Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 13.16 Cross-Connection Control

The purpose of this chapter is: (a) to protect the public water supply of the City of Vernon 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 connection 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 sources of contamination; and (d) to prevent the making of cross-connection in the future.

(Prior code § 25.80)

It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, at any time, to:

A. Make or maintain or cause to be made or maintained, temporarily or permanently, for any period of time whatsoever, any cross-connection between the water supply of the City of Vernon and any other source of water; or

B. Maintain any sanitary fixture or other appurtenances or fixtures which by reason of their construction may cause or allow backflow of water or other substances into the water supply system of the City and/or the water pipes or fixtures of any consumer of the City.

(Prior code § 25.81)

"Approved backflow prevention device"

means a device which has passed laboratory and field evaluation tests performed by a recognized testing organization which has demonstrated its competency to perform such tests 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.

"Auxiliary water supply"

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

"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 or sources other than an approved water supply source. Backsiphonage is one cause of backflow; backpressure is another cause.

"Building Department"

means the City of Vernon Department of Public Works.

"City"

means the City of Vernon and its departments.

"Contamination"

means a degradation of the quality of the potable water by any foreign substance which creates a hazard to the public health through poisoning or through spread of disease.

"Cross-connection"

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. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.

"Health Agency"

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

"Health Officer"

means the City of Vernon Health Officer.

"Person"

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

"Pollution"

means an impairment of potable water to a degree which adversely affects the aesthetic quality of the water, but does not create a hazard to the public health.

"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 or more service connections or regularly serves an average of 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year.

"Public Works, Water and Development Services Department"

means the City of Vernon Water Department.

"Service connection"

means the point of connection of a water user's system to the public water system.

"Water user"

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

"Water user's system"

means a system for the provision of piped water for human consumption on the premises of a water user.

"Water use site"

means a location on a water user system where water is utilized for a purpose.

(Prior code § 25.82)

The City Council shall by resolution enact cross-connection rules and regulations to implement and clarify the requirements of this chapter regarding the installation, maintenance, testing, and inspection of backflow prevention devices. Upon approval such rules and regulations shall have the same force and effect as the provisions of this chapter.

(Prior code § 25.83)

A. The City Public Utilities Department is responsible for protecting the water within the City-owned public water system. The Health Officer and the Building Department shall also implement the crossconnection control program.

B. Unprotected cross-connections with the public water supply are prohibited.

C. Whenever backflow protection is necessary, the City shall require the water user to install an approved backflow prevention device by and at the user's expense for continued service or before a new service will be granted.

D. Whenever backflow protection is necessary on a water supply line entering a water user's premises, then any and all water supply lines from the public water system entering such premises, buildings, or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention device. The type of device to be installed will be in accordance with the cross-connection rules and regulations.

E. Whenever backflow protection is necessary at a water use site on the water user's system, then that water use site shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention device. The type of device to be installed will be in accordance with the cross-connection rules and regulations.

(Prior code § 25.84)

A. Each service connection from the public water system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water supply is accepted as an additional water source by the City.

B. Each service connection from the public water system for supplying water to any premises on which any substance is handled in such fashion as may allow its entry into the public water system shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the public water system. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the public water system which have been subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality.

C. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection to any premises: (1) having internal cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected and controlled to the satisfaction of the State or local Health Department and the City; or (2) having intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspecting purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not a cross-connection exists.

D. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at water use sites where any substance is handled in such a manner as may allow its entry into the water user's system.

(Prior code § 25.85)

A. The type of protection to prevent backflow into the approved water supply shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard that exists on the consumer's premises. The type of protection device that may be required (listed in an increasing level of protection) includes: atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB); pressure vacuum breaker (PVB); double check valve assembly (DC); reduced pressure principle Backflow prevention device (RP); and air-gap separation (AG). The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the City. The minimum types of backflow protection required to protect the approved water supply of premises with varying degrees of hazard are given in the cross-connection rules and regulations.

B. Backflow protection for the City public water system shall be installed at the service connection unless the cross-connection can be satisfactorily corrected within the premises. Backflow protection for the water user's system shall be installed as prescribed by the City. Situations which are not covered in the cross-connection rules and regulations shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the City or Health Agency.

C. Only backflow prevention devices which have been approved by the City shall be acceptable for installation at a service connection or on a water user's system. The City will provide upon request, to any affected customer, a list of approved backflow prevention devices.

D. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed in a manner prescribed in the cross-connection rules and regulations.

(Prior code § 25.86)

At each premises where the City deems it necessary, a user supervisor shall be designated by and at the expense of the water user. This user supervisor shall be responsible for the monitoring of the backflow prevention devices and for avoidance of cross-connections. In the event of contamination or pollution of the drinking water system due to a cross-connection on the premises, the City shall be promptly notified by the user supervisor so that appropriate measures may be taken to overcome the contamination. The water user shall inform the City of the user supervisor's identity, as a minimum on a annual basis and whenever a change occurs.

(Prior code § 25.87)

A. The City shall review all requests for new services or water system modifications to determine if backflow protection is needed. As a condition of new or continued service, plans and specifications must be submitted to the City for review of possible cross-connection hazards. If it is determined that a backflow prevention device is necessary to protect the approved water supply, the required device must be installed in accordance with the cross-connection rules and regulations before service will be granted.

B. The City may require an on-premises inspection to evaluate cross-connection hazards. Any customer who cannot or will not allow an on-premises inspection of their piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention device which the City considers necessary.

C. The City, at its discretion, may require a reinspection for cross-connection hazards of any premises to which it serves water. Any customer which cannot or will not allow an on-premises inspection of their piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention device which the City considers necessary.

(Prior code § 25.88)

A. When the City encounters water uses that represent a clear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that cannot be immediately abated, the City shall institute the procedure for discontinuing service from the City water system.

B. Conditions or water uses that create a basis for water service termination shall include, but are not limited to, the following items:

1. Refusal to install a required backflow prevention device.

2. Refusal to test a backflow prevention device.

3. Refusal to repair a faulty backflow prevention device.

4. Refusal to replace a faulty backflow prevention device.

5. A direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer line.

6. An unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a system or equipment containing contaminants or pollutants.

7. An unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and an auxiliary water system.

8. A situation which presents an immediate health hazard to the public water system.

C. For conditions (1), (2), (3), or (4) above, the City will terminate service to a customer's premises after two written notices have been sent specifying the corrective action needed and the time period in which it must be done. If no action is taken within the allowed time period water service may be terminated.

D. For conditions (5), (6), (7), or (8) above, the City will take the following steps:

1. Make a reasonable effort to advise the water user of the City's intent to terminate water service;

2. Terminate the water supply and lock the service valve. The water service will remain inactive until correction of the violation has been approved by the City.

(Prior code § 25.89)