Guadalupe Municipal Code Ch. 13.06 Backflow Prevention Assemblies and Cross-Connection Control

A. To protect the public potable water supply of the City of Guadalupe from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the responsible party's internal or private water system(s) such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water distribution system; and

B. To promote the elimination or control of cross-connections, actual or potential, between the water user's potable water system(s) and non-potable water system(s), plumbing fixtures, and industrial piping system(s); and

C. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which shall systematically and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of the publicly owned potable water system.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

Air-Gap Separation Backflow Prevention Assembly (AG).

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 non-pressurized receiving vessel, and in no case less than one inch.

Approved.

Accepted by the Public Works Director or designee as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this ordinance, or as suitable for the proposed site.

Auxiliary Water Supply.

Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the City of Guadalupe public potable water supply.

Backflow.

The undesirable or unintended reversal of the normal flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases, or other substances into the distribution pipes of the public potable water distribution system.

Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA).

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.

Backpressure.

Any elevation of pressure in the downstream piping system (by pump, elevation of piping, steam pressure, air pressure, etc.) above the supply pressure at the point of consideration, which would cause or tend to cause a reversal of the normal direction of flow.

Backsiphonage.

A form of backflow due to a reduction in system pressure, which causes a sub-atmospheric pressure to exist in the water system.

Contamination.

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

Cross-Connection.

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.

Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH).

The State handbook establishing standards intended to ensure that a public water system's drinking water distribution system will not be subject to the backflow of liquids, gases, or other substances.

Distribution System.

The network of conduits used for the delivery of potable water from the source to the responsible party's system.

Hazard Assessment.

An evaluation of a user's premises designed to evaluate the types and degrees of hazard at the user's premises.

High Hazard Cross-Connection.

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.

Industrial Fluids System.

Any fluid or solution that may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a hazard if introduced into the City of Guadalupe's public potable water supply. This may include, but is not 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 alkaline; 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 that from wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, etc.; oil gases, glycerin, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes or for fire fighting purposes.

Low Hazard Cross-Connection.

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 non-health hazards.

Operational Tests.

Backflow assembly tests performed to test the functioning capabilities of the assembly using a properly calibrated differential pressure gauge and performed as published in the Manual of Cross-Connection Control, Tenth Edition, or any successor edition.

Potable Water.

Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or its successor organization.

Premises.

Any location, building, structure, residence, garage, room, shed, shop, store, dwelling, lot, parcel, land or portion thereof, whether improved or unimproved.

Process Water.

Water that has been through commercial or industrial procedures rendering it non-potable.

Public Works Director.

The administrator/manager in charge of all aspects of the Public Works Department.

Recycled Water.

Water resulting from the treatment of wastewater that is categorized as hazardous because it does not meet the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or its successor organization as being safe for human consumption, yet suitable for a direct beneficial reuse or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur.

Responsible Party.

The owner, operator, manager or occupant of a building or property which has water service from a public potable water distribution system; the owner, manager or operator of a private water system that has water service from a public potable water distribution system.

Service Connection.

The terminal end of a tie-in to the public potable water system; i.e., the location where the City of Guadalupe loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water. If a meter is installed at the end of the service connection, then the service connection means the downstream end of the meter.

Service Line.

A line of private piping extending from the service connection to the responsible party's point(s) of use.

Used Water.

Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public potable water distribution system to a responsible party'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 System.

In the City of Guadalupe, the water system is made up of two parts:

The public potable water distribution system includes all the facilities and the network of conduits used for the delivery of water that remain under the complete control of the City of Guadalupe up to the point where the responsible party's system begins.

The responsible party's system includes those parts used for the delivery of water to points of use located on the responsible party's premises beyond the termination of the public potable water distribution system.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

The Public Works Director or designee shall have the authority to protect the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

A. No responsible party shall install or maintain a service connection to the City of Guadalupe public potable water distribution system without first installing one or more approved backflow prevention assemblies as required in this chapter. Installation(s) shall be at the expense of the responsible party and shall be performed by a plumbing contractor licensed by the State of California.

B. In the event of new property development, re-construction, renovation, or restoration where there is a direct connection to the City's potable water system, the responsible party shall seek prior approval from the Public Works Director or his/her designee for the backflow prevention assembly(s) intended for installation through the Community Development Department plan approval and permitting process.

