ORDINANCE GOVERNING CROSS CONNECTIONS IN PLUMBING FIXTURES; PROVIDING FOR INSPECTION AND TESTING; REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE DEVICES; AND PRESCRIBING A PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
TITLE 14-000, CHAPTER 14-160. Water Supply Protection; Cross Connections.
No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the Town or any other water utility unless the water supply in the premises is protected as required herein.
(A) Definitions:
(1) Back Flow. The reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either back-pressure or back-siphonage.
(2) Back-Pressure. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the feeding distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than the intended source.
(3) Back-Siphonage. The flow of water or other liquids or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source other than the intended source caused by the reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system.
(4) Flow Prevention Assembly. Assembly or means designed to prevent back-flow. See appendix J, Chapter 10, Utah Plumbing Code as adopted for specifications of such assemblies.
(5) Cross Connections. Any connection which may allow non-potable water or industrial fluids or other material of questionable quality to come into contact with potable water inside a distribution system, including any temporary connections, swing connections, removable connections, four-way plug valves, swivel change-over devices, or other similar plumbing arrangements.
(B) Duty to Inspect. It shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to purchase, install, test and maintain back flow prevention devices where necessary and to control cross connections. The consumer shall have certified inspections and operational tests at their own expense at least once a year upon request of the Town. Where the Town deems a hazard to be great, the consumer may be required to have such inspections and tests at a more frequent interval as prescribed by the Town. All such tests shall be made according to the standard set forth by the Utah Department of Health.
(C) New Construction. The Building Official of the Town will review all plans for new construction and insure that unprotected cross connections are not an integral part of the consumer’s water system. If a cross connection cannot be eliminated, protection will be required by installation of an air gap or other approved back-flow prevention device in accordance with the Utah Plumbing Code as adopted. Water vacating the drinking water supply must do so by means of an approved air gap or mechanical back-flow prevention assembly as required by the Code.
(D) Installation Required. Whenever the Town deems a service connection’s water usage contributes a sufficient hazard to the water supply, installation of an approved back-flow prevention assembly shall be required on the lateral service line of the consumer’s water system at or near the property line, or immediately inside the building being served, but before the first branch line leading off the lateral sewer line in any event. The type of protective assembly required shall depend upon the degree of hazard existing at the point of cross connection. The Town shall test all back-flow prevention assemblies with ten (10) working days after the initial installation in order to determine their adequacy.
(E) Existing Equipment. All back-flow prevention assemblies existing at the time this ordinance is adopted which do not meet the requirements hereof shall be excluded from the requirements hereof provided they were approved for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and have been properly maintained. Such previously existing assemblies shall be subject to the periodic inspection and testing required by Section B above. Whenever an existing assembly is moved to another location, or where it is determined to constitute a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved back-flow prevention assembly.
(F) Repair and Maintenance of Equipment. The maintenance of all back-flow prevention assemblies and cross connection control devices required hereunder shall be the responsibility of the consumer, and failure to adequately maintain the required equipment shall be a violation. All installations and repairs of such equipment shall be effected by a certified back-flow technician as provided in Section H below.
(G) Access for Inspection. A consumer system shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the Town in order to determine if cross connections or other hazard exist. Consumer’s shall be responsible to provide access across their property for inspection purposes free from litter, overgrowth, threat of vicious animals, or other hindrance that may be detrimental to ease of access. (H) Certified Back-Flow Technician. All test of mechanical devices shall be conducted by a certified back-flow technician. Such technician shall be responsible for the following: (1) Assure that acceptable testing equipment and procedures are used for the testing, repairing or overhauling of back-flow prevention assemblies. (2) Make reports of such testing and/or repair to the consumer, the Town, and the Bureau of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Reports shall be in accordance with the Bureau’s requirements. (3) Include in all reports a list of any materials or replacement parts used. (4) Assure that replacement parts are equal in quality to original parts and that any testing, repair or replacement does not change the design or operational characteristics of the assembly. (5) Maintain license in current condition and testing equipment in proper operating conditions. (6) Be equipped with and competent to use all necessary equipment to properly test and maintain back-flow prevention assemblies. (7) Tag each double check valve and pressure vacuum breaker; reduce pressure back-flow assembly and high hazard air gap; show the serial number, date tested and by whom, including the technician’s license number. (I) Public Notification. Although failure of a consumer to be aware of this ordinance shall be no defense to violation, the water department shall use reasonable means to notify its customers of the hazards of cross connections and the need for annual inspection of back-flow assemblies. (J) Records. The water department shall keep reasonable records of cross connection hazards and the condition of back-flow assemblies, including those records required by State and Federal agencies. It shall provide the tags required by Section H (7) above upon request. (K) Violations. Service of water to a consumer found to be in violation of this Ordinance shall be discontinued by the Town after written notice of the violation, ten (10) days suspended for voluntary compliance, and due process otherwise extended by the Town before termination of water service. A violation exists if:
(1) back-flow prevention assembly required herein for control of cross connections is not installed, tested or maintained;
(2) it is found that a back-flow prevention assembly is removed or has been bypassed;
(3) an unprotected cross connection exists on the premises;
(4) the periodic system inspection has not been conducted.
Where written notification of a deficiency is provided by the Town to the Consumer to take required corrective action within ten (10) days after the date of mailing such notice, the Town shall thereafter discontinue service in accordance herewith. Water service will not be restored until all such conditions or defects are corrected.