Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 Equipment

A. No person shall draw from the city mains or pipes directly into any stationary steam boiler, hydraulic elevator, power pump or similar apparatus.

B. Where city water is used to supply a steam boiler, hydraulic elevator or power pump, its owner shall provide a tank of sufficient capacity to afford a supply for at least twelve hours into which the service pipe shall be discharged.

(Prior code § 7400.15)

A. Purpose. In order to protect the public water supply of the city from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the customer's internal distribution system, or the consumer's private water system, such contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public water system, the following provisions have been established.

These provisions promote the control or the elimination of existing cross-connections, either actual or potential, between the consumer's in-plant potable water system and nonpotable water supplies/system, plumbing fixtures and industrial water piping systems, and 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.

B. Protection of Public Water. No water service connection shall be made, installed, maintained or authorized to any premises of a type specified in Table 1, Section 7604 of Title 17 of the California Administrative Code, entitled "Type of Backflow Protection Required," unless the public water supply is protected as required by said state regulations.

C. Cross-connection Control Program and Enforcement. The director of public works or his/her authorized designee, who shall be trained in cross-connection control, shall have the authority and responsibility to implement the cross-connection control program and enforce the provision of this section. The water division is also authorized to conduct surveys or have surveys conducted on water user premises to identify where cross-connection hazards exist or may occur.

D. Maintenance and Testing of Backflow Prevention Devices.

1. Each consumer with a backflow prevention device shall test and service such device or devices at least once per year. The director of public works or his/her designee may require more frequent testing if it is determined to be necessary. Such consumer shall maintain such device or devices in a satisfactory operating condition at all times and shall immediately repair or replace such device or devices if found to be defective.

2. Tests of backflow prevention devices shall be conducted by a certified backflow prevention device tester approved by the director of public works or his/her designee and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

E. Discontinuance of Water Service. Water service provided by the water division to any premises shall be discontinued after notice that a backflow prevention device has not been installed, tested, maintained as required or if any defect is found in an installed backflow prevention device, or it is found that a backflow prevention device has been altered, removed or bypassed, or if unprotected cross-connections exist on the premises. Water service shall not be restored to such premises until such conditions are corrected.

F. Approvals Required for Backflow Prevention Devices.

1. Each backflow prevention device shall be approved by the director of public works or his/her designee prior to installation and shall be installed by and at the expense of the consumer. Backflow devices shall not be approved unless the device has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association and has received the approval of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control Research of the University of Southern California. The type of protective device required shall depend upon the degree of hazard which exists. The type of protection shall in no case be less stringent than that listed in Table 1, Section 7604 of Title 17 of the California Administrative Code, entitled "Type of Backflow Protection Required." The director of public works or his/her designee shall approve the model and size of any required device prior to installation.

2. Prior approval must be obtained from the director of public works or his/her designee before a backflow prevention device is removed, relocated or replaced.

G. Records of Backflow Prevention Devices.

1. Records of all tests, service, repairs and locations of backflow prevention devices shall be kept by the consumer on forms approved by the director of public works or his/her designee.

2. The water division shall maintain reports of testing and maintenance of backflow prevention devices for a minimum of three years.

H. Emergency Connection. Subject to the approval of the State Board of Health, the city may maintain emergency connection with other public utilities serving water.

(Ord. 2496 § 1, 1990: prior code § 7400.16)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 6, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

A. Fire hydrants shall be opened only by the water division, fire department or by such persons as may have first obtained a written permit from the water division. No such permit shall be issued to any person who has violated any of the provisions of this chapter or whose indebtedness to the city for water used or damage to hydrants is delinquent. Charges for water used under the permits shall be set by the director of public works based upon intended use.

B. Due to the danger of creating water hammer with the consequent blowing up of water mains by the improper operation of fire hydrants, all persons, except members of the fire department, shall observe the following rules when taking water from city fire hydrants: Before operating any hydrant valve for the purpose of obtaining water for cleaning or sprinkling streets, flooding ditches, flushing sewers and culverts or for any other use except fighting fire by members of the fire department, a wheel-type gate valve having a National Standard Fire Thread (female thread on one end and male thread on the other) shall be installed on the hydrant outlet and this valve shall be the only valve operated for turning the water off and on, except for the initial opening and the final shutoff of the hydrant. Every person opening fire hydrants shall replace the caps on the outlets when they are not in use. Failure to do so will be sufficient cause to prohibit further use of the hydrants and the refusal to grant subsequent permits for the use of the fire hydrants.

C. Any person using water from a fire hydrant without written permission from the city water division shall pay for the water flowing from the fire hydrant at the rate fixed and determined by the director of public works and in addition shall pay an inspection charge as set by ordinance or resolution.

(Ord. 2546 § 2, 1991; amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400.14)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 6, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 6, 10-27-15)

All city water used on any premises where a meter is installed must pass through the meter except as provided in the case of private fire service. No bypass or connection around the meter between the service and the main shall be made or maintained.

(Prior code § 7400.7)

A. Any consumer may demand that the meter through which water is being furnished be examined and tested by the water division for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it is registering correctly the amount of water which is being delivered through it. The demand shall be made in writing to the water division, and shall be accompanied by a fee set by ordinance or resolution.

B. Upon receipt of the demand it shall be the duty of the water division to cause the meter to be examined and tested for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not it is registering correctly the water being delivered through it. If, on the examination and test, the meter is found to register over two percent more water than actually passes through it, another meter will be substituted therefor, and the fee paid shall be repaid to the person making the application, and the water bill for the current period adjusted in such a manner as the director of public works may deem fair and just. If the meter is found to register not over two percent fast, the fee shall not be refunded to the customer and the water bills paid as rendered.

(Ord. 2546 § 3, 1991)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 6, 4-14-15; Ord. No. 3043, § 6, 10-27-15)

A. All shutoff valves are installed by the city for the use of the water department. The shutoff valves shall not be used or in any way molested or manipulated by consumers of water, except in case of emergency. For ordinary usage all consumers shall provide their own valves.

B. The director of public works may order an approved shutoff, as mentioned in subsection A of this section, installed on any premises not already provided with one and in case the shutoff is not installed within ten days after written notice to do so has been given the owner or occupant of the premises, the service may be shut off pending the installation.

C. If the placing of an approved check valve or other device on the property side of the meter of any consumer is in the opinion of the director of public works necessary for the safety and protection of the water system or appliances thereof, the approved check valve shall be immediately installed by and at the expense of the consumer.

D. If the consumer does not make the required installation within five days after being notified by the water division to do so, then service may be discontinued.

(Amended during 1984 codification; prior code § 7400.17)

(Ord. No. 3028, § 6, 4-14-15)