C. In all cases it shall be the obligation of the responsible party to contact the City of Guadalupe Public Works Department during any construction involving water service, and in all cases in which the City of Guadalupe has been made aware of an existing cross-connection, an approved backflow prevention assembly is required at the responsible party's existing water service connection, or within the responsible party's existing private water system. The Public Works Director or his/her designee shall give notice in writing to said responsible party to install an approved backflow prevention assembly(s) at a specific location(s) at the responsible party's own expense.

D. All backflow prevention assembly installations—including spatial requirements and assembly orientation—shall be performed according to the Manual of Cross-Connection Control (USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research), Tenth Edition, or any successor edition.

E. All backflow prevention assemblies installed prior to adoption of the ordinance/codified in this chapter, must be replaced by the timeframes outlined in the City's adopted Cross-Connection Control Plan.

F. Whenever an existing assembly is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance, or when the Public Works Director or his/her designee finds that the maintenance constitutes a hazard to the public potable water distribution system, the responsible party shall replace the assembly with an approved backflow prevention assembly that meets the requirements set forth in this chapter.

G. Cross-connection control by containment at the service connection shall be utilized by the responsible party in the case of any premises where there are actual or potential unprotected cross-connections within the responsible party's water system, and it is physically and economically infeasible to find and permanently eliminate them.

H. The responsible party shall install an approved backflow prevention assembly on each service line to a responsible party's water system at or near the property line or immediately inside any building being provided water from the public potable water distribution system, but in all cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line for all high hazard cross-connections as listed in Appendix D of the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook.

I. No responsible party shall remove, alter, re-pipe, or bypass backflow prevention assemblies required by this chapter or maintain an existing unprotected actual or potential cross-connection.

J. No responsible party shall install or maintain an unprotected takeoff from the service line ahead of any meter or any backflow prevention assembly located at the point of delivery to the responsible party's water system.

K. Within 10 days after notice of the backflow prevention assembly(s) installation requirements, the responsible party may submit a written request for review of the requirement with the Public Works Director or his/her designee. A meeting with the Director, or Director's designee, will be scheduled within 10 days after receipt of the request. The Director/designee will issue a written response within 10 days after completion of the meeting. The Director/designee's response shall be final.

L. Failure to comply in a timely manner regarding the installation, inspection, field testing, or maintenance of a backflow protection assembly will include one of the following corrective actions by the City:

1. Deny or discontinue water service to the property;

2. Install, inspect, field test, and/or maintain the backflow protection assembly at the property; or

3. Otherwise, address in a timely manner a failure to comply with the Cross-Connection Control Program.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

A. It shall be the duty of the responsible party at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have operational tests made upon each assembly upon initial installation and at least once per year thereafter. These tests shall be at the expense of the responsible party and shall be performed by a certified City of Guadalupe approved backflow prevention assembly tester.

B. The Public Works Director or his/her designee may require additional inspections and operational tests if contamination or the potential to contaminate the public potable water distribution system has been detected. Additional testing may also be required by the CCCPH. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the responsible party and shall be performed by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester or certified cross-connection control specialist per Article 4 of Chapter 3 of the CCCPH.

C. The responsible party shall notify the Public Works Director or his/her designee in advance when additional tests are to be undertaken so that Public Works Department qualified personnel may witness the test(s) if so desired.

D. All backflow assembly operational tests shall be performed by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester using a properly calibrated differential pressure gauge. Calibration shall be done on an annual basis, and proof of calibration shall be submitted to the City of Guadalupe. Operational testing methods used shall be those established in the Manual of Cross-Connection Control—Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies, Tenth Edition, or any successor edition.

E. The responsible party shall have repaired, overhauled or replaced any backflow assembly which fails to meet testing requirements without manipulation by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester within 30 days. The assembly shall be retested by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester, ensuring it passes all testing requirements. Should repair costs exceed $500, or if the assembly must be replaced, such work shall be completed by a California State licensed C-36 plumbing Contractor and/or California State general engineering contractor.

F. Within 10 days after notice of the backflow prevention assembly(s) testing requirements, the responsible party may submit a written request for review of the requirement with the Public Works Director or his/her designee. A meeting with the Director or Director's designee will be scheduled within 10 days after receipt of the request. The Director/designee will issue a written response within 10 days after completion of the meeting. The Public Works Director/designee's response shall be final.

