Chapter 21.05
CROSS-CONNECTIONS
Sections:
21.05.030 Cross-connection regulated.
21.05.040 Backflow prevention assemblies requirement.
21.05.050 Installation requirements.
21.05.070 Annual testing and repairs.
21.05.080 Costs of compliance.
21.05.090 Termination of service.
21.05.100 Cross-connections a nuisance – Connections with other systems authorized when.
21.05.110 Director of public works interpretation authority.
21.05.120 Violation – Penalty.
21.05.010 Definitions.
(a) “Approved backflow prevention assembly” means a device to counteract backpressures or prevent backsiphonage. This assembly must appear on the list of approved assemblies issued by the Washington State Board of Health.
(b) “Auxiliary supply” means any water source or system, other than the public water system, that may be available in the building or on the premises.
(c) “Backflow” means the flow in the direction opposite to the normal flow or the introduction of any foreign liquids, gases, or substances into the water system of the city of Fircrest water service area.
(d) “Backpressure” means a pressure (caused by a pump, elevated tank or piping, boiler, or other means) on the consumer’s side of the service connection that is greater than the pressure provided by the city’s water system and which may cause backflow.
(e) “Backsiphonage” means backflow due to a reduction in system pressure in the city’s distribution system.
(f) “Cross-connection” means any actual or potential physical arrangement where the city’s water system is connected, directly or indirectly, with any other nondrinkable water system or auxiliary system, sewer, drain conduit, hot tub, swimming pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, radiator flush kit, garden hose (aspirator) or any other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, sewage, or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water system as a result of backflow. Bypass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other temporary or permanent devices through which, or because of which, backflow may occur are considered to be cross-connections.
(g) “Premises” means any piece of land to which water is provided by the city of Fircrest water system, including all structures, improvements, and other facilities located on it.
(h) “Public water system” means any system excluding a system serving one single-family residence, providing piped water for human consumption, and also referred to as “potable water.”
(i) “Purveyor” means any agency or subdivision of the state or any municipal corporation, firm, company, mutual or cooperative association, institution, partnership or person or any other entity that owns or operates a public water system. It also means three or more authorized agents of any such entities.
(j) “Reduced pressure principle assembly” means an assembly containing two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operated, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and at the same time below the first check valve. The assembly shall include properly located test cocks and tightly closing shut-off valves at the end of the assembly. A check valve is approved if it appears on the list of approved assemblies issued by the Washington State Board of Health. (Ord. 1439 § 2, 2007).
21.05.020 Purpose.
The purpose of these regulations is to protect the water supply of the city of Fircrest from contamination or pollution due to any existing or potential cross-connections. (Ord. 1439 § 3, 2007).
21.05.030 Cross-connection regulated.
(a) No cross-connections shall be created, installed, used or maintained with the water service area served by the city of Fircrest, except in accordance with these regulations.
(b) The director of public works or his/her designee shall have the authority to regulate the control or elimination of cross-connections pursuant to Chapter 246-290 WAC as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended, and these regulations. The policies, procedures and other criteria for determining appropriate levels of protection required shall be in accordance with the “Accepted Procedure and Practice in Cross-Connection Control Manual” – Pacific Northwest Section – American Water Works Association, Fifth Edition or any superseding edition.
(c) The city of Fircrest requires that all plumbing and sprinkler plans be submitted to the city of Fircrest public works department for review and approval prior to installation on all new construction for any plumbing or sprinkler system changes. (Ord. 1439 § 4, 2007).
21.05.040 Backflow prevention assemblies requirement.
Approved backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and tested by a certified contractor/agency at the expense of the owner, either at the service connection or within the premises, as determined by a certified cross-connection inspector employed by the city of Fircrest in each of the following circumstances:
(a) If the nature and extent of any activity on the premises, or the materials used in connection with any activity on the premises, or materials stored on the premises, could contaminate or pollute the drinking water supply.
(b) On premises having any one or more cross-connections as that term is defined in FMC 21.05.010(f).
(c) Internal cross-connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.
(d) A repeated history of cross-connections being established or reestablished.
(e) Unduly restricted entry so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or with sufficient notice to assure that cross-connections do not exist. A reduced pressure backflow assembly will be required to be installed at the service connection.
(f) Materials of a toxic or hazardous nature being used such that, if backsiphonage should occur, a health hazard could result.
(g) Any mobile apparatus which uses the potable water system or water from any premises within the city of Fircrest water service area system.
(h) On any premises where installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly is deemed to be necessary to accomplish the purpose of these regulations in the judgment of a certified cross-connection specialist employed by the city of Fircrest.
(i) On any premises where an appropriate cross-connection report form has not been filed with the office of public works.
