
laboratory and are listed on the laboratory’s current list of "Approved Backflow
Prevention Assemblies" may be used without further test or qualification.

6. 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
least once every twelve-month period of time. In those instances where COA deems
the hazard to be great enough, certified inspections may be required at more frequent
intervals. Those inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and
shall be performed by COA personnel or by a certified tester approved by COA.
Inspections and tests performed by COA personnel will be billed to the customer at
rates established by COA. It shall be the duty of COA to see that these tests are made
in a timely manner. The customeruser shall notify COA 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 said assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such
tests, repairs and overhaul shall be kept and made available to COA.

7. 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 installation and which have been properly maintained shall be
accepted until such time that it can no longer be maintained and tested in accordance
with the COA requirements. Whenever an existing device is moved from the present
location, can no longer be tested, or requires more than minimum maintenance or
when COA finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be
replaced by an approved backflow preventer assembly meeting the requirements of
this section.
(Ord. 551 (Att. A), 2025)