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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 LL 3 - Cross Connection Control LOCAL LAW #3 - (979 A LOCAL LAW FOR CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL ARTICLE l. PURPOSE The purpose of these regulations is to safeguard potable water supplies by preventing backflow into public water systems. The regulations are to be reasonably interpreted. It is the intent of these regulations to recungnize that there are varying degrees of hazard and to | | apply the� principle that the degree of protection should be commensurate with the degree of h) azard ' ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS I' Cross-connections. The term "cross-connection" as used in these regulations means any unprotected connection between any part of a water system used or intended to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system con- taining water or substance that is not or cannot be approved as equally safe, wholesome, and potable for human consumption. 2. Approved Water Supply. The term "approved water supply" means any water supply approved by the State of New York Department of Health. 3. Auxiliary Supply. The term "auxiliary supply" means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the approved public water supply. 4. Vacuum Breaker - Nonpressure Type. A vacuum breaker which is designed so as not to be-subjected to static line pressure. 5' Vacuum Breaker - Pressure Type, A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of static line pressure. b. Barometric Loop. A loop of pipe rising approximately 36 feet, at its topmost point, above the highest fixture it supplies. � ] 7. Approved Check Valve. The term "approve check valve" means a check valve that seats readily and completely. It must be carefully machined to have free moving parts and assured watertightness. The face of the closure element and valve seat must be bronze composition, or other non-corrodible material which will seat tightly under all prevailing conditions of field use. Pins and bushings shall be of bronze or other non-corrodible, non-sticking material. machined for easy, dependable operation. The closure element, e.g. clapper, shall be internally weighted or otherwise internally equipped to promote rapid and positive closure in all sizes where this feature is obtainable. D. Approved Double Check Valve Assembly. The term "approved double check valve assembly" means an assembly of at least two independently acting check valves, including tightly closing shutoff valves on each side of the check valve assembly and suitable leak-detector drains plus connections available for testing the watertightness of each check valve. This device must be approved as a complete assembly. 0. Approved Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Device. The term "approved reduced pressure pronciple 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 shutoff 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 suppply side of the device. � ] At cessation of normal flow. the pressure between check valves shall be less than the supply pressure. In 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 devioe. To be approved, these devices must be readily accessible for maintenance and testing and installed in a location where no part of the valve will be submerged, the enclosure must be self-draining, so that the large amount of water which the relief valve may vent will be disposed of reliably without sub- mergence of the relief valve. This device must also be approved as a complete assembly. 10. Air Gap Separation. The term "air gap separation" means a physical break between a supply pipe and a receiving vessel. The air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, in no case less than one inch. ll. Water Supervisor. The term "water supervisor" means the consumer or person on the premises charged with the responsibility of complete knowledge and understanding of the water supply piping within the premises and for maintaining the consumer's water system free from cross-connections and other sanitary defects, as required by regulations and laws. � | 12. Certified Backflow Prevention Device Tester - is a person who is examined annually annuully by the water pureyor, and found competent for the testing -� of backflow prevention devices. He shall be provided with an appropriate identification card which must be renewed annually. Failure to perform his duties competently and conscientiously will result in prompt withdrawal of his certification. ' ARTICLE III PROTECTION OF PUBLIC NATER SYSTEM AT SERVICE CONNECTION Section I. Where Protection is Required. l. Each service connection from a public water system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary wter supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water supply is approved as an additional source by the water purveyor and is satisfactory to the public health agency having jurisdiction with regard to quality and safety, 2. Each service connection from a public water system for supplying water to premises, on which any substance is handled under pressure in such fashion as to permit entry into the water system, shall be protected - against backflow of the water from the premises into the public system, | This shall include the handling of process waters and waters orginetiog --J from the public water supply system which may have been subject to deter- ioration in sanitary or chemical quality. J. Each service connection from a public water system for supplying water to premises on which a substance of unusually toxic concentration or danger to health is handled in liquid form, even though it is not under pressure, shall be protected against backflow of the water from premises into the public system. Examples are plating factories, using cyanide and hospitals. This is not intended to apply to normal household installations. 4. Backflow prevention devices shall �e installed on the service connection to any premises that have internal cross connections, unless such cross- connections are abated to the satisfaction of the water purveyor. It shall be the responsibility of the water user to provide and maintain these protective devices, and each one must be of a type acceptable to the State Health Department. Section l[. Type of Protection. The protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard as tabulated below: l. At the service connection to any premises where there ia an auxiliary water supply handled in a separate piping system with no known cross- connection, the public water supply shall be protected by an approved | double check valve assembly. � 2. At the service connection to any premises on which theere is an auxiliary water supply where cross-connections are know to exist which cannot be presently eliminated, the public water supply system shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. 3. At the service connection to any premise on which a substance that would be objectionable (but not necessarily hazardous to health if introduced into the public water supply) is handled so as to constitute a cross-connection. the public water supply shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly. 4. At the service connection to any premise on which a substance of unusual toxic concentration or danger to health is or may be handled; but not under pressure, the public water supply shall be protected by an air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. This device shall be located as close as practicable to the water meter, and all piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. S. At the service connection to any premise on which any material dangerous to health, or toxic substance in toxic concentration, is or may be handled under pressure, the public water supply shall be protected | � by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as pract- icable to the water meter" and piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot reasonably be met, the public water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced ' pressure principle backflow prevention device, providing the alternative is acceptable to the water purveyor. h. At the service connection ao any sewage treatment plant or sewage