§ 33-201. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. If a word or term used in this article is not contained in the following list, its definition, or other technical terms used, shall have the meanings or definitions listed 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.

Administrator means administrator of the district, the city manager by contract.

Air gap means the vertical physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of the potable water supply line and the overflow rim of the receiving vessel. The separation must be at least twice the inside diameter of the supply line, but never less than one inch. When located near walls, the air gap separation must be increased.

Approved backflow prevention assembly or backflow assembly or assembly means an assembly to counteract backpressures or prevent backsiphonage. This assembly must appear on the list of approved assemblies issued by USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research.

Atmospheric vacuum breaker means a device, which contains a flat check (poppet), a check seat and an air inlet vent. When water pressure is reduced to a gauge pressure of zero or below, air enters the device, preventing backsiphonage. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.

Auxiliary supply means any water source or system other than the public water system that may be available in the building or on the property.

(1)

Approved: An auxiliary water supply, which has been investigated and approved by the health authority, meets water quality regulations, and is accepted by the water purveyor.

(2)

Unapproved: An auxiliary water supply, which is not approved by the health authority.

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's water.

Backflow prevention assembly tester shall mean a person who has met all of the requirements of TNRCC to be recognized as a certified tester in the State of Texas and is registered with the city. A certified tester who is employed by a state approved fireline contractor shall test fireline assemblies.

Boresight or boresight to daylight means providing adequate drainage for backflow prevention assemblies installed in vaults through the use of an unobstructed drain pipe.

City means City of Waxahachie.

City manager means the city manager of the city or his/her designee.

Combination protection means there is an assembly installed for point-of-use isolation in addition to a premise isolation assembly.

Contamination means the entry into or presence in a public water supply system of any substance which may be deleterious to health and/or quality of the water.

Cross connection means any physical arrangement where a potable water supply is connected, directly or indirectly (actual or potential), with any other non-potable water system, used water system or auxiliary water supply, sewer, drain conduit, swimming pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, swamp coolers, air conditioner units, fire protection system, or any other assembly 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 change over assemblies, or other temporary or permanent assemblies through which, or because of which, backflow may occur are considered to be cross connections.

Customer service inspector or CSI is an individual who has fulfilled the requirements set out in TNRCC Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems, paragraph 290.46(j)(1).

Degree of hazard means the low or high hazard classification that shall be attached to all actual or potential cross connections.

Double check detector assembly or DCDA means an approved assembly consisting of two (2) approved double check valve assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use. This unit must be purchased as a complete assembly. The assembly may be allowed on fire line water services in place of an approved double check valve assembly upon approval by the local water authority.

Double check valve backflow prevention assembly or double check assembly or double check or DC assembly or DC means an assembly which consists of two (2) independently operating check valves which are spring-loaded or weighted. The assembly comes complete with a gate valve on each side of the checks, as well as test cocks to test the checks for tightness.

Health hazard means an actual or potential threat of contamination of a physical or toxic nature to the public potable water system or the consumer's potable water system that would be a danger to health.

High hazard means the classification assigned to an actual or potential cross connection that potentially could allow a substance that may cause illness or death to backflow into the potable water supply.

Inspector means a person that is a cross connection inspector recognized by the city.

Low hazard means the classification assigned to an actual or potential cross connection that potentially could allow a substance that may be objectionable but not hazardous to one's health to backflow into the potable water supply.

Mobile unit shall mean any operation, which may have the potential to introduce contaminants into potable water systems from a mobile source. These include, but are not limited to: carpet-cleaning vehicles, water-hauling vehicles, street-cleaning vehicles, liquid-waste vehicles, power-wash operations, and pest-control vehicles.

Person means a natural person (an individual), corporation, company, association, partnership, firm, limited liability company, joint venture stock company or association, and other such entity.

Plumbing hazard means an internal or plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer's potable water system than may be either a pollutional or a contamination-type hazard.

Point-of-use isolation means the appropriate backflow prevention within the consumer's water system at the point at which the actual or potential cross connection exists.

Pollutional hazard means an actual or potential threat to the physical properties of the water system or the potability of the public or the consumer's potable water system but which would not constitute a health or system hazard, as defined. The maximum degree of intensity of pollution to which the potable water system could be degraded under this definition would cause a nuisance, or be aesthetically objectionable, or could cause minor damage to the system or its appurtenances.

Potable water supply means any water that has been tested as required by the state regulations for drinking water supplies and is considered safe for human consumption.

Premises means any piece of property to which water is provided, including all improvements, mobile structures, and structures located on it.

Premises isolation or containment means the appropriate backflow prevention at the service connection between the public water system and the water user.

Pressure vacuum breaker assembly means an approved assembly consisting of a spring-loaded check valve loaded to the closed position, an independently operating air inlet valve loaded to the open position and installed as a unit with and between two (2) resilient seated shutoff valves and with suitable connections for testing. It is designed to protect against backsiphonage only.

Public water system or system means any public or privately owned water system which supplies water for public domestic use. The system must meet all the health requirements set forth by the TNRCC. The system will include all services, reservoirs, facilities, and any equipment used in the process of producing, treating, storing or conveying water for public consumption.

Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly or reduced pressure principle assembly or RP assembly or RP shall mean an assembly containing two (2) 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 each end of the assembly.

Reduced pressure detector assembly or RPDC shall mean an approved assembly consisting of two (2) approved reduced pressure backflow assemblies, set in parallel, equipped with a meter on the bypass line to detect small amounts of water leakage or use. This unit must be purchased as a complete assembly. The assembly may be allowed on fire line water services in place of an approved reduced pressure backflow assembly, upon approval by the local water purveyor.

Residential use shall include single family dwellings, duplexes, multiplex housing and apartments where the individual units are each on a separate meter.

(1)

Non-residential use shall include, but is not limited to, all uses not specifically included in residential uses defined above.

Service connection is the point-of-delivery at which the public water system ends and is connected to the private supply line or lateral.

SOP means a standard operating procedure manual on cross connections written specifically for the city.

Spill resistant vacuum breaker shall mean an assembly containing an independently-operating, internally-loaded check valve, and an independently-operating, loaded air-inter valve, located on the discharge side of the check valve. The assembly is to be equipped with a properly located, resilient, seated test cock; a properly located bleed/vent valve, and a tightly-closing, resilient, seated shut-off valves attached at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a non-health hazard (i.e., pollutant) or a health hazard (i.e., contaminant) under a backsiphonage condition only.

System hazard means an actual or potential threat of severe danger to the physical properties of the public or consumer's potable water supply, or of a pollution or contamination that would have a detrimental effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

Thermal expansion means heated water that does not have the space to expand.

TNRCC means Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

Used water means water supplied by a public water system to a water user's system after it has passed through the service connection.

Waxahachie means the City of Waxahachie.

(Ord. No. 2047, § 1, 8-21-00)