6-5A-3: USE OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES:

   A.   Location Of Backflow Prevention Devices: Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the point of entry of any premises where, in the judgment of the purveyor or the health officer, the nature and extent of the activities or the materials stored on the premises would present an immediate and/or dangerous hazard to health and/or be deleterious to the quality of the water should a cross connection occur; even though such cross connection does not exist at the time the backflow prevention device shall be installed in all premises under circumstances including, but not limited to, the following:

      1.   Premises having an auxiliary water supply.

      2.   Premises having internal cross connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross connections exist.

      3.   Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure that cross connections do not exist.

      4.   Premises having a repeated history of cross connections being established or reestablished.

      5.   Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water supply, or where a cross connection could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling of process waters and cooling waters.

      6.   Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled or stored in such a manner that if backflow should occur, a serious health hazard might result.

      7.   The following types of facilities will fall into one of the above categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect the public water supply. A backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities unless the purveyor and the director determine that no hazard exists:

   Car washes.

   Chemical plants using a water process.

   Fire sprinkler systems.

   Food or beverage processing plants.

   Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, laboratories.

   Irrigation and/or residential sprinkler systems.

   Metal plating industries.

   Petroleum processing or storage plants.

   Piers and docks.

   Radioactive material processing plants.

   Sewage treatment plants.

   Water processing plants.

      8.   Other premises, as specified by the engineer, superintendent or health officer, where backflow prevention devices are required to protect the public water supply.

   B.   Type Of Device: The type of protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists. The following backflow prevention devices shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the "Accepted Procedures And Practices In Cross Connection Control" manual of the American Water Works Association or the following requirements whichever is the more stringent. The following backflow prevention devices shall not be installed in such a manner as to be subject to flooding, freezing, incidental damage, or exposed to corrosive fumes:

      1.   Air gap separation: To be installed in situations where elimination of cross connection or backflow is critical. Separation between the end of the potable water system and the rim of the receiving vessel, tank, or fixture, shall be not less than one inch (1") or two (2) times the inside diameter of the potable water system piping, whichever is greater.

      2.   Reduced pressure backflow assembly: To be installed where the public water supply may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature or other contaminant which, should backflow or cross connection occur, would create a serious threat to the public water supply. This device shall be installed, as a unit, between two (2) resilient seated valves, to allow testing, twelve inches (12") from the finish grade or floor to the bottom of the backflow assembly and not more than five feet (5') above finish grade. Must be installed horizontally.

      3.   Double check valve assembly: Shall be installed, as a unit, between two (2) resilient seated valves, for testing, twelve inches (12") from the finish grade to the bottom of the backflow preventer, and not more than five feet (5') above finish grade. Must be installed horizontally.

      4.   Pressure vacuum breaker assembly: Shall be installed, as a unit, between two (2) resilient seated valves, to allow testing, twelve inches (12") above all downstream piping, openings, and sprinkler heads and not more than five feet (5') above finish grade.

      5.   Atmospheric vacuum breaker: Shall be installed twelve inches (12") above all downstream piping, openings, and sprinkler heads, and not more than five feet (5') high. There shall be no valves of any type or size downstream of an atmospheric breaker.

   C.   Location Requirement: Backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be located within the facility requiring the backflow prevention so as to be readily accessible for maintenance, testing, and inspection, furthermore, where no part of the device will be submerged. Installation in pits is prohibited.

   D.   Installation Requirement: Backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be installed under the supervision of and/or with the approval of the purveyor.

   E.   Facility And Design Standards; Cross Connection Control: There shall be no connection between the distribution system and any pipes, pumps, hydrants, water loading stations, or tanks whereby unsafe water or other contaminating materials may be discharged or drawn into a public water system. The water purveyor is responsible through its cross connection control program to take reasonable and prudent measures to protect the water system against contamination and pollution from cross connections through premises isolation or containment, internal or in plant isolation, fixture protection, or some combination of premises isolation, internal isolation, and fixture protection.