pumping station, the public water supply shall be protected by an air gap separation. The air gap shall be located as close as practicable to the water meter and all piping between the water meter and receiving tanks shall be entirely visible. If these conditions cannot be reasonably metm the public water supply shall be protected with an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device. Section III. Frequency of Inspection of Protective Devices. It shall be the duty of the water user on any premises on account of which backflow protective devices are installed, to have competent inspections made at least once a year, or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of water user whenever they are found to be defective. These tests shall be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device tester, and all test results will be provided to the water purveyor within 72 hours after the test is made. \ J Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall also be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the local health department upon request. ARTICLE IV PROTECTION OF POTABLE WATER SYSTEM WITHIN PREMISES Section I. Separate Drinking Water Systems. Whenever the plumbing inspector determines that it is not practical to protect drinking water systems on premises against entry of water from a source or piping system or equipment that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use, an entirely separate drinking water system shall be installed to supply water at points convenient for consumers. Section TI. Fire Systems. Water systems for fighting fire, derived form a supply that cannot be approved as safe or potable for human use shall, wherever practicable, �- be kept wholly separate from drinking water pipelines and equipment. In cases where the domestic water system is used for both drinking and firefighting purposes, approved backflow prevention devices shall be installed to protect such individual drinking water lines as are not � | used for fire-fighting purposes. Any auxiliary fire-fighting water supply � ] which is not approve for potable purposes, but which is so connected that it may be introduced into potable water piping furing an emergency shall be equipped with an approved automatic chlorination machine. It is hereby declared that is is the responsibility of the person or persons causing the introduction of said unapproved or unsafe water into the pipelines to see: (l) that a procedure be developed and carried out to notify and protect users of this piping system during the emergency (2) that special precautions be taken to disinfect thoroughly and flush out all pipelines which may become contaminated before they are again used to furnish drinking water. In the event the means of protection of water consumers is by disinfection of the auxiliary fire-fighting supply, the installation and its use shall be thoroughly reliable. The public water supply must be protected against backflow from such dual domestic systems, as setailed in Article III. Section III. Process Waters. Potable water pipelines connected to equipment for industrial processes or operations shall be protected by a suitable backflow prevention device located beyond the lost point from which drinking water may be taken, which device shall be provided on the feed line to process piping or equipment. In the event the particular process liquid is especially corrosive ! | or apt to prevent reliable action of the backflow prevention device, |- � air gap separation shall be provided. These devices shall he tested by the water user at least once a year; or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. The devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. These tests must be performed by a qualified backflow prevention device tester and records of tests, repairs, and replacement shall be kept and made available to the water purveyor and the health departmentupon request. Section IV. Sewage Treatment Plants and Pumping Stations. Sewage pumps shall not have priming connections directly off any drinking water systems. No connections shall exist between the drinking water system and any other piping" equipment, or tank in any sewage treatment plant or sewage pumping station. Section V. Plumbing Connections. Where the circumstances are such that there is special danger . to health by the backflow of sewage, as from sewers, toilets, hospital bedpans and the like, into a drinking water system, a dependable device or devices shall be installed to prevent such backflow. ' l ' ' | � The purpose of these regulations is not to transcend local —� plumbing regulations but only to deal with these extraordinary situations where sewage may be force or drawn into the drinking water pining. These regulations do not attempt to eliminate at this time the hazards of back-siphonage through flushometer valves on all toilets, but deal with those situations where the likelihood of vacuum conditions inthe drinking water system - is definite and there is special danger to health. Devices suited to the purpose of avoiding back-siphonage from plumbing fixtures are roof tanks" barometric loops or separate pressure systems separately piped to supply such foxtures, recognized approved vacuum or siphon breaker and other backflow protective devices which have been proved by appropriate tests to be dependable for destroying the vacuum. Inasmuch as many of serious hazards of this kind are due to water supply piping which is too small. thereby causing vacuum conditions when fixtures are flushed or water is drawn from the system in other ways, it is recommended that water supply piping that is too small be enlarged whenever possible. Section VI. Pier and Dock Hydrants. ^ Backflow protection by a suitable backflow Prevention device shall be � provided oneach drinking water pierhead outlet used for supplying vessels � at piers or waterfronts. THese assemblies must be located where they will prevent the return of any water from the vessel into the drinking water pipeline or into another adjacent vessel. This will prevent such practices as connecting the ship fire-pumping or sanitary pumping system with a dock hydrant and therby pumping contaminated water into the drinking water system, and thence to adjacent vessels or back into the pudic mains. Section VII. Marking Safe and Unsafe Nater Lines. Where the premises contain dual or multiple water systems and piping, the exposed portions of pipelines shall be painted, nanded or marked at sufficient intervals to distinguish clearly which water is safe and which isnot safe. All outlets from secondary or other potentially contaminated systems shall be posted as being contaminated and unsafe for drinking purposes. All outlets intended for drinking purposes shall be plainly marked to indicate that fact. Nater Supervisor. The health department and the water purveyor shall be kept informed of the identity of the responsible for the water piping on all premises concerned with these regulations. At eacb Promixe where it is necessary in thempininn of the water purveyor � y | a wer supervisor shall be designated. This water supervisor shall be responsible for the installation and use of pipelines and equipment and for the 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 local health officer and water purveyor shall be promptly advised by the person responsible for the water system so that appropriate measures may be taken to overcome the contamination. ARTICLE V RECOURSE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE Section l, No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the water purveyor, unless the water supply is protected as required by state regulations and this rule. Section II, Service of water to any premises may be discontinued by the water purveyor, if a backflow preventive device required by this rule and regulation isnot installed, tested, and maintained; if any defect is found in a installed backflow preventive device; if it is found that a backflow preventive device has been removed or bypassedl if unprotected cross-connections exist on the premises, and service will not be restores until such conditions or defects are corrected. ARTICLE VI EFFECTIVE DATE This local law shall take effect immediately- '