§ 50.01 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGENCY. The City Administrator or his designee, who is hereby invested with the authority and responsibility for the enactment and enforcement of this chapter.
AIR GAP. 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.
APPROVED. Accepted by the agency as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this chapter, or as suitable for the proposed use.
AUXILIARY SUPPLY. Any water source or system other than the potable water supply that may be available in the building or premises.
BACKFLOW. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source of sources other than its intended source. Back-siphonage is one type of backflow.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER. A device or means to prevent backflow.
BACK-SIPHONAGE. Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the distributing pipes of a potable water supply.
CHECK VALVE. A self-closing device which is design to permit the flow of fluids in one direction and to close if there is a reversal of flow.
CONTAMINATION. See POLLUTION.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any physical connection between a potable water supply and any unapproved source or system through which backflow can occur. Furthermore, it is any potable water supply outlet which is submerged or can be submerged in waste water and/or any other source of contamination. See BACKFLOW and BACK-SIPHONAGE.
DRAIN. Any pipe that carries waste water or water-borne wastes in a building drainage system.
FIXTURE, PLUMBING. Installed receptacles, devices or appliances supplied with water or that receive or discharge liquids or liquid-borne wastes.
FLOOD-LEVEL RIM. The edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.
HAZARD, HEALTH. Any condition, devices or practices in the water supply system and its operation which create, or, in the judgment of the Director, may create, a danger to the health and well-being of the water consumer. An example of a health hazard is a structural defect in the water supply system, whether of location, design or construction, that regularly or occasionally may prevent satisfactory treatment of the water supply or cause it to be polluted from extraneous sources.
HAZARD, PLUMBING. Any arrangement of plumbing including piping and fixtures whereby a cross-connection is created.
HYDROPNEUMATIC TANK. A pressure vessel in which air pressure acts upon the surface of the water contained within the vessel, pressurizing the water distribution piping connected to the vessel.
OUTLET. The open end of the water supply pipe through which the water is discharged into the plumbing fixture.
PLUMBING SYSTEM. Includes the water supply and distribution pipes, plumbing fixtures and traps; soil, waste and vent pipes; building drains and building sewers, including their respective connections, devices and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises; and water-treating or water-using equipment.
POLLUTION. The presence of any foreign substance (organic, inorganic, radiological or biological) in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.
REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTER. An assembly of differential valves and check valves including an automatically opened spillage port to the atmosphere designed to prevent backflow.
SURGE TANK. The receiving, nonpressure vessel forming part of the air gap separation between a potable and an auxiliary supply.
VACUUM. Any pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere.
VACUUM BREAKER, NONPRESSURE TYPE. A vacuum breaker designed so as not be subjected to static line pressure.
VACUUM BREAKER, PRESSURE TYPE. A vacuum breaker designed to operate under conditions of static line pressure.
WATER, POTABLE. Water free from contaminants in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects. Its bacteriological and chemical quality shall conform to the requirements of the federal and state drinking water regulations and to any regulations of the public health authority having local jurisdiction.
WATER, NONPOTABLE. Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable potability.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
§ 50.15 POTABLE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.
A potable water supply system shall be designed, installed and maintained in such manner as to prevent contamination from nonpotable liquids, solids or gases from being introduced into the potable water supply through cross-connections or any other piping connections or any other piping connections to the system.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
§ 50.16 CROSS-CONNECTIONS PROHIBITED.
Cross-connections between potable water systems and other system or equipment containing water or other substances or unknown or questionable quality are prohibited except when and where, as approved by the authority having jurisdiction, suitable protective devices such as the reduced pressure zone backflow preventer or equal are installed, tested, and maintained to insure proper operation on a continuing basis.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.17 INTERCONNECTIONS.
Interconnections between two or more public water supplies shall be permitted only with the approval of the state authority having jurisdiction.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.18 INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY.
Cross-connections between an individual water supply and a potable public supply shall not be made unless specifically approved by the state authority having jurisdiction.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.19 CONNECTIONS TO BOILERS.
Potable water connections to boilers shall be made through an air gap or provided with an approved backflow preventer.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
§ 50.20 PROHIBITED CONNECTIONS TO FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT.
Connection to the potable water supply system is prohibited unless protected against backflow in accordance with § 50.22 or as set out herein. Examples of fixtures and equipment from which the potable water supply system must be protected include:
(A) Bidets.
(B) Operating, dissection, embalming and mortuary tables or similar equipment. In such installation the hose used for water supply shall terminate at least 12 inches away from every point of the table or attachments.
(C) Pumps for nonpotable water, chemicals or other substances. Priming connections may be made only through an air gap.
(D) Building drainage, sewer or vent systems.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.21 REFRIGERATING UNIT CONDENSERS AND COOLING JACKETS.
