Except where specifically designated herein, all words used in this document shall carry their customary meanings. Words used in the present tense include the future and plural words include the singular. The word "shall” is always mandatory, and the word "may" denotes the use of discretion in making a decision. Any definition not found in this section will take its meaning from the WAC (246-290), as amended, or in the most recent edition of the Manual of Cross Connection Control published by the Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California.
"Agreement" shall mean all agreements for service installation, meters, and special service with any person, firm or corporation, or the authorized agents thereof.
"Air gap" shall mean a physical separation between the free-flowing end of a potable water supply pipeline and the overflow rim of an open or non-pressure-receiving vessel. To be an "approved air gap," the separation must be at least twice the diameter of the inlet piping (supply pipe) measured vertically, and never be less than 1 inch.
"Approved backflow prevention assembly" or "backflow assembly" or "assembly," shall mean an assembly to counteract backpressure or prevent back siphonage. This assembly must appear on the list of approved assemblies issued by the Washington State Department of Health. The assembly must be purchased and installed as a complete unit including two shut-off valves and test cocks.
"Auxiliary supply" shall mean any water source or system other than the Public Utility District #1 of Clallam County's water. This will include but is not limited to, wells, streams, ponds, and irrigation ditches.
"Backflow" shall mean the flow of water or other liquids, gases, or solids from any source back into the distribution system. The flow of water in the opposite direction of its intended flow.
"Backflow Assembly Tester" shall mean a person holding a valid BAT certificate issued in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code 246- 290-490 and the RCW 18.106, 18.27, and 70.119.
"Backpressure" shall mean backflow due to water pressure on the downstream side of the meter, which exceeds the operating pressure of the public potable water supply.
"Backsiphonage" shall mean backflow due to a negative or reduced pressure within the public potable water supply.
"Building Inspector" shall mean the Clallam County Building Inspector.
"Closed system" shall mean any water system or portion of a water system in which water is closed to the atmosphere.
"Connection” shall mean any physical connection to the District water system by any water service of any private water system or pipeline extension.
"Contamination" shall mean the entry into or presence in a public water supply system of any substance, which may be harmful to the health and/or quality of the water.
"County" shall mean Clallam County.
"Cross connection" shall mean any physical arrangement where a public water system is connected, directly or indirectly (actual or potential), with any other non-drinkable water system or auxiliary system, wells, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, or any other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated or polluted water, sewage, used water, or other liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination or pollution 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.
"Cross Connection Specialist" or "CCS" shall mean a person holding a valid CCS certificate issued in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code who is employed by the District or under contract with the District.
"Degree of hazard" shall mean the low or high hazard classification that shall be attached to all actual or potential cross-connections.
"Distribution system" shall mean all piping components of the District's system that serve to convey water from transmission mains linked to source, storage, and treatment facilities to the consumer excluding individual services.
"District" shall mean Public Utility District #1 of Clallam County.
"DOH" shall mean Washington State Department of Health.
"Double check valve backflow prevention assembly" "double check assembly" "double-check" "DCVA" or "DC" shall mean an assembly, that consists of two independently operating check valves, which are spring-loaded or weighted. The assembly comes complete with a shut-off valve on each side of the checks, as well as test cocks.
The purpose of this Policy is to protect the water system of Public Utility District #1 of Clallam County from contamination or pollution due to any existing or potential cross connections as defined in WAC 246-290-010, or as amended, this Policy and the District's current SOP Manual.
No cross connections shall be created, installed, used, or maintained within the territory served by the District, except in accordance with this Policy and the District's current SOP Manual.
The CCS for the District shall carry out or cause surveys to be carried out to determine if any actual or potential cross-connections exist. If found necessary, an assembly commensurate with the degree of hazard will be required to be installed at the service connection.
The owner, occupant, or person in control of the property is responsible for all cross-connection control within the premises.
The owner, occupant, or person in control of the property shall abide by all other District regulations.
