Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Cross-Connection Control Program

The purpose of these regulations is (A) to protect the public water supply against actual or potential cross-connection by isolating within the premises contamination or pollution that may occur because of some undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connection on the premises; (B) to eliminate existing connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water that are not approved as safe and potable for human consumption; (C) to eliminate cross-connections between drinking water systems and other sources of water or process water used for any purpose whatsoever which jeopardize the safety of the drinking water supply; and (D) to prevent the making of cross-connections in the future.

These regulations are in accordance with the State of California Administrative Code, Title 17 – Public Health, entitled “Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections.”

“Air-gap separation” 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 the vessel, in no case less than one inch.

“Approved water supply” means any water supply approved by or under the public health supervision of a public health agency of the State of California, or its political subdivisions. In determining what constitutes an approved water supply, the State Department of Public Health reserves final judgment as to its safety and potability.

“Auxiliary supply” means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the public water supply.

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

“City” means the City of Sebastopol.

“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 water or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which back-flow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.

“Double check valve assembly (DC)” means an assembly of at least two 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.

“Health agency” means the California Department of Health Services, or the local health officer with respect to a small water system.

“Local health agency” means the County health authority.

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

“Reduced pressure principal back-flow prevention device” means a device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two checks, a tightly closing shut-off valve on each side of the check valve assembly, and equipped with necessary test cocks for testing.

“User connection” means the point of connection of a user’s piping to the water supplier’s facilities.

“Water supplier” means the person who owns or operates the public water supply system.

“Water user” means any person obtaining water from a public water supply system.

A. No Cross-Connection Allowed between Plumbing and Water Pipes. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation at any time to make or maintain or cause to be made or maintained, temporarily or permanently, for any period of time whatsoever, any cross-connection between plumbing pipes or water fixtures being served with water by the City Water Department and any other source of water supply or to maintain any sanitary fixture or other appurtenances or fixtures which by reason of their construction may cause or allow back-flow of water or other substances into the water supply system of the City and/or the service of water pipes or fixtures of any consumer of the City.

B. Permit Required for Water Cross-Connections.

1. The regulations of the California State Department of Health prohibit unprotected cross-connections between the public water supply and any unapproved source of water. All water cross-connections must be approved by the City and a permit issued by the City Building Official prior to installation.

2. To comply with the regulations of the health agencies, the City may require the installation of approved back-flow prevention devices for continued services or before a new service will be granted.

3. Where Protection Is Required.

a. Each service connection from the City water system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected against back-flow of water from the premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water supply is accepted as an additional source by the City, and is approved by the public health agency having jurisdiction;

b. Each service connection from the City water system for supplying water to any premises on which any substance is handled under pressure in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system shall be protected against back-flow of the water from the premises into the public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the City water system which have been subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality;

c. Back-flow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection to any premises that have internal cross-connections unless such cross-connections are abated to the City’s satisfaction and approved by the State or local health department.

4. Type of Protection Required. The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent back-flow into the public water supply shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard that exists on the consumer’s premises. The types of protective devices that may be required (listed in an increasing level of protection) include double check valve assembly (DC), reduced pressure principle back-flow prevention device (RP), and an air-gap separation (AG). The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the water supplier. The minimum types of back-flow protection required to protect the public water supply, at the user’s water connection to premises with varying degrees of hazard, are given in Table 1. Situations which are not covered in Table 1 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and the appropriate back-flow protection shall be determined by the water supplier or health agency.

Table 1 TYPE OF BACK-FLOW PROTECTION REQUIRED

C. Back-Flow Prevention Devices – Installation and Maintenance. Wherever back-flow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a customer’s premises, any and all water supply lines from the City’s mains entering such premises, buildings, or structures shall be protected by an approved back-flow prevention device. Installation and maintenance of the approved back-flow prevention device must comply with the following:

1. A permit shall be obtained from the City Building Official prior to installing any devices.

2. Only back-flow prevention devices which have been constructed to the applicable AWWA standard and have passed laboratory and field evaluation test performed by a recognized testing organization which has demonstrated their competency to perform such tests to the State Department of Health Services shall be approved for installation.

3. Back-flow prevention devices shall be installed in a manner prescribed in Section 7603, Title 22 of the California Administrative Code. Location of the devices should be as close as practical to the user’s connection. The City shall have the final authority in determining the required location of a back-flow prevention device.

4. Section 7605, Title 22 of the California Administrative Code requires that any premises in which back-flow prevention devices are installed shall be tested by a person who has demonstrated their competency in testing of these devices to the City. Back-flow prevention devices must be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation or repair. No device shall be placed back in service unless they are functioning as required.

Annual inspection reports shall be kept on file at the City’s Water Department. Devices shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective.

D. Timing of Installation of Back-Flow Prevention Devices for Services with Existing Connections. The City will conduct a survey to determine the current number of existing premises receiving water from the City’s public water supply system that have an actual or potential cross-connection. A list of these services will be prepared and a program developed by the City providing installation of required devices within an 18-month time period from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

During said 18-month period, the City will install approved back-flow prevention devices on existing services with an actual or potential cross-connection between the public water supply and any source of water.

E. Protection Against Inter-Street Main Flow. Two or more services supplying water from different street mains to the same building, structure, or premises through which an inter-street main flow may occur, shall have 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 back-flow protection is deemed necessary to protect the City’s mains from pollution or contamination; in such cases, the installation of approved back-flow devices at such meters shall be required to satisfy the requirements for standard check valves.

Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the City after reasonable notification if a back-flow preventive device has been removed or bypassed. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.

The City representative assigned to inspect premises relative to possible hazards shall carry proper credentials of his office, upon exhibition of which he shall have the right of entry, during usual business hours, to inspect any and all buildings and premises in the performance of his duty. This right of entry shall be a condition of water service in order to provide assurance that the continuation of service to the premises will not constitute a menace to the health, safety, and welfare of the people throughout the public water system.

All back-flow prevention device testing will be done by either in-house employees of the Sebastopol Public Works Department who hold a valid certification from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) California-Nevada Section or have equivalent training in the opinion of the City and the Health Department, or by licensed contractors certified by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) California-Nevada Section, as authorized by the Sebastopol Public Works Director. (Ord. 1153 § 2, 2025)