Loading...
Ordinance 1992-04ORDINANCE NO. 92- 4 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GILROY UPDATING CHAPTER 27, ARTICLE V OF THE GILROY CITY CODE PERTAINING TO WATER SYSTEM BACKFLOW PREVENTION AMENDING SECTIONS 27.82-1, 27.83 (k), 27.84 (a), 27.84 (b), 27.84 (c), 27.84 (d), 27.84 (e), 27.89, 27.91 AND 27.94. WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works has requested amendment to the Water System Backflow Prevention Ordinance so as to further protect the purity of water in the City of Gilroy, and good cause appearing therefore, NOW~ THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GILROY DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. Sections 27.82, 27.83 (k), 27.84 (a), 27.84 (b), 27.84 (c), 27.84 (d), 27.84 (e), 27.89, 27.91 AND 27.94 are hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 27.82-1 Adoption of state statutes. The regulations of the California Department of Health, Title 17, California Administrative Code, Sections 7583 through 7622 inclusive, referred to in this chapter as Title 17 and any amendments thereto, are hereby adopted, incorporated by reference and made a part of this chapter, insofar as the same are applicable to the protection to city's water distribution system. Sec. 27.83 Definitions. (k) Cross-connection: The term "cross-connection" as used in this Ordinance means any unprotected actual or significant potential connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover assemblies, or other assemblies through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections. Sec. 27.84 General requirements. (a) A~proval of backflow preventers. Only backflow preventers that have passed both laboratory and field evaluations by a recognized testing agency and accepted by both the city and the health agency should be used. (1) For water connections, where backflow prevention is required, other than fire systems, a reduced pressure device (RP) shall be the minimum protection allowed. (1) Installation Requirements. Air-Gap Separation (AG): The air-gap separation should be located on the water user's side of and as close to the user connection as is practicable. Ail piping from the user connection to the receiving tank shall be above grade and entirely visible unless city and health agency approves the burial of the line. Water take-offs between the user connection and the air-gap separation shall be protected in a manner approved by the health agency and city. (2) Reduced Pressure Principle Device (RP): The approved reducedpressure principle device should be installed on the user's side of and as close to the user connection as is practicable. The device should be installed not less than 12 inches above grade and shall be readily accessible for maintenance and testing. Water take-offs between the user connection and the RP should be protected in a manner approved by the health agency and city. ORDINANCE NO. 92 - 4 -1- (3) Double Check Valve (DC): The double check valve should be located on the user's side of and as close to the user connection as is practicable. The double check valve should be preferably above grade readily accessible for maintenance and testing. Water supplied from any point between the user connection and the DC should be protected in a manner approved by the health agency and city. (4) (~) Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB): The pressure vacuum breaker should be located such that the critical level (C-L) is: (a) at least 12 inches above the ~ighest point reached by any water beyond the device, and (b) not less than 12 inches above the surrounding grade or floor. The PVB shall be readily accessible for maintenance and testing. The PVB shall not be subjected to back-pressure. Only industrial (nonpotable) fluid may be supplied from beyond the PBV. (Refer to Section 27.83 for definition of "critical level".). Atmospheric (Nonpressure) vacUum Breaker (AVB): The atmospheric (non-pressure) vacuum breaker should be located such that the critical level (C-L) is at least six inches above the highest elevation of the piping system beyond the AVB. Fixtures with integral vacuum breakers manufactured and approved as a unit may be installed in accordance with their approval requirements. At no time should an AVB be subjected to back pressure. Backflow protection devices required. Backflow prevention devices shall be required at the service connection, or at a location approved by the director of public works, for premises in the following described categories: (1) Premises having an auxiliary water supply. (2) Industrial/commercial premises on which any substance is handled under pressure in such a fashion as to permit possible entry into the city's distribution system, including water originating from the city's system which is boosted in pressure. (3) Industrial/commercial or residential premises which, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, contain cross-connections or the potential for cross-connections which could result in the pollution or contamination of the city's water system in the event of backflow. (d) Fire systems. A fire-fighting system with a direct connection to the public potable water system should be protected in a manner commensurate with the hazard. Fire protection systems may be classified as follows: (x) Class I: Direct connections from domestic water mains only; no pumps or reservoir; no physical connection from other water suppliers; no anti-freeze or other additives of any kind; and all sprinkler drains discharging to atmosphere, dry wells, or other safe outlets. (2) Class II: Same as Class I, except that booster pumps may be installed in the connections from the street mains. (Booster pumps do not affect the potability