      1.   Testable Assemblies: All double check valve backflow prevention assemblies, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assemblies, spill resistant vacuum breakers, and pressure vacuum breakers used, must pass a performance test conducted by the University Of Southern California Foundation For Cross-Connection Control And Hydraulic Research.

      2.   Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers: All atmospheric vacuum breakers shall be marked approved either by the International Association Of Plumbing And Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) or by the American Society Of Sanitation Engineers (ASSE).

      3.   Resilient Seated Shutoff Valves: Resilient seated shutoff valves shall be used when double check valve backflow prevention assemblies, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assemblies, and pressure vacuum breakers are installed. (Ord. 636, 11-24-2009)

      4.   Assembly Selection: Appropriate and adequate backflow prevention assemblies for various facilities, fixtures, equipment, and uses of water must be selected either from the "Pacific Northwest Cross Connection Control Manual", the 2009 Idaho state plumbing code, the environmental protection agency's "Cross Connection Control Manual", the USC "Manual Of Cross- Connection Control" or other sources deemed acceptable by the department. The selected assembly must comply with local ordinances. (Ord. 636, 11-24-2009; amd. Ord. 690, 1-8-2013)

These devices shall be furnished and installed by and at the expense of the customer.

   F.   Facility And Design Standards; Operating Criteria For Public Water Systems:

      1.   Cross Connection Control Program; Community Water Systems: The water purveyor is responsible through its cross connection control program to take reasonable and prudent measures to protect the water system against contamination and pollution from cross connections through premises isolation, internal or in plant isolation, fixture protection, or some combination of premises isolation, internal isolation, and fixture protection. Pursuant to section 543 of IDAPA 58.01.08, all suppliers of water for community water systems shall implement a cross connection control program to prevent the entrance to the system of materials known to be toxic or hazardous. The water purveyor is responsible to enforce the system's cross connection control program. The program will at a minimum include:

         a.   An inspection program to locate cross connections and determine required suitable protection. For new connections, suitable protection must be installed prior to providing water service. (Ord. 636, 11-24-2009)

         b.   Required installation and operation of adequate backflow prevention assemblies. Appropriate and adequate backflow prevention assemblies for various facilities, fixtures, equipment, and uses of water must be selected from either the "Pacific Northwest Cross Connection Control Manual", the 2009 Idaho state plumbing code, the environmental protection agency's "Cross Connection Control Manual", the USC "Manual Of Cross- Connection Control", or other sources deemed acceptable by the department. The assemblies must comply with local ordinances. (Ord. 636, 11-24-2009; amd. Ord. 690, 1-8-2013)

         c.   Annual inspections and testing of all installed backflow prevention assemblies by a tester licensed by a licensing authority recognized by the department. Testing shall be done in accordance with the test procedures published by the University Of Southern California Foundation For Cross-Connection Control And Hydraulic Research. See the USC "Manual Of Cross-Connection Control".

         d.   Discontinuance of service to any facility where suitable backflow protection has not been provided for a cross connection.

   G.   Inspections: Backflow prevention devices installed pursuant to this chapter, except atmospheric vacuum breakers, shall be inspected and tested upon installation and annually thereafter, or more often if necessary. Inspections, tests and maintenance shall be conducted by persons certified by the state of Idaho and shall be at the customer's expense. Whenever a device is found to be defective, they shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the customer's expense. Copies of all test reports shall be sent to the city of Eagle public works department. Copies of all test reports shall be maintained at the premises and shall be available for inspection if so requested by the superintendent or state health official.

   H.   Underground Sprinkling Devices: No underground sprinkling device will be installed without adequate backflow prevention devices at the point from which the water for irrigation is taken from the public water supply.

   I.   Termination Of Water Service: Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this article and the regulations, shall be grounds for termination of water service to the premises. (Ord. 636, 11-24-2009)