(j) All adopted unified plumbing codes must be maintained.
(k) All rental properties shall have a reduced pressure principle assembly at the service connection.
(l) All new construction plans shall be submitted to the public works department for review and determination of the necessity of an approved assembly.
(m) All multicommercial units and apartment buildings shall install a backflow assembly at the service connection.
(n) On any premises with a history of drug manufacturing activities. (Ord. 1439 § 5, 2007).
21.05.050 Installation requirements.
To ensure proper operation and accessibility of all backflow prevention assemblies, the following requirements shall apply to the installation of these assemblies.
(a) No part of the backflow prevention assembly shall be submerged in water or installed in a location subject to flooding. If installed in a vault or basement, adequate drainage and clearance shall be provided as per tested assembly specifications or as per subsection (f) of this section.
(b) Assemblies must be installed at the location specified in the inspection report by owner. Alternate locations must be approved in writing by the city of Fircrest public works department prior to installations.
(c) The assembly must be protected from freezing and other severe weather conditions.
(d) All backflow prevention assemblies to be installed shall be of a type and model pre-approved by the Washington State Board of Health and the city of Fircrest.
(e) Only assemblies specifically approved by the Washington State Board of Health for vertical installation may be installed vertically.
(f) The assembly shall be readily accessible with adequate room for maintenance and testing. Assemblies two inches and smaller shall have at least six inches clearance on all sides of the assembly. All assemblies larger than two inches shall have a minimum clearance of 12 inches on the back side, 24 inches on the test cock side, 12 inches below the assembly and 36 inches above the assembly.
(g) If written permission is granted to install the backflow assembly inside of the building, the assembly shall be readily accessible during regular working hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
(h) Upon completion of inspection by the city of Fircrest public works department or an authorized specialist employed by the city of Fircrest and where a backflow assembly is deemed necessary, the type of assembly and installation plans shall be submitted to the city of Fircrest public works department for approval prior to installation.
(i) Upon completion of installation, the city of Fircrest public works department shall be notified and all assemblies must be inspected and tested by a state-certified tester. All backflow assemblies must be registered with the city of Fircrest public works department. Registration shall consist of date of installation, make, model, serial number of the backflow assembly, and initial test report. (Ord. 1439 § 6, 2007).
21.05.060 Access to premises.
Authorized employees of the city of Fircrest, with proper identification, shall have access during reasonable hours to all parts of a premises and within the building to which water is supplied. However, if any water user refuses access to a premises or to the interior of a structure at reasonable times and on reasonable notice for inspection by a cross-connection specialist appointed by the city of Fircrest, a reduced pressure principle assembly will be required to be installed at the service connection to the premises. (Ord. 1439 § 7, 2007).
21.05.070 Annual testing and repairs.
All backflow assemblies installed within the water service area served by the city of Fircrest shall be tested immediately upon installation and annually thereafter by a state-certified tester. All such assemblies found to be not functioning properly shall be promptly repaired or replaced by the water user. If any such assembly is not promptly repaired or replaced, the city of Fircrest may deny or discontinue water to the premises. All testing and repairs are the financial responsibility of the water user. Copies of the annual test results shall be provided to the director of public works. (Ord. 1439 § 8, 2007).
21.05.080 Costs of compliance.
All costs associated with purchase, installation, inspections, testing, replacement, maintenance, parts, and repairs of the backflow assembly are the financial responsibility of the property owner to which water is supplied. (Ord. 1439 § 9, 2007).
21.05.090 Termination of service.
Failure on the part of any water user to discontinue the use of all cross-connections and to physically separate cross-connections is sufficient cause for the immediate discontinuance of public water service to the premises (WAC 246-290-490). The city of Fircrest reserves the right to deny service or discontinue the supply of water to any water user not in compliance with this and all other applicable regulations pertaining to public water systems. (Ord. 1439 § 10, 2007).
21.05.100 Cross-connections a nuisance – Connections with other systems authorized when.
It is unlawful for any person to install or maintain a cross-connection between any private water supply within or adjacent to any premises and the public water supply system to the city. Any such cross-connection or inter-connection now existing or hereafter installed is declared a nuisance and may be abated at once without notice by the director by disconnecting such cross-connections or by cutting off the supply of water from the city distribution system to the premises supplied. (Ord. 1439 § 11, 2007).
21.05.110 Director of public works interpretation authority.
The director of public works or his/her designee shall have the authority to decide any questions which may arise pertinent to the interpretation and/or the application of the regulations of this chapter. (Ord. 1439 § 12, 2007).
21.05.120 Violation – Penalty.
Any person, firm, or corporation willfully violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished as set forth in FMC 9.56.010. (Ord. 1439 § 13, 2007).