District customers are required to notify the District prior to the installation of all backflow prevention assemblies for verification of the appropriate assembly.
The consumer agrees to immediately notify the District and the local health jurisdiction of any backflow incident occurring within the consumer's premises (i.e., entry of any contaminant/pollutant into the drinking water) and shall cooperate fully with the District to determine the reason for the backflow incident.
This Policy applies throughout the District and to every premise and property served by the District Water System. It applies to any premises, public or private, regardless of the date of connection to the District water. Every owner, occupant, and/or person in control of any concerned premises is responsible for compliance with the terms and provisions contained herein.
A CCS shall determine the type of backflow assembly to be installed within the area served by the District. All assemblies shall be installed at the service connection unless it is determined by the CCS to install the assembly at an alternate location. The cross-connection shall be eliminated or at a minimum, a double-check valve assembly for premise isolation shall be required to be installed in each of the following circumstances, but the CCS is in no way limited to the following circumstances:
The nature and extent of any activity on the premises, the materials used in connection with any activity on the premises, or materials stored on the premises, could contaminate or pollute the potable water supply.
Premises having any one or more cross-connections or potential cross-connections as that term is defined in the Policy, the District's current SOP Manual, the Washington Administrative Code, and all applicable plumbing codes.
When a cross-connection survey report form is required by the District to be filled out and the District has not received it.
Internal cross-connections are present that are not correctable.
Intricate plumbing arrangements exist or plumbing subject to frequent changes is present that make it impractical to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.
There is a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established.
There is unduly restricted entry so surveys for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency to assure that cross-connections do not exist.
Materials, chemicals, or any substance or apparatus are being used so that if backflow occurs contamination would result.
Installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly is deemed to be necessary in the judgment of the CCS to accomplish the purpose of this Policy.
In the event an in-premise assembly has not been tested or repaired as required by the WAC 346-290-490, or as amended, this Policy and the District's current SOP Manual.
If it is determined that additions or rearrangements have been made to the plumbing system without obtaining proper permits as required by the County Code Enforcement Division.
All high health hazard premises, which are included in but not limited to Table 9 of the WAC section 246-290-490, or as amended, are required to have premises isolation by installing a reduced pressure principle assembly in accordance with this Policy and the District's current SOP Manual.
When a garden hose attachment is connected to the premises plumbing, including but not limited to fertilizer applicators, pesticide applicators, and radiator flush kits.
Where reclaimed or reused water systems are installed.
Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water system.
All properties receiving irrigation water from a source other than from the District shall be required to have a minimum of a double-check valve assembly at the service connection.
Any premise that has any other auxiliary supply as that is defined in Section 1:01 of this document and which is connected, directly or indirectly, to the District's water supply, will be required to install an assembly commensurate with the degree of hazard.
All properties that use the District's water for irrigation shall be protected in accordance with the plumbing code. In the event any system is equipped with an injector system or has submerged heads, a reduced pressure principle assembly will be required.
An approved double-check detector backflow prevention assembly shall be the minimum protection on all new fire sprinkler systems using piping material that is not approved for potable water use, and/or that does not provide for periodic flow-through. A reduced pressure principle detector backflow prevention assembly must be installed, if any solution other than the potable water can be introduced into the sprinkler system.
Retrofitting fire sprinkler systems will be required in each of the following circumstances:
Backflow protection will be required on temporary hydrant meters and all other temporary connections, including blow-offs. An approved air gap or appropriate assembly, commensurate with the degree of hazard, will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the District's CCS. The air gap or assembly must be installed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with the WAC, this Policy, and the District's SOP Manual.
Any mobile unit or apparatus, as defined in Section 1 of this Policy, which uses the District's water from any premises or piping within the distribution system, shall first obtain permission from the District. The mobile unit will be inspected to ensure appropriate backflow protection is installed in accordance with the District's most recent edition of the SOP Manual.
