Wasco Municipal Code Ch. 8.30 Control of Backflow and Cross-Connections to Water

SYSTEMS

Sections: 8.30.010 Purpose and intent. 8.30.020 Responsibility. 8.30.030 Definitions. 8.30.040 Cross-connection protection requirements.

8.30.050 Backflow prevention assemblies. 8.30.060 Administrative procedures. 8.30.070 Water services termination.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public water supply system from contamination due to potential and actual cross-connections. This shall be accomplished by the establishment of a cross-connection control program as required by state regulations. These regulations are adopted pursuant to the California Administrative Code, Title 17, Sections 7583 through 7605, inclusive, of California Code of Regulations. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

The water superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing the cross- connection control program for the protection of the public potable water system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow or back-siphonage of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. The cross-connection control program, or any portion thereof, may be implemented directly by the water supplier or by means of a contract with the local health agency, or with another agency approved by the health agency. An appropriate backflow prevention assembly shall be installed by and at the expense of the water user at each connection where required to prevent backflow from the water user’s premises to the domestic water system. It shall be the water user’s responsibility to comply with the city’s requirements. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, phrases, and terms shall have the meanings set forth as follows:

"Air-gap separation (AG)" means a physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel.

"Approved" means accepted by the water superintendent as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this chapter, and suitable for the proposed use.

"Auxiliary water supply" is any water supply other than that received from a public water system.

"AWWA Standard" is 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 or sources other than an approved water supply source. Back-siphonage is one cause of backflow. Backpressure is the other cause.

"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" is an 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, removal sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.

"Customer" or "water user" means any person obtaining water from a public water supply.

"Customer’s water system" means the piping used to convey water supplied by the public water system throughout the customer’s facility.

"Double check valve (DCV) assembly" 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.

"Industrial fluids system" means any system containing fluid or solution which may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration such as would be health, water system, pollution, or plumbing hazard if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but not be 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, alkalis, circulated cooling tower waters, open or closed, that may be chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from wells, springs, streams, irrigation canals, oils, gases, glycerin, caustic and other acid solutions which may be used for industrial and firefighting purposes.

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

"Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device (RP)" is a backflow preventer incorporating not less than two check valves, an automatically operated differential relief valve located between the two 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 tap into the mainline and the portion of the line extending from the point of tap into the mainline to and including the meter and the meter installation in those installations where the meter is set at or near the property line of the street, highway, or right-of-way on which the mainline is located. For meters located on private property, the service connection is considered to extend only from the point of tap into the main to the property line, plus the meter and the meter installation.

Water, Nonpotable. "Nonpotable water" means water which is not safe for human consumption or which is of questionable potability.

Water, Potable. "Potable water" means any water which, according to recognized standards, is safe for human consumption.

"Water supplier" is the person who owns or operates the public water system. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow into the public water supply system shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard, actual or potential, that exists on the water user’s premises. Unprotected cross-connections with the public water supply are prohibited. The type of backflow prevention assembly that may be required (listed in decreasing level of protection) includes: air-gap separation, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly, and a double check valve assembly. The water user may choose a higher level of protection than required by the water supplier. The minimum types of backflow protection required to protect the approved water supply at the user’s water connection to premises with varying degrees of hazard are listed in Table 1, Section 7604, Title 17, CCR. Situations that are not covered in Table 1 shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the city. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

Only backflow prevention assemblies which have been approved by the city shall be acceptable for installation by a water user. A list of approved backflow prevention assemblies will be provided upon request to any affected customer. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the city of Wasco improvement standards, as shown in Appendix A. Location of the assemblies shall be as close as practical to the user’s connection. The city shall have the final authority in determining the required location of a backflow prevention assembly. Testing of backflow assemblies shall be conducted only by a person who is certified pursuant to state law, and testing will be the responsibility of the customer. Backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation, or repair. More frequent testing may be required if deemed necessary by the city. No assembly shall be placed back in service unless it is functioning as required. These assemblies shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective, and all costs of testing, repair, and maintenance shall be borne by the customer. Approval must be obtained from the city prior to removing, relocating, or replacing a backflow prevention assembly. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

A. Water System Survey.

1. The water superintendent or designee shall review all requests for new services to determine if backflow prevention is needed. Plans and specifications must be submitted to the water department upon request for review of possible cross-connection hazards as a condition of service for new service connections. If it is determined that a backflow prevention device is necessary to protect the public water system, the required device must be installed before service will be granted.

2. The water superintendent or designee may require an on-premises inspection to evaluate cross- connection hazards. The department will transmit a written notice requesting an inspection appointment to each affected water user. Any customer who cannot or will not allow an on-premises inspection of his or her piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention device the department considers necessary.

3. The water superintendent or designee may, at its discretion, require a reinspection for cross-connection hazards of any premises to which it serves water. The water superintendent or designee will transmit a written notice requesting an inspection appointment to each affected water user. 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 the department considers necessary.

B. Customer Notification – Device Installation.

1. The water superintendent or designee will notify the water user of the survey findings, listing corrective action to be taken if required. A period of sixty days will be given to complete all corrective action required, including the installation of backflow devices.

2. A second notice will be sent to each water user, which does not take the required corrective action prescribed in the first notice within the sixty-day period allowed. The second notice will give the water user a two-week period to take the required corrective action. If no action is taken within the two-week period, the department may terminate water service to the affected water user until the required corrective actions are taken.

C. Customer Notification – Testing and Maintenance.

1. The water superintendent or designee will notify each affected water user when it is time for the backflow prevention device installed on their service connection to be tested. This written notice shall give the water user thirty days to have the device tested and supply the water user with the necessary form to be completed and resubmitted to the department.

2. A second notice shall be sent to each water user, which does not have his or her backflow prevention device tested as prescribed in the first notice within the thirty-day period allowed. The second notice will give the water user a two-week period to have his or her backflow prevention device tested. If no action is taken within the two-week period, the department may terminate water service to the affected water user until the subject device is tested. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).

A. When the city encounters water uses that represent a dear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that cannot be immediately abated, the procedure for terminating water service shall be instituted.

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

1. Refusal to install or to test a backflow prevention assembly, or to repair or replace a faulty backflow
prevention assembly;

2. Direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a sewer line;

3. Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and a system or equipment
containing contaminants;

4. Unprotected direct or indirect connection between the public water system and an auxiliary water
system.

B. For subsection (A)(1) of this section, the city will terminate service to a water user’s premises after proper notification has been sent. If no action is taken within the allowed time period, water service shall be terminated.

For subsection (A)(2), (3) or (4) of this section, the city shall take the following steps:

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

2. Terminate the water service and lock service valve.

The water service shall remain inactive until the correction of violations has been approved by the city. (Ord. 712 §1, 2020).