Sec. 37.157. - Definitions.

For the purposes of this ordinance, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

ABPA means American Backflow Prevention Association.

Air-gap separation (AG) means a physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel. The air-gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the top rim of vessel, no less than one inch.

Approved backflow prevention assembly means an assembly or physical separation that has been designed specifically for preventing the backflow of water/liquid, gas from entering the system, which has passed laboratory and field evaluation tests performed by a recognized testing organization which has demonstrated its competency to the California Department of Health Services.

Approved water supply means any water supply whose potability is regulated by a state or local health agency.

ASSE means American Society of Sanitary Engineers.

Auxiliary supply means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the city water supply.

AWWA means American Water Works Association.

AWWA standard means an official standard developed and approved by the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

Backflow means a flow condition, caused by a differential in pressure, that causes the flow of water or other liquids, gases, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source other than an approved water supply. Back siphonage or back pressure are causes of backflow.

City water system means the source facilities and distribution system under the control of the city water utilities department up to and including the meter.

Consumer's water system means and includes all facilities beyond the service meter. The system or systems may include both potable and nonpotable water systems.

Contamination means a degradation of the quality of the potable water by any foreign substance which creates a hazard to the public health or which may impair the usefulness or quality of the water.

Cross-connection, as used in this chapter, means any unprotected actual or potential connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved as safe, wholesome, and potable. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover assemblies, or other assemblies through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.

Double check detector check assembly (DCDA) is a backflow prevention assembly consisting of a line size double check valve assembly in parallel with a detector meter and water size double check valve assembly. Each double check valve assembly is to be equipped with properly located test cocks and a tightly closing shut-off valve at the end of the assembly.

Double check valve assembly (DCA) means an assembly of at least two (2) independently acting check valves including tightly closing shut-off valves on each side of the check valve assembly and test cocks available for testing the water tightness of each check valve.

Hazard, degree of hazard is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system; it includes "health hazard", "plumbing hazard", "pollution hazard" and "system hazard":

(1)

Health hazard is any condition, assembly, or practice in the water supply system and its operation which could create, or in the judgment of the division, county, or state health official, may create a danger to the health and well being of the water consumer.

(2)

Plumbing hazard is a plumbing type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air-gap or approved backflow prevention assembly.

(3)

Pollutional hazard is an actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or to the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system, and which would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable or could cause damage to the system or its appurtenances, but would not be dangerous to health.

(4)

System hazard is an actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system of the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination which would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

Health agency refers to the California Department of Health Services.

Local health agency refers to the county or city health authority.

Passive purge system a passive purge system in plumbing primarily involves connecting a designated water fixture (like a toilet) to a fire sprinkler system. This connection ensures that regular use of the fixture flushes fresh water through the fire sprinkler piping, preventing stagnant water and maintaining water quality.

Person means an individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, municipality, public utility, or other public body or institution.

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.

Premises means any and all areas on a customer's property which are served or have the potential to be served by the public water system.

Public water system means a system for the provision of piped water to the public for human consumption which has five (5) or more service connections or regularly serves an average of twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days out of the year.

Reclaimed water means wastewater which as a result of treatment is suitable for uses other than potable use.

Recycled water. See reclaimed water.

Reduced pressure detector check assembly (RPDCA) means a backflow prevention assembly consisting of a line-size reduced pressure principle assembly in parallel with a detector meter and meter-size reduced pressure principle assembly. Each reduced pressure principle assembly is to be equipped with properly located test cocks and a tightly closing shut-off valve at each end of the assembly.

Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly(RPA) means an assembly incorporating two (2) or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two (2) check valves, a tightly closing shut-off valve on each side of the check valve assembly, and equipped with necessary test cocks for testing.

Service connection refers to the point of connection of a user's piping to the city's facilities.

Water user means any person obtaining water from an approved water supply system.

(Ord. No. 18-OR0118-1, § 2, 3-28-2018; Ord. No. 25-OR0596-1, § 1, 10-15-2025)