G. Failure, refusal, or inability on the part of the responsible party to test and maintain required assembly(s) shall be grounds for:

1. Discontinuing water service to the premises until all requirements have been satisfactorily met; or

2. Corrective action by the City at the owner's expense.

H. The responsible party shall complete testing within 15 days after installation of a new device.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

A. It shall be the duty of the responsible party to submit all records and documentation of any and all inspections, tests, repairs, renovations, rebuilds, restorations, or replacements of backflow assembly(s) to the City of Guadalupe Public Works Department.

B. For a period of three years after their creation, the responsible party shall maintain copies of all reports, records, and documentation in the standard form currently utilized by the Public Works Department. The responsible party shall supply copies of these documents to the Public Works Director or his/her designee upon request.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

A. An approved air gap separation is a means of preventing backflow by 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 separation shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically, above the overflow rim of the vessel, and in no case shall be less than one inch. The approved air gap separation shall meet performance specifications as determined by the Public Works Director or his/her designee.

B. An approved atmospheric vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (AVB) shall be an assembly containing an air inlet valve, a check seat and air inlet port(s). The flow of water into the body causes the air inlet valve to close the inlet pert(s). When the flow of water stops, the air inlet valve falls and forms a check valve against backsiphonage. At the same time, it opens the air inlet port(s) allowing air to enter and satisfy the vacuum. A shutoff valve immediately upstream may be an integral part of the assembly, but the assembly shall not be subjected to operating pressure for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period. An atmospheric vacuum breaker is designed to protect against a non-health hazard or a health hazard under a backsiphonage condition only.

C. An approved double check detector backflow prevention assembly (DCDA) shall be a specially designed assembly composed of a line-size approved double check valve assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly. The meter shall register accurately for only very low rates of flow up to two gallons per minute (gpm) and shall show a registration for all rates of flow. The DCDA shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard and is primarily used on fire sprinkler systems.

D. An approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DC) shall be an assembly composed of two 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. The DC shall be readily accessible for inline testing and maintenance and shall be installed in a location where no part of the assembly is submerged. The DC shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard.

E. An approved pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (PVB) shall be 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 valve. 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. This assembly is designed to protect against a non-health hazard or a health hazard under backsiphonage condition only.

F. An approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP) shall be an assembly containing two 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. This assembly is designed to protect against a non-health or health hazard.

G. An approved spill-resistant pressure vacuum breaker backsiphonage prevention assembly (SVB) shall be 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 valve, and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves attached at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a nonhealth hazard or a health hazard under a backsiphonage condition only.

H. In all cases the backflow prevention assembly installed at any location to protect the City of Guadalupe public water supply shall be on the current List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies, which supersedes all prior lists, published by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.

I. Unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer all assemblies are to be installed on cold potable water applications - below 110°F. All listed assemblies are approved for the indicated orientation only, and the use of spare parts other than those of the original manufacturer invalidates approval.

J. The Public Works Director or his/her designee shall approve the model and size of backflow prevention assembly required for a high hazard cross-connection. See Appendix D of the CCCPH for some examples.

K. The responsible party's system shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times during regular business hours to authorized representatives of the City of Guadalupe to determine whether cross-connections, other structural or sanitary hazards, or other violations of these regulations exist.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)

A. A Notice of Violation shall be given to any responsible party found to be in violation of any provision of this chapter. The violation shall be corrected within the time frame given in the Notice of Violation. If the Public Works Director or his/her designee determines that the violation is creating or contributing to the existence of an imminent hazard, the responsible party shall be required to correct the violation immediately.

B. Water service may be terminated after a third violation of the same provision within a one-year period. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall pay to the City all expenses incurred by the City in repairing any damage to the public water distribution system caused in whole or in part by such violation and any expense incurred by the City in investigating such violation.

C. In addition to other remedies in this chapter, any responsible party violating any of the provisions herein is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof is punishable in accordance with Chapter 1.08 of the Guadalupe Municipal Code (GMC). As additional remedies, any responsible party in violation of this Code may be subject to summary abatement proceedings, restraining order, injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative penalty pursuant to Chapter 1.10 of the GMC, administrative citation pursuant to Chapter 1.11 of the GMC, or any other remedy provided by law.

(Ord. 2025-523, 5/13/2025)