Title 13 - PUBLIC SERVICES >> Chapter 13.12 - CROSS-CONNECTIONS >>

Chapter 13.12 - CROSS-CONNECTIONS

Sections:

13.12.010 - Purpose and scope.

13.12.020 - Definitions.

13.12.030 - Regulation and standards.

13.12.040 - Use of backflow prevention devices.

13.12.050 - Inspection.

13.12.060 - Additional remedies.

13.12.070 - Violation—Penalty.


13.12.010 - Purpose and scope.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect public health, safety and welfare of water consumers by the control of existing and/or potential cross-connections.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.020 - Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Administrator" means the administrator of the town, or his authorized agent.

"Air gap separation" means the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device, and the flood level rim of the receptacle, and shall be at least one and one-half times the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the flood level rim of the vessel, in no case shall the gap be less than one inch.

"Atmospheric vacuum beakers" means a device that contains a float check (poppet), a check seat and an air inlet vent. When water pressure is reduced to a gauge pressure of zero or below, the float check drops, allowing air to enter the device, preventing back siphonage. It is designed to prevent back siphonage only.

"Auxiliary supply" means any water source other than the public water supply that may be available in the building or premises.

"Backflow" means the flow, other than the intended direction of flow, of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the distribution system of the town's water supply.

"Backflow prevention device" means a device to counteract backpressure or prevent back siphonage.

"Back pressure" means back flow caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler or other means that could create pressure within the system greater than the supply pressure.

"Back siphonage" means a form of backflow due to negative or sub-atmospheric pressure within a water system.

"Contamination" means the entry into or presence in a town water supply of any substance, which may be deleterious to health and/or quality of the water.

"Cross-connection" means any physical arrangement whereby the town's water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture or other device which contains or may contain contaminated water, sewage or other waste or liquids of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the town water supply as a result of backflow.

"Customer" means any person, family, business, corporation, partnership or firm connected to the town water supply.

"Double-check valve assembly" means an assembly composed of two single, independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shut-off valves located at each end of the assembly and suitable connection for testing the water tightness of each check valve.

"Reduced pressure principal backflow prevention device" means a device incorporating two or more check valves and an automatically operating differential relief valve, located between the two checks, two shut-off valves, and equipped with necessary appurtenances for testing. The device shall operate to maintain the pressure in the zone between the two check valves, less than the pressure on the public water supply side of the device. At the cessation of normal flow, the pressure between the check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In the case of leakage of either check valve the differential relief valve shall operate to maintain this reduced pressure by discharging to the atmosphere. When the inlet pressure is two pounds per square inch or less, the relief valve shall open to the atmosphere thereby providing an air gap in the device.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services, or his authorized agent.

"Town water supply" means any system or water supply intended or used for human consumption or other domestic uses, including source, treatment, storage, transmission or distribution facilities, where water is furnished to any collection or number of individuals, or is made public for human consumption or domestic use.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.030 - Regulation and standards.

No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or continued in use by the town unless the town water supply is protected by backflow prevention devices as may be required by this chapter and WAC 246-290-490. The installation or maintenance of a cross-connection that will endanger the water quality of the town water supply will be unlawful and is prohibited. Any such cross-connection now existing or hereafter installed is declared to be a public nuisance and the same shall be abated. The control or elimination of cross-connections shall be in accordance with this chapter and WAC 246-290-490, together with the latest addition of appropriate manuals of standard practice pertaining to cross-connection approved by the secretary. The town shall have the authority to establish requirements more stringent than state regulations if it deems that the conditions so dictate. The town shall adopt rules and regulation as necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.040 - Use of backflow prevention devices.

A.   Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection or within any premises where, in the judgment of the town, the nature and extent of activities on the premises or the materials used in connection with the activities, or the materials stored on the premises would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health and/or be deleterious to the quality of the water should a cross-connection occur; even though such cross-connection does not exist at the time, the backflow prevention devices shall be installed under circumstances including, but not limited to the following:
1.   Premises having unapproved auxiliary supply, including reclaimed water;
2.   Premises have internal cross-connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist;
3.   Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure that a cross-connection does not exist;
4.   Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or reestablished;
5.   Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the town water supply or where a cross-connection could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling of process water and cooling waters;
6.   Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled in such a way that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard might result;
7.   The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect the town water supply. A backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities, unless the town and secretary determine that no hazard exists:
a.   Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics,
b.   Laboratories,
c.   Metal plating industries,
d.   Sewage treatment plants,
e.   Food or beverage processing plants,
f.   Chemical plants using a water process,
g.   Petroleum processing or storage plants,
h.   Radioactive material process plants,
i.   Others specified by the secretary;
8.   Other premises as specified by the administrator, where backflow prevention devices are required to protect the town water supply.
B.   The type of protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard, which exists:
1.   An air gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the town water supply may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature or other contaminant which could cause a health or system hazard.
2.   In the case of a substance which may be objectionable, but not hazardous to health, a double-check valve assembly, air-gap separation or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed.
C.   Backflow prevention devices required by this chapter shall be installed at the meter, at the property line of the premises when meters are not used, or at a location designated by the town. The device shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, and furthermore, where no part of the device will be submerged.
D.   Backflow prevention devices required by the chapter shall be installed under the supervision of and with the approval of the town.
E.   Any protective device installed pursuant to this chapter shall be a model approved by the administrator. A double-check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device will be approved if the devices are satisfactory with the secretary and the administrator.
F.   Backflow prevention devices installed pursuant to this chapter, except atmospheric vacuum breakers, shall be inspected and tested annually, or more often if necessary. Inspections, tests and maintenance shall be at the customer's expense. Whenever the devices are found to be defective, they shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the customer's expense. Inspections, tests, repairs and records thereof shall be accomplished under the town's supervision of certified testers.
G.   No underground sprinkling device will be installed without adequate backflow prevention devices at the point from which the water for irrigation is taken from the town water supply.
H.   Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this chapter and WAC 246-290-490 shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the premises, or, in the alternative, the installation of an air gap separation at the customer's expense.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.050 - Inspection.

A.   No water shall be delivered to any structure hereafter built within the town or within areas served by the town water supply until the same has been inspected by the town for possible cross-connections and has been approved as being free of the same.
B.   Any construction for industrial or other purposes which is classified as hazardous facilities, where it is reasonable to anticipate intermittent cross-connections, or as determined by the administrator, shall be protected by the installation of one or more backflow prevention devices at the point of service from the town water supply or any other location designated by the town.
C.   Inspections shall be made periodically of all buildings, structures or improvements of any nature now receiving water through the town's water supply system for the purpose of ascertaining whether cross-connections exist. Inspections shall also be made whenever there is a change in the use of the premises. Such inspections shall be made by the town.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.060 - Additional remedies.

In the event an improper cross-connection is not corrected within the time limit set by the administrator, or, in the event the town is refused access to any property for the purpose of determining whether or not cross-connections exist, delivery of water to the property shall cease until the deficiency is corrected to the town's satisfaction. In addition, the town may implement the necessary repairs or modifications at the expense of the property owner and refuse delivery of water to the property until the cost thereof has been paid.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)

13.12.070 - Violation—Penalty.

Any person who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, refuses to comply with, or resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations as adopted by the town, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall for each offense be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 601 (part), 2004)