Fresno Municipal Code Art. 8 Cross-Connection Control

This ordinance is adopted pursuant to the State of California Administrative Code, Title 17 Public Health entitled "Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections." (Add. Ord. 2002-3, § 11, eff. 2-11-02).

Unless a particular provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions and provisions contained in this section shall govern the construction, meaning, and application of words and phrases used in this article, and, except to the extent that a particular word or phrase is otherwise specifically defined in this section, the definitions and provisions contained in Article 4 of Chapter 1 of this Code shall also govern the construction, meaning, and application of words and phrases used in this article. The definition of each word or phrase shall constitute, to the extent applicable, the definition of each word or phrase which is derivative from it, or from which it is a derivative, as the case may be.

(a) "Approved" means accepted by the Water Systems Manager.

(b) "Auxiliary Water Supply" means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the city water supply.

(c) "Backflow" means the reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either backpressure or backsiphonage.

(d) "Backflow Prevention Tester Certified" means a person who has proved his/her competency to the satisfaction of the Water Systems Manager related to repair and testing of backflow assemblies.

(e) "Backpressure" means the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the city water supply.

(f) "Backsiphonage" means the flow of water or other liquids mixtures or substances into the city water supply caused by the reduction of pressure in the city water supply system.

(g) "Backflow Prevention Assembly" means an approved assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.

(1) "Air gap" means a physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. The gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel, but in no case less shall be less than one inch.

(2) "Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly" means 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 resilient seating test cocks and tightly closing resilient seating shut-off valves at each end of the assembly. To be approved, this assembly must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and be installed in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.

(3) "Double Check Valve Assembly" means an assembly of two independently operating approved check valves with tightly closing resilient seating shut-off valves on each end of the check valves, plus properly located resilient seating, test cocks for the testing of each check valve. To be approved, this assembly must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and be installed in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.

(4) "Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly" means an assembly containing an independently operating loaded check valve and an independently operating loaded air inlet valve located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly is to be equipped with properly located resilient seating test cocks and tightly closing resilient seating shut-off valve located at each end of the assembly. To be approved, these assemblies must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance. The assembly must be installed a minimum of twelve (12) inches above the highest water outlet, i.e. sprinkler head or tank fill. To be approved, this assembly must be readily accessible for in-line testing and maintenance and be installed in a location where no part of the assembly will be submerged.

(h) "Consumer" means a property owner or the operator of a water system which is supplied water from the city water system.

(i) "Contamination" means a degradation of the quality of water which creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease.

(j) "Cross-Connection" means any unprotected actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into any part of the city water system contamination or pollution.

(k) "Cross-Connection Controlled" means a connection between the city water system and a used 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.

(l) "Cross-Connection Control by Containment" means the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly at the point of water service connection to any consumer's premises.

(m) "Degree of Hazard" means the degree of potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the city water supply.

(1) "Health Hazard" means any condition, device or practice which could create, or in the judgement of the Water Systems Manager, may create a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer.

(2) "Pollutional Hazard" means an actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the city water system.

(n) "Manual of Cross Connection Control Policies" means a written guideline that includes policies, procedures, drawings and technical data. This information will be updated on a regular basis as practices and conditions warrant by the Water Systems Manager, in concurrence with the Director of Public Utilities.

(o) "Pollution" means 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.

(p) "Service Connection" shall mean that part of the city system including all necessary piping and equipment from the water main to and including the curb stop or water meter. The city system shall terminate at the curb stop or outlet of the meter.

(q) "Used Water" means any water supplied by the City of Fresno from the city water system that is no longer under the control of the City of Fresno Water Division.

(r) "Water System Manager" means the Water System Manager in charge of the Water Division of the City of Fresno. (Add. Ord. 2002-3, § 11, eff. 2-11-02).

This section sets forth uniform requirements for the protection of the City of Fresno Water System.

(a) Purpose.

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

(2) To eliminate or control existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the consumer's water system and the water supply of the City of Fresno.

(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 City of Fresno Public Water Systems.

