Oxnard Municipal Code Art. IV Cross-Connections

(A) No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the water division unless the water supply is protected as required by state regulations and the provisions of this article.

(B) The purposes of this article are:

(1) To protect the public potable water supply from actual or potential cross-connections by isolating within the premises contamination or pollution that could backflow or siphon back into the water supply system because of some undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connection on the premises;

(2) To eliminate existing connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water that are not approved as safe and potable for human consumption;

(3) To eliminate cross-connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water or process water used for any purpose whatsoever that jeopardize the safety of the potable water supply;

(4) To prevent the making of cross-connections in the future;

(5) To encourage the exclusive use of public sources of water supply;

(6) To protect the potable water supply within the premises where plumbing defects or cross-connection may endanger the potable water supply available on the premises;

(7) 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 potable water systems.

(C) The intent of this article is to recognize that there are varying degrees of hazard and to apply the principle that the degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of hazard.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-51) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

For the purposes of this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(A) BACKFLOW - The physical process by which contaminants can enter the potable water supply.

(B) BACKFLOW PREVENTION - Is to the equipment and technology necessary to prevent potential contamination from cross-connection.

(C) CROSS-CONNECTION - Any actual or potential connection or structural arrangement between a public, private or consumer's potable water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into the potable water system any substance, and shall include bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices and other devices (temporary or permanent) through which or because of which backflow can occur and is used in conjunction with backflow prevention.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-52) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

(A) Those provisions of the California Department of Health Services promulgated rules and regulations and the California Uniform Plumbing Code applicable to cross-contamination control are adopted and made a part of this section by reference.

(B) The city manager is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations governing cross-connections in the form of a Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual, which shall include implementation of the California Department of Health Services promulgated rules and regulations and the California Uniform Plumbing Code applicable to cross-connection control. The Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual shall include the requirements for design, construction, installation, and maintenance of backflow prevention devices and assemblies.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-53) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

The protective device required shall depend on the degree of the potential hazard, and the requirements for which shall be included in the Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-54) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

(A) No person shall inspect, maintain, repair or replace backflow prevention devices unless the person's qualifications have been established and maintained as required in the Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual. Each qualified person shall receive from the water superintendent a "Certificate of Competence," and the water superintendent shall make available a list of qualified persons. Every qualified person shall be provided identification that shall be kept in the person's immediate possession during the inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement of any backflow prevention device.

(B) Any person issued a Certificate of Competence who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this article, or willingly falsifies inspection or maintenance reports submitted to the water superintendent, shall, in addition to any other applicable penalties, have the Certificate of Competence revoked, and shall not be considered for recertification for two years from the date of revocation.

(C) The water superintendent may provide inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement services from city employees, as provided in the Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-56) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

When necessary, on account of low pressure or special operating conditions, to install a booster pump on the service to any premises, such pump shall be equipped with a low pressure cut-off switch designed to shut off the pump when the pressure on the inlet side is 25 p.s.i.g. or lower. The consumer shall maintain the cut-off device in proper working order, and to certify to the city at least once a year that the device is operable.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-57) (Ord. No. 1009)

(A) In some unique or special circumstances, more stringent cross-connection and backflow prevention protection may be required to provide adequate protection to the public potable water supply.

(B) In addition to the standards provided in section 22-72, the Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Manual shall contain additional, more stringent standards and criteria for the cross-connection control, including but not limited to, whenever:

(1) The water superintendent or designee, the county health department, or the city building inspector determines that it is not practical to protect drinking water systems through the use of standard back flow prevention devices;

(2) Water systems for fighting fires are derived from a supply that cannot be approved for potable or safe for human consumption;

(3) Potable water pipelines are connected to equipment used in industrial processes;

(4) Sewage pumps or storm water pumps require fresh water priming connections;

(5) Potable water is supplied to facilities containing a sewage treatment plant, sewage pumping station, or storm water pumping station;

(6) Water supplies are provided to vessels at piers or waterfronts; or

(7) Potable water is supplied to premises containing dual or multiple water systems or piping.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-58) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)

(A) Any violation of the provisions of this article shall constitute a public nuisance. The water superintendent may discontinue water service immediately without notice to any premises where a required backflow prevention device is not installed, inspected, tested, properly operating and maintained, or if a backflow prevention device is found to have been removed or bypassed, or if unprotected cross-connections or other hazards to the water system are found to exist. The water superintendent shall not again authorize service to such premises until such hazards are eliminated in accordance with this article.

(B) Any customer who violates any of the provisions of this article or alters, bypasses or renders inoperative any backflow prevention device installed under the provisions of this chapter shall, in addition to any other applicable penalties, be subject to immediate discontinuance of water service. Water service shall not again be rendered until such violation or noncompliance has been corrected to the satisfaction of the water superintendent.

(`64 Code, Sec. 33-59) (Ord. No. 1009, 2661)