Dorris Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Cross-Connections

Applicability. Administration and enforcement.

devices-Installation. 13.12.100 13.12.110 13.12.120 13.12.130 13.12.140 13.12.010 Backflow prevention devices--Approval required. Inspection and testing- Repairs. Right of entry for inspection. Termination of services. Rates. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter, in coftiunction with Section 1003 of the Uniform Plumbing Code and the State of California Public Health Administrative Code, Title 17, is to protect the public health by the control and prevention of actual and potential cross- connections: (1) by requiring the proper in- stallation and safeguarding of service lines 157 leading to premises where cross-connections exist or are likely to occur; (2) by periodic inspecting; (3) by regulating plumbing within premises to minimize the danger of contami- nation to the water system on the premises or the public water system itself. (Ord. 176 § 1, 1988)

This regulation applies throughout the city to all premises and the owners and occupants thereof served by the city's water system. It applies to all systems installed prior to or af- ter its enactment. Every owner and every oc- cupant of the premises covered by this regu- lation is responsible for compliance with its terms and shall be strictly liable for all dam- ages incurring as a result of failure to comply with express terms and provisions contained in this chapter. (Ord. 176 § 2, 1988)

enforcement. The director of public works will adminis- ter the provisions of this chapter. Any devia- tion, modification, changes from standards or approval of methods and material, shall be by the director. (Ord. 176 § 3, 1988).

The following definitions will apply to interpretation of this chapter. "Air gap separation" means the unob- structed 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 receptacle, and must be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe

measured vertically above the flood level rim or the vessel. In no case may the gap be less than one inch. "Auxiliary supply" means any water source or system other than the public port- able water system, that may be available in the building or on the premises. "Backflow" means the reversal of flow, other than in the intended direction into the distribution of the public water system, from a service connection.

1. "Back pressure" means the backflow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or other means that could create pressure within the system greater than the city water supply.
2. "Back siphonage" means a form of backflow due to a negative or sub- atmospheric pressure within the water sys- tem. "Backflow prevention device" means an approved device to counteract back pressure or prevent back siphonage. "Cross-connection" means any physical arrangement whereby a public water system is connected directly or indirectly, with any other nonpotable water system, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage, reservoir, plumbing fixture, or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, sewage, or other waste or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination into the public water system as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, moveable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other tem- porary or permanent devices through which, backflow could occur, are considered to be cross-connections. "Double check valve assembly" means an approved assembly composed of two single, 158 independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connections for testing the watertightness of each check valve. "Reduced pressure principle backflow pre- vention device (RPBD)" means an approved device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically operating differ- ential relief valve located between the two checks, two shutoff valves, and equipped with the necessary appurtenances for testing. The device must operate to maintain the pres- sure in the zone between the two check valves, less than the pressure on the public water system side of the device. At cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the check valves must be less than the supply pressure. In case of leakage of either check valve the differential relief valve must oper- ate to maintain the reduced pressure by dis- charging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure drops below two pounds per square inch, the relief valve must open to the atmos- phere thereby providing an atmospheric zone between the two check valves. (Ord. 176 § 4,

prohibited. A. Except as provided below, all cross- connections, whether or not they are con- trolled by automatic devices such as check valves or by hand-operated mechanisms such as gate valves or stop clocks, are prohibited. B. Failure on the part of persons, firms or corporations to discontinue the use of all cross-connections and to physically separate cross-connections is sufficient cause for the

immediate discontinuance of public water services to the premises. (Ord. 176 § 5, 1988)

required when. Backflow prevention devices shall be in- stalled at the service connection or within any premises where in the judgment of the direc- tor of public works the nature and extent of activity on the premises, material used in connection with the activities, or materials stored on the premises would present an im- mediate or potential hazard to the public's health should a cross-connection occur; even though such cross-connection does not exist at the time the backflow prevention device is required to be installed. This includes: A. Premises having an auxiliary water supply; B. Premises having internal cross- connections that are not correctable, or intri- cate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross-connections do not exist; C. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at suffi- ciently short notice to assure that cross- connections do not exist; D. Premises having a history of cross- connections being established or reestab- lished; E. Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water system, or where a cross-connection could reasonably be ex- pected to occur. This includes the handling of process waters and cooling waters; F. Premises with commercial or residen- tial water softener units (backwash); 159 G. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled such that if backflow should occur, a serious health haz- ard may result; H. The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above categories where a backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities as set forth in the California Administrative Code, Title 17, Public Health, unless the director of public works deter- mines that no health hazard exists:

1. Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics,
2. Laboratories,
3. Sewage treatment plants,
4. Food and beverage processing plants,
5. Chemical plants using a water process,
6. Metal plating industries,
7. Petroleum processing or storage plants,
8. Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors,
9. Car washes,
10. Any building or structure three stories or higher, II. Others specified by the certified cross- connection specialist. (Ord. 176 § 6, I 988)

devices-Types designated. The type of prevention device required by the city depends on the degree of hazard which exists as follows: A. An air-gap separation or reduced pres- sure backflow prevention device shall be in- stalled where the water supply may be con- taminated by sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature, or other contaminant which would cause a health hazard. B. In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not hazardous to health,

a double check valve assembly, air-gap sepa- ration or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed. C. Pressure-type vacuum breaker units (spring loaded) are the approved units for city-supplied irrigation systems. The unit must be installed at least twelve (12) inches above the highest fixture point of water usage and in such a manner that drainage will pre- clude back pressure. (Ord. 176 § 7, 1988)

devices-Location. Backflow prevention devices required by this chapter must be installed at the meter, at the property line of the premises when meters are not used, or at a location designated by the director of public works. The device must be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, and where part of the device will not be submerged or hidden from proper inspection. (Ord. 176 § 8, 1988)

devices-Installation. Backflow prevention device required by this chapter must be installed under the su- pervision of the department of public works. (Ord. 176 § 9, 1988)

devices-Approval required. Any protective device required by this chapter must be a model approved by a hy- draulics testing laboratory recognized by the department of health services, such as the University of Southern California. (Ord. 176 § 10, 1988) 160

Repairs. Backflow prevention devices must be in- spected and tested annually or more often when inspections indicate any occasion of failure. An annual inspection fee will be charged. The device must be repaired, over- hauled or replaced whenever it is found to be defective. Inspections and tests must be made by a certified cross-connection specialist or by the city's water department personnel and the device tagged. Repairs will be at the ex- pense of the owner or occupant. (Ord. 176 § 11, 1988)

An authorized employee of the city shall have reasonable access to any premises sup- plied with water for the purpose of making inspections for cross-connection control, in- spections of the water system and water me- ters upon such premises. (Ord. 176 § 12, 1988)

The failure of the owner or occupant to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this chapter, may have water service discontinued after service of twenty-four (24) hours' notice of the inten- tion of the city to do so. (Ord. 176 § 13, 1988)

Rates will be established or amended, whenever necessary, by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 176 § 14, 1988)

Chapter 13.16 · WATER WELLS Sections: 13.16.010 13.16.020

water prohibited. Construction of new wells. Private wells for potable water prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to operate in the city a private well for human consump- tion. (Prior code § 6200 (part))

No new well shall be drilled or such for furnishing water to be used for any purpose whatsoever unless the proposed location, method of construction and the use are ap- proved by the health officer and the city council. Before any such well is drilled or sunk, the driller shall submit to the health officer and the city council a statement show- ing the proposed location, type of construc- tion, and intended use of same. A well log showing the detailed construction, depth in character of the formation encountered shall be filed with the health officer by the driller within fifteen (15) days after the well is com- pleted. (Prior code§ 6200 (part)) 161