(b) Responsibility. The Water Systems Manager shall be responsible for the protection of the public water system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through any water service connection. If, in the judgment of the Water Systems Manager, an approved backflow prevention assembly is required at a water service connection for the protection of the water system, the Water Systems Manager, or his/her representative shall give notice in writing to the consumer, and the notice shall direct the consumer to install an approved backflow prevention assembly of the same at specific locations on his/her premises. Locations shall comply with the specifications as designated by the Department of Public Utilities Standard. Specification Drawings. A Health Hazard shall be corrected by the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly within three (3) days of receipt of written notification from the Water Systems Manager, or his/her representative. A Pollution Hazard shall be corrected by the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of a written notification from the Water Systems Manager or his/her representative. The consumer shall install such approved assembly at his/her expense. Failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install the assembly, shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been met. (Add. Ord. 2002-3, § 11, eff. 2-11-02).

(a) Water System. The water system shall be considered as made up of two entities: The City of Fresno System and the Consumer System.

(1) The City Water System shall consist of source facilities and the distribution system; and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the City of Fresno, up to the point where the consumer's system begins.

(2) The Consumer's System shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the City Water System which are utilized to convey City of Fresno water to points of use.

(b) Policy.

(1) No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the City of Fresno Water Division unless the water supply is protected as required in this Ordinance. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the City of Fresno 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 any cross connection exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected. Unsafe conditions or defects requiring immediate discontinuance of service include, but are not limited to direct or indirect connection between the city water system and a system or equipment containing toxic chemicals or sewage.

(2) The Consumer's System shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the Water Division to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations exist. The Water Systems Manager 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 in conformance with the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Unsafe conditions or defects shall be corrected in the time specified in Section 6-803(b).

(3) An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service line to a Consumer's System wherever the following conditions exists:

(i) In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply.

(ii) In the case of premises containing any actual or potential hazard to the city water systems.

(iii) In the case of premises having intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes.

(4) Where multiple public water services supply a property and one of the water services requires the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly, all services supplying the property must have an approved backflow prevention assembly installed to protect the public supply from potential cross-connections of on-site plumbing.

(5) Type of protective assembly required:

(i) In the case of any premises where the public water system is used to supplement a reclaimed water supply, the city water system shall be protected by an approved air gap.

(ii) In the case of any premises where there are wastewater pumping and/or treatment plants and there is no interconnection with the potable water system, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city. This does not include a single-family residence that has a sewage lift pump.

(iii) In the case of any premises where reclaimed water is used and there is no interconnection with the potable water system, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city.

(iv) In the case of any premises where hazardous substances are handled in a manner in which the substances may enter a potable water system, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city. This does not include a single-family residence that has a sewage lift pump.

(v) In the case of any premises where there are irrigation systems into which fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides are, or can be, injected shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(vi) In the case of any premises where there is an unapproved auxiliary water supply which is interconnected with the public system, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly or an approved double check valve assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city.

(vii) In the case of any premises where there is an unapproved auxiliary water supply and there are no interconnections with the public water system, an approve double check valve backflow prevention assembly may be approved in lieu of a approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly if approved by the city.

(viii) In the case of any premises where the fire system is directly supplied from the public water system and there is an unapproved auxiliary water supply on or to the premises (not interconnected). The city system shall be protected by a double check backflow prevention assembly.

(ix) In the case of any premises where the fire system is supplied from the public water system and interconnected with an unapproved auxiliary water supply, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city.

(x) In the case of any premises where the fire system is supplied from the public water system and where either elevated storage tanks or fire pumps which take suction from the private reservoirs or tanks are used, an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly may be provided in lieu of an air gap if approved by the city.

(xi) Temporary water use from fire hydrants requires the installation of a reduced pressure principle backflow assembly or air gap on any portable water transportation equipment.

(xii) Premises where the fire system is supplied from the public water system and where recycled water is used in a separate system within the same building, an approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly may be provided.

(xiii) In the case of any premises where pier hydrants are used for supplying water to vessels for any purpose, the city system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(xiv) In the case of any premises where there are marine facilities, the city system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(xv) In the case of any premises where entry is restricted such that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with short notice to assure that cross connections do not exist, the city system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle assembly.