Except where potable water provided for a refrigerator condenser or cooling jacket is entirely outside the piping or tank containing a toxic refrigerant, the inlet connection shall be provided with an approved check valve. Also adjacent to and at the outlet side to the check valve, an approved pressure relief valve set to relieve at five psi above the maximum water pressure at the point of installation shall be provided if the refrigeration units contain more than 20 pounds of refrigerants.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.22 PROTECTION AGAINST BACKFLOW AND BACK-SIPHONAGE.
(A) Water outlets. A potable water system shall be protected against backflow and back-siphonage by providing and maintaining at each outlet:
(1) Air gap. An air gap, as specified in division (B) of this section, between the potable water outlet and the flood-level rim of the fixture it supplies or between the outlet and any other source of contamination.
(2) Backflow preventer. An approved device or means to prevent backflow.
(B) Minimum required air gap.
(1) How measured. The minimum required air gap shall be measured vertically from the lowest end of a potable water outlet to the flood rim or line of the fixture or receptacle into which it discharges.
(2) Size. The minimum required air gap shall be twice the effective opening of the potable water outlet unless the outlet is a distance less than three times the effective opening away from a wall or similar vertical surface, in which cases the minimum required air gap shall be three times the effective opening of the outlet. In no case shall the minimum required air gap be less than shown in Table A.
(C) Approval of devices.
(1) Before any device for the prevention of backflow or back-siphonage is installed, it shall have first been certified by a recognized testing laboratory acceptable to the agency. Devices installed in a building potable water supply distribution system for protection against backflow shall be maintained in good working condition by the person or persons responsible for the maintenance of the system.
(2) The agency or his designee shall inspect routinely these devices and if they are found to be defective or inoperative, shall require the replacement thereof.
(D) Installation of devices.
(1) Nonpressure type vacuum breakers. Atmospheric vacuum breakers shall be installed with the critical level at least six inches above the flood-level rim of the fixture they serve and on the discharge side of the last control valve to the fixture. No shutoff valve or faucet shall be installed beyond the vacuum breaker. For closed equipment or vessels such as pressure sterilizers the top of the vessel shall be treated as the flood-level rim but a check valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the vacuum breaker.
(2) Reduced pressure principal backflow preventer. A reduced pressure principal type backflow preventer may be installed subject to full static pressure.
(3) Devices of all types. Backflow and back-siphonage preventing devices shall be accessibly located, preferably in the same room with the fixture they serve. Installation in utility or service spaces, provided they are readily accessible, is also permitted.
(E) Tanks and vats; below rim supply.
(1) Where a potable water outlet terminates below the rim of a tank or vat and the tank or vat has an overflow of diameter not less than that given in Table B, the overflow pipe shall be provided with an air gap as close to the tank as possible.
(2) The potable water outlet to the tank or vat shall terminate a distance not less than 1½ times the height to which water can rise in the tank above the top of the overflow. This level shall be established at the maximum flow rate of the supply to the tank or vat and with all outlets except the air gap overflow outlet closed. The distance from the outlet to the high water level shall be measured from the critical point of the potable water supply outlet. The Figure A illustrates this principal.
(F) Protective devices required. Approved devices to protect against backflow and back-siphonage shall be installed at all fixtures and equipment where backflow and/or back-siphonage may occur and where minimum air gap cannot be provided between the water outlet to the fixture or equipment and its flood-level rim.
(1) Connections not subject to back pressure. Where a water connection is not subject to back pressure, a vacuum breaker shall be installed on the discharge side of the last valve on the line serving the fixture or equipment. A list of some conditions requiring protective devices of this kind is given in the Table 3.86A of Ord. 553 hereby adopted by reference.
(2) Connections subject to back pressure. Where a potable water connection is made to a line, fixture, tank, vat, pump or other equipment with a hazard of backflow or back-siphonage where the water connection is subject to back pressure, and an air gap cannot be installed, the City Administrator will require adequate protection which may include the use of an approved reduced pressure principle backflow preventer. A partial list of such connections is shown on Table 3.86B of Ord. 553 hereby adopted by reference.
(G) Low pressure cutoff required on booster pumps. When a booster pump is used on a water pressure booster system and the possibility exists that a positive pressure of less than 20 psi may occur on the suction side of the pump, there shall be installed a low pressure cutoff on the booster pump to prevent the creation of a vacuum or negative pressure on the suction side of the pump, thus cutting off water to other outlets.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
[Tables and figures pertaining to § 50.22 appear on the following pages.]
