Coalinga Municipal Code Ch. 4A Backflow Control and Cross-Connections

Footnotes:

--- (2) ---

Editor's note— Ord. No. 830, § 1, effective July 20, 2019, amended Chapter 4A in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 4A, §§ 6-4A.01—6-4A.12, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 554, effective March 4, 1989 and Ord. No. 770, effective December 7, 2012.

(a) The purpose of this chapter is:

(1) To protect the City of Coalinga Water System from the possibility of contamination or pollution which could backflow into the public water systems; and

(2) To eliminate or control existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between its consumer's water system(s) and the water supplied by the City of Coalinga; 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 the City of Coalinga's public water systems.

(b) Responsibility.

(1) The customer shall be responsible for the installation, testing, and certification of backflow assemblies at any locations where such an assembly is deemed necessary by the requirements of this chapter.

(2) It is the responsibility of the City of Coalinga acting through the City Council to enact this chapter for the control necessary to safeguard the public water system from contamination or pollution due to backflow.

(3) It is the responsibility of the City of Coalinga staff to maintain records of all backflow devices mandated under this chapter for a minimum of five (5) years. These records will include:

a. The account number to the water service where the backflow device is installed.

b. The location of the device and water meter number.

c. The size of the water service.

d. The name and address of the person responsible for this account.

(4) Sixty (60) days prior to the one (1) year anniversary of the last inspection, testing and certification of the backflow prevention assembly, a notice shall be sent advising the customer of the need to have the yearly inspection, testing and certification done again on this backflow prevention assembly. When the certification is complete a copy of the certification report will be sent to the City of Coalinga for entry into the system database.

(5) If compliance is not received within thirty (30) days, a second notice will be generated and mailed notifying the customer that water service will be discontinued if the receipt of the certification is not posted with the city within this time period.

(6) If compliance is not received by the sixty (60) day limit, City staff will proceed as if this account was defaulted for non-payment with a three (3) day notice and then service discontinuance.

(7) Service will be restored upon the receipt of a copy of the certification notice and the shut-off penalty is paid.

(8) The consumer may opt to have the City of Coalinga install, test, or repair an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) in lieu of service discontinuance. This will be subject to fees on a time and labor basis.

(9) Visual inspections will be carried out by the City of Coalinga staff as they perform their duties to ensure that a device is not leaking, missing or in need of repair as can be seen with a brief visual inspection.

(10) Upon inspection, if the City deems it necessary to safeguard the public health, immediate termination of water service is provided for. Water service will be restored upon approval of the safety of the connection.

(11) The City of Coalinga will maintain a list of the certified backflow personnel who have expressed an interest in working in our area. This list will be updated annually and mailed with customer correspondence.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a) "Administrative authority" means a City of Coalinga Public Works staff whom has a valid certification through the American Water Works Association's Cross-Connection Control Specialist Program.

(b) "Approved backflow prevention assembly" means an assembly that has been investigated and approved by the administrative authority having jurisdiction. The approval of backflow prevention assemblies by the administrative authority shall be based on a favorable laboratory and field evaluation report by an approved testing laboratory recommending such approval.

(c) "Approved testing laboratory" means the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California or other laboratory having equivalent capabilities for both the laboratory and field evaluation of backflow prevention assemblies.

(d) "Auxiliary water supply" means any waters supply on or available to the premises other than the City of Coalinga public potable water system.

(e) "Backflow" means the undesirable reversal of flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases or other substances into the distribution pipes of the potable supply of water from any source or sources.

(1) "Backpressure" means any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system (by pump, elevation of piping, steam pressure, air pressure, etc.).

(2) "Backsiphonage" means a form of backflow due to a reduction in system pressure, which causes a sub-atmospheric pressure to exist in the system.

(f) "Backflow prevention assembly" means a backflow prevention assembly, except in the case of an air gap, is a sum of two (2) resilient seated shut off valves, a backflow device, and appropriate test cocks to facilitate testing. All assemblies shall be installed as per factory specifications.

(1) "Air gap" (AG) means a physical separation between the free-flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. An "approved air gap" shall be twice the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the receiving vessel; in no case less than one (1) inch. Additional requirements can be found in ASME A112.1.2.

(2) "Double check valve backflow prevention assembly" (DC) means an assembly composed of two (2) independently acting, approved check valves, including tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly and fitted with properly located resilient seated test cocks.

(3) "Double check valve detector backflow prevention assembly" (DCDA) means a specially designed assembly composed of a line-sized approved double check valve assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly. The meter shall register accurate for rates of flow up to two (2) gpm (gallons per minute) and shall show a registration for all rates of flow.

(4) "Pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly" (PVB) means an assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check vale. The assembly is to be equipped with properly located resilient seated test cocks and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly.

(5) "Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly" (RP) means an assembly containing two (2) independently acting, approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall include properly located resilient seated test cocks and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves at each end of the assembly.

(6) "Reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly" (RPDA) means a specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly with a specific bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. The meter shall register accurately for rates of flow up to two (2) gpm and shall show a registration for all rates of flow.

(7) "Spill resistant pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly" (SVB) means an assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve and independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly is to be equipped with a properly located resilient seated test cock, a properly located bleed/vent port, and a tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves at each end of the assembly.