(xvi) In the case of any premises where there is a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established, the city system shall be protected by an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

(xvii) In the case of any premises where two or more services supplying water from different street mains to the same building, structure, or premises through which an interstreet main flow may occur, shall have at least a standard check valve on each water service to be located adjacent to and on the property side of the respective meters. Such check valve shall not be considered adequate if backflow protection is deemed necessary to protect the city's mains from pollution or contamination; in such cases the installation of approved backflow prevention assemblies at such service connections shall be required.

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

(xix) In the case of any premises where toxic or objectionable chemicals are or may be transmitted, stored or used in a manner which may endanger the water system, an approved air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall be installed.

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

(xxi) In the case of any premises where, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the city 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.

(6) Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be of a model and size approved by the Water Systems Manager or his designee. The Water Division shall maintain and provide a list of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies acceptable for installation on city water services.

(7) Internal protection in lieu of service protection. The city reserves the right to require backflow protection at the consumer's connection or within the consumer's premises or both.

(8) Location of backflow prevention assemblies.

(i) Air gap separation. An air gap separation shall be located as close as practical to the consumer's connection and all piping between the consumer's connection and the receiving tank shall be entirely visible unless otherwise approved in writing by the city.

(ii) Double check valve assembly. A double check valve assembly shall be located as close as practical to the consumer's connection and shall be installed above grade, if possible, and in a manner where it is readily accessible for testing and maintenance.

(iii) Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. A reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall be located as close as practical to the consumer's connection and shall be installed a minimum of twelve inches (12") above grade and not more than thirty inches (30") above grade measured for the bottom of the device and with minimum of twelve inches (12") side clearance.

(9) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested immediately after they are installed, relocated or repaired and not placed in service unless they are functioning as required. In those instances where the Water Systems Manager deems the hazard to be great enough, he/she may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals. It shall be the duty of the Water Systems Manager to require that these tests are completed in a timely manner. The Water Systems Manager or his/her representative shall notify the consumer in advance when the tests are to be undertaken or required. The Water Systems Manager shall require backflow prevention assemblies be tested and maintained either by Water Division personnel or by certified backflow assembly testing companies as follows:

(i) Unless otherwise directed by the Water Systems Manager. it shall be the responsibility of the consumer at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified inspections and operational tests at least once annually or more frequently as may be required by the Water Systems Manager. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested and repaired or replaced by Water Division personnel certified as competent to perform tests and maintenance by the Water Systems Manager. The consumer shall be responsible for any costs of testing, repairs or replacement of the backflow prevention assembly. Fees for tests and repairs or replacement shall be paid by the consumer as designated in the Master Fee Schedule. Records of such tests, repairs and replacement shall be submitted and retained in the office of the Water Systems Manager.

(ii) If directed by the Water Systems Manager, it shall be the responsibility of the consumer at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to obtain certified inspections and operational tests at least once annually or as may be required by the Water Systems Manager, Certified inspection and operation tests must be conducted using a portable differential pressure test gauge tested for accuracy at least once annually. Testing must be performed by a backflow prevention assembly tester, certified by either the American Backflow Prevention Association or the American Water Works Association, operating under a valid business license from the City of Fresno. The Water Systems Manager may make available a non-exhaustive list of certified backflow prevention assembly testing companies to the consumer. The consumer shall be responsible for any costs of testing, repairs or replacement of the backflow prevention assembly. The consumer shall be responsible for submitting all test records and results to the office of the Water Systems Manager. Fees for maintenance of records of the testing history of the backflow assemblies shall be as designated in the Master Fee Schedule.

(10) All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies not meeting the requirements of this section but were approved devices for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and that have been properly maintained, shall be excluded from these requirements of these rules so long as the Water Systems Manager is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the city water system. Whenever the existing device is moved from the present location, requires more than minimum maintenance or when replacement parts are no longer available, or when the Water Systems Manager finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced with an approved backflow prevention assembly at the customer's expense.

(Add. Ord. 2002-3, § 11, eff. 2-11-02; Am. Ord. 2012-11, § 1, 7-30-12)