Table A: Minimum Air Gaps for Generally Used Plumbing Fixtures
Fixture
Minimum Air Gap
When Not Affected by Near Wall 1
(Inches)
When Affected by Near Wall 2
(Inches)
Lavatories and other fixtures with effective openings not greater than 1/2-inch diameter
1.0
1.50
Sink, laundry trays, goose-neck bath faucets and other fixtures with effective openings not greater than 3/4-inch diameter
1.5
2.25
Over rim bath fillers and other fixtures with effective openings not greater than 1-inch diameter
2.0
3.0
Drinking water fountains-single orifice 7/16 (0.437)-inch diameter or multiple orifices having total area of 0.150 square inch (area of circle 7/16-inch diameter)
1.0
1.50
Effective openings greater than 1 inch
See note 3
See note 4
1 Side walls, ribs, or similar obstructions do not affect air gaps when spaced from inside edge of spout opening a distance greater than three times the diameter of the effective opening for a single wall, or a distance greater than four times the diameter of the effective opening for two intersecting walls.
2 Vertical walls, ribs, or similar obstructions extending from the water surface to or above the horizontal plane of the spout opening require a greater air gap when spaced closer to the nearest inside edge of spout opening than specified in note 1 above. The effect of three or more such vertical walls or ribs has not been determined. In such cases, the air gap shall be measured from the top of the wall.
3 Two times diameter of effective opening.
4 Three times diameter of effective opening.
Table B: Sizes of Overflow Pipes for Water Supply Tanks
Maximum Capacity of Water Supply Line to Tank
Diameter of Overflow Pipe
(Inches ID)
Maximum Capacity of Water Supply Line to Tank
Diameter of Overflow Pipe
(Inches ID)
0 – 50 gpm
2
400 – 700 gpm
5
50 – 150 gpm
2½
700 – 1,000 gpm
6
100 – 200 gpm
3
Over 1,000 gpm
8
200 – 400 gpm
4
Figure A: Properly Protected Tank below Rim Supply
MAINTENANCE
§ 50.35 RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN BACKFLOW PREVENTERS AND VACUUM BREAKERS.
It shall be the responsibility of building and premises owners to maintain all backflow preventers and vacuum breakers within the building or on the premises in good working order and to make no piping or other arrangements for the purpose of bypassing backflow devices.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89) Penalty, see § 50.99
§ 50.36 BACKFLOW PREVENTERS.
Periodic testing and inspection schedules shall be established by the City Administrator, and approved by the City Council, for all backflow preventers and overhauls of each device shall be established in accordance with the age and condition of the device. inspection intervals shall not exceed one year, and overhaul intervals shall not exceed five years. These devices should be inspected frequently after the initial installation to assure that they have been installed properly and that debris resulting from the installation has not interfered with the functioning of the device. The testing procedures shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions when approved by the City Administrator.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
§ 50.50 RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPERINTENDENT.
The City Administrator, or his designated agent, shall inspect the plumbing in every building or premises in the city as frequently as the City Council in its judgment, may, from time to time, deem necessary to ensure that the plumbing has been installed in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of pollution of the water supply of the city by the plumbing. The City Administrator shall notify or cause to be notified in writing the owner or authorized agent of the owner of any such building or premises, to correct, within a reasonable time set by the City Council, any plumbing installed or existing contrary to or in violation of this chapter; and which, in his judgment, may, therefore, permit the pollution of the city water supply or otherwise adversely affect the public health.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
§ 50.51 INSPECTION; RIGHT OF ENTRY.
The City Administrator, or his designated agent, shall have the right of entry into any building, during reasonable hours, for the purpose of making inspection of the plumbing systems installed in that building or premises, provided that with respect to the inspection of any single-family dwelling consent to such inspection shall first be obtained from a person of suitable age and discretion therein or in control hereof. Consistent refusal to allow inspection of a specific dwelling may be cause for requiring installation of suitable backflow protection or discontinuation of potable water service.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
§ 50.52 NOTIFICATION OF VIOLATION.
The City Administrator shall notify the owner, or authorized agent of the owner, of the building or premises in which there is found a violation of this chapter, of such violation. The City Administrator shall also notify the owner as to a specific date set by the City Council on or before which the violation shall be removed or corrected, which time period shall be reasonable time after notice of the violation. Upon failure of the owner to have the defect corrected by the end of the specified time interval, the City Council may, if in its judgment an imminent health hazard exists, cause the water service to the building or premises to be terminated and/or recommend such additional fines or penalties to be invoked as herein may be provided.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
§ 50.99 PENALTY.
The owner or authorized agent of the owner responsible for the maintenance of the plumbing systems in the building who knowingly permits a violation to remain uncorrected after the expiration of the time set by the City Council shall, upon conviction thereof by the court, be required to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each violation. Each day of failure to comply with the requirements of the chapter, after the specified time provided under § 50.52 shall constitute a separate violation.
(Ord. 553, passed 5-1-89)