(g) "Certified backflow prevention tester" means a person who has proved their competency related to repair and testing of backflow assemblies from either the American Water Works Association (AWWA) or the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA). This certification must be on file with the City of Coalinga with current certification renewal documentation.

(h) "Consumer" means the owner or operator of an on-site water system(s) having a service from a public potable water system.

(i) "Consumer's potable water system" means the portion of privately-owned potable water system lying between the point of delivery and the point of use. This system includes all pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment and appurtenances used to produce, convey, store or utilize the potable water.

(j) "Consumer's water system(s)" means any water system located on the consumer's premises whether supplied by a public potable water system or an auxiliary water supply. The system or systems may be either a potable water system or an industrial piping system.

(k) "Cross connection" means any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public or a consumer's potable water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into any part of the potable system any used water, industrial fluid, gas or substance other than the intended potable water with which the system is supplied.

(1) "Direct cross-connection" means a cross-connection which is subject to both backsiphonage and backpressure.

(2) "Indirect cross-connection" means a cross-connection which is subject to backsiphonage only.

(l) "Degree of hazard" means either a pollutant (non-health hazard) or contaminant (health hazard); derived from the assessment of the materials, which may meet the distribution system through a cross-connection.

(1) "Contaminant" means any substance that shall impair the quality of water, in such a way as to create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning, the spread of disease, etc.

(2) "Pollutant" means an impairment of the quality of the water to a degree which does not create a hazard to the public health, but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such water for domestic use.

(m) "Public potable water system" means the City of Coalinga's water system. This system will include all sources, facilities and appurtenances between the source and the point of delivery such as valves, pumps, pipes, conduits, tanks, receptacles, fixtures, equipment and appurtenances used to produce, convey, treat or store potable water for public consumption or use.

(n) "Reclaimed water" means water which, as a result of treatment of wastewater, is suitable for a direct beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur.

(o) "Service connection" means the terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

(a) The water system shall be considered as made up of two (2) parts: The public potable water system and the consumer's system.

(b) The public potable water 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 consumer's system begins.

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

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

(e) The consumer's system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the water supplier distribution system which are utilized in conveying potable water to points of use.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the City of Coalinga unless the water supply is protected as required in this chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the City of Coalinga if a backflow prevention assembly required by this chapter is not installed, tested, maintained and certified, or if it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed, by-passed, or if any cross-connection exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

The consumer's system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the City of Coalinga to determine whether unprotected cross-connections exist, and to evaluate the hazard that they may pose to the public potable water system. When such a condition becomes known, the City of Coalinga shall deny or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for a physical break in the service line until the consumer has corrected the condition(s) in conformance with the City of Coalinga's statutes relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service line to a consumer'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 City of Coalinga.

(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. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the water supplier's system which have been subject to deterioration in quality.

(c) In the case of premises having: (1) internal cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected or protected against, or (2) 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 dangerous cross-connections exist.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

The type of backflow prevention assembly required shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists as follows:

(a) In the case of any premise where there is an auxiliary water supply, the public potable water system shall be protected by an approved air gap (AG), or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP).

(b) In the case a direct cross connection exists that is evaluated to be a health hazard, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap (AG), or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP).

(c) In the case an indirect cross connection exists that is evaluated to be a health hazard, the public water system shall be protected by an approved spill resistant pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (SVB), pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (PVB), or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP).

(d) In the case a direct cross connection exists that is evaluated to be a non-health hazard, the public water system shall be protected by an approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DC), or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP).

(e) In the case an indirect cross connection exists that is evaluated to be a non-health hazard, the public water system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP), an approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DC), an approved pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (PVB), or an approved spill resistant pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (SVB).

(f) In the case of a dedicated fire suppression line, the public water system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly (RPDA), or an approved double check valve detector backflow prevention assembly (DCDA).

(g) In the case a reclaimed water system exists on the premises there shall be no interconnections allowed. Any interconnection shall be separated by an approved air gap (AG).

(h) In the case of any premise where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete cross-connection survey, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either an approved air gap (AG) or an approve reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP) on each service to the premise.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

The term "approved backflow prevention assembly" shall mean an assembly that has met completely the laboratory and field performance standard of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California (USC FCCCHR) established in: Standards of Backflow Prevention Assemblies Chapter 10 of the most current edition of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control. Said USC FCCCHR standards have been adopted by the City of Coalinga. Final approval shall be evidenced the appearance of the specific model and size on the List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies published by the USC FCCCHR along with a "Certificate of Approval" for the said USC FCCCHR Standards; issued by an approved testing laboratory. The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the City of Coalinga to test and approve backflow prevention assemblies:

Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research University of Southern California Los Angeles, California 90089-2531

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

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.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

Upon adoption, this chapter shall supersede all previous requirements. A system survey shall be conducted to determine compliance with the above requirements. All water accounts with a service connection that meet the criteria specifying a backflow prevention device contained in this chapter shall receive notification and must install the specified appropriate device within ninety (90) days from notification. The installation will not be deemed acceptable by the City of Coalinga until the device has been inspected, tested and certified by a licensed inspector and a copy of the certification report received by the City of Coalinga.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)

The Council may, by resolution, adopt fees to pay the City's costs to implement this chapter.

(Ord. No. 830, § 1, eff. 7-20-2019)