of the water supply. It is necessary, however, to avoid drafting so much water that pressure in the water main is reduced below 10 psi.) (3) Class III: Direct connection from public water supply main plus one or more of the following: Elevated storage tanks; fire pumps taking suction from above-ground covered reservoirs or tanks; or pressure tanks. Ail storage facilities are filled or connected to public water only; the water in the tanks to be maintained in a potable condition. -2- ORDINANCE NO. 92 - 4 (4) Class IV: Directly supplied from public mains similar to Classes I and II, connection for fire pumper truck or with an auxiliary water supply on or available to the premises. (~) Class V: Directly supplied from public mains and interconnected with auxiliary supplies, such as: pumps tsking suction from reservoirs exposed to contamination or from rivers and ponds; driven wells; mills or other industrial water system; or system where antifreeze or other additives are used. (6) Class VI: Combined industrial and fire protection systems supplied from the public water mains only, with or without gravity storage or pump suction tanks. Class I & II systems should be provided with minimum protection (approved double check valves) to prevent contaminated waters from backflowing into the public potable water system. This requirement will apply to new fire sprinkler systems, and new construction as defined by the current version of the Uniform Building Code. Class III systems should be provided with minimum protection (approved double check valves) to prevent contaminated waters from backflowing in the public potable water system. Class IV systems should be provided with a minimum of a DC at the service connection. An AG or RP may be required depending on the quality of the auxiliary supply. Class V systems should be provided with maximum protection (AG or RP) to protect the public potable water system. Class VI system protection depends on the requirements of both industry and fire protection and could only be determined by a survey of the premises. A meter (compoundI detector check) should not be permitted as part of a backflow protection device. An exception may be made, however, if the meter and backflow preventer are specifically designed and approved for that purpose. (e) Use of fire hydrants. The city allows the use of water directly from fire hydrants for flushing storm and sanitary sewers and similar uses. When this is permitted, it is mandatory that a portable RP be provided by the user to protect the city water system. Sec. 27.89. Inspection and testing. The customer is responsible to provide for annual testing, or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure, of the backflow prevention device. Customers must advise the city in writing and must use a certified tester to inspect and test a backflow prevention device. The test shall be performed and results reported to the city within thirty days of written notice by the city that testing is required. City personnel and a designated private certified tester will inspect and test backflow prevention devices of those customers who refuse to hire a certified tester on their own. Charges for said inspection and testing shall be equal to the City's cost including overhead and will be borne by the customer. Devices which fail to pass inspection and testing by private certified testers shall be maintained and repaired in accordance with Sections 27.90, and 27.91 of this chapter. The city reserves the right to require more frequent testing when the city determines it to be in the public interest. The customer shall bear the cost of additional tests if their device fails a test. ORDINANCE NO. 92 - 4 -3- Sec. 27.91. Maintenance and repair; work performed by private parties. Repairs and satisfactory retest of backflow prevention devices by a certified tester shall be documented and submitted on a form approved by the city. Failure by the customer to repair a backflow prevention device within the time period allowed by the city may result in termination of water service. Sec. 27.94. Violation; penalty. Any person or persons, company, corporation or assoCiation who fails to install or who bypasses, alters or refuses to maintain a backflow prevention device, shall be guilty of an infraction. Unless otherwise stated, (1) a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for a first violation; (2) a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year; (3) a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year. For this purpose, a bail forfeiture shall be deemed to be a conviction of the offense charged. This section shall not be construed to limit the City's remedies under any other law, including Section 1.7 of the Gilroy City Code, for violations of its ordinances. SECTION II. Ail other ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION III. This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force thirty (30) days from and after its adoption and approval. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of April, 1992 by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: GILROY, HALE, KLOECKER, NELSON, ROWLISON, VALDEZ and GAGE. NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT:COUNCILMEMBERS: None ATTEST: ORDINANCE NO. 92 - 4 -4- I, SUSANNE E. STEINMETZ, City Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do hereby certify that the attached Ordinance No. 92-4 is an original ordinance, duly adopted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 6th day of April , 19 92 at which meeting a quorum was present. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Offic~l Seal of the City of Gilroy this City Clerk of the City of Gilroy ~ (Seal) 7th day of April , 19 92 .