§ 27-9. Cross-connection control and backflow prevention.

(a)

Definitions.

(1)

Air-Gap. The unobstructed vertical distance through free atmosphere between the lowest point of a water supply outlet and the flood level rim of the fixture or assembly into which the outlet discharges. These vertical, physical separations must be at least twice the inside diameter of the water supply outlet, but never less than one inch (25 mm) above the receiving vessel flood rim. Local codes, regulations and special conditions may require more stringent requirements.

(2)

Approved. Accepted by the authority responsible as meeting an applicable specification stated, or as suitable for the proposed use.

(3)

Auxiliary water supply. Any water supply on or available to the premises other than the approved potable water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another potable water supply or any natural source such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, etc., or "used waters" or "industrial fluids". These waters may be polluted, or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.

(4)

Backflow. The undesirable reversal of flow in a potable water distribution system as a result of a cross-connection.

(5)

Backflow preventer. An assembly or means that prevents backflow into the potable water supply.

(6)

Backpressure. A pressure higher than the supply pressure, caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler, or any other means that may cause backflow.

(7)

Backsiphonage. Backflow caused by negative or reduced pressure in the utility system.

(8)

Reduced-pressure backflow-prevention assembly. The approved reduced-pressure principal backflow-prevention assembly consists of two (2) independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves and below the first check valve. These units are located between two (2) tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves as an assembly and equipped with properly located resilient-seated test cocks.

(9)

Certified/licensed installation or testing professional. A person certified through one of the following agencies as being competent to test, repair, overhaul, certify the operation, and make reports on backflow prevention assemblies:

a.

American Society of Sanitary Engineers (A.S.S.E.);

b.

National Environmental Technology Training Institute (N.E.T.T.I.);

c.

Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (F.C.C.H.R.) - University of Southern California;

d.

Training, Research, and Education for Environmental Occupations (T.R.E.E.O.) - University of South Florida;

e.

Institution for Cross Connection Control (I.C.C.C.);

f.

Any such agencies of the State of Florida that are authorized by statute, rule, or regulation to issue the licenses/certifications for plumbing and backflow prevention assemblies' installation, testing and certification.

(10)

Double check valve assembly. The approved double check valve assembly consists of two (2) internally loaded check valves, either spring loaded or internally weighted, installed as a unit between two (2) tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves and fittings with properly located resilient-seated test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a non-health hazard (that is, a pollutant).

(11)

Contamination. An impairment of a potable water supply by the introduction or admission of any foreign substance that degrades the quality and creates a health hazard.

(12)

Cross-Connection. Any physical arrangement whereby a public water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with any other water supply system, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage reservoir, plumbing fixture, or other device which contains or may contain contaminated water, sewage or other waste, or liquid of unknown or unsafe quality which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public water supply as the result of backflow. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeable devices, and other temporary or permanent devices through which or because of which backflow could occur are considered to be cross-connections.

(13)

Cross-Connections—Controlled. A connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable water system with an approved backflow-prevention assembly properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.

(14)

Hazard, degree of. The term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to the public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.

(15)

Hazard—Health. A cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that could, if introduced into the potable water supply, cause death, illness, spread disease, or have a high probability of causing such effects.

(16)

Hazard—Plumbing. A plumbing type cross connection in a consumer's potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air gap or an approved backflow-prevention assembly.

(17)

Hazard—Nonhealth. A cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the potable water supply.

(18)

Hazard—System. An actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the potable water system or the consumer's potable water system or of a pollution or contamination that would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

(19)

Industrial fluid system. Any system containing a fluid or solution that may be chemically, biologically, or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form or concentration, such as would constitute a health, system, pollution, or plumbing hazard, if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but not be limited to: polluted or contaminated waters; all types of process waters and used waters originating from the potable water system that may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; contaminated natural waters, such as wells, springs, streams, rivers, harbors, seas, canals, and so forth; oils, gases, caustic and acid solutions, and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes.

(20)

Pollution. The presence of any foreign substance in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a non-health hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.

(21)

Service connection. The terminal end of a service connection from the potable water supply, that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the customer's water system. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any backflow-prevention assembly located at the point of delivery to the customer's water system.

(22)

Water—Nonpotable. Water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable quality.

(23)

Water—Potable. Water that is safe for human consumption as described by the public health authority having jurisdiction.

(24)

Water purveyor. Owner of the source facilities, treatment facilities, and the distribution system providing potable water to customers. This refers to the City of Dania Beach.

(25)

Water—Used. Any water supplied by a water purveyor from a potable water system to a consumer's water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water purveyor.

(b)

Requirements. An approved backflow prevention assembly as stated in the Florida Administrative Code 62-555.360 and Section 312.9 of the Florida Building Code (Plumbing), appropriate to the degree of hazard, and for each category of user identified in the Florida Administrative Code Table 62-555.360-2 shall be installed on each service connection as close as practical to the customer's water service meter or customer's property line but, in all cases, before the first distribution line off of the customer's water service line. No new water service connections shall be installed by the water purveyor unless the occupant or tenant has been made aware of the purveyor's cross-connection control policy and understands his or her responsibility to not create or maintain any cross-connections, and the water supply is protected as required by this policy and applicable laws and regulations. At an existing (i.e.) previously constructed service connection, whenever the customer connects to a reclaimed water distribution system, whenever an auxiliary water system is discovered on the customer's premises, whenever a prohibited or inappropriately protected cross-connection is discovered on the customer's premises, and whenever the customer's premises is altered under a building permit in a manner that could change the backflow protection required at or for a service connection to the customer, no new service shall be provided until there is compliance with the terms of this section. The same shall be true in the event of the customer connecting to a reclaimed water distribution system or auxiliary water system. The Categories of Customers and the nature of the device to be installed shall be consistent with Table 62-555.360-2, Florida Administrative Code. An approved backflow prevention device or assembly shall be installed according to local plumbing regulations and the Table noted above and prior to any branch line wherever the following conditions exist:

(1)

In the case of an auxiliary water supply which is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and which is not acceptable as an additional water source by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or delegated county health department, the public water system shall be protected against backflow by installing, or requiring the property owner to install, in the service line an approved backflow prevention assembly commensurate with the degree of hazard, and in conformance with the most current edition of the American Water Works Association manual, M-14, "Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control" (as clarified and modified in Tables 62-555.360-1 and 62-555.360-2 of the Florida Administrative Code) or local plumbing regulations, whichever affords the higher protection.

(2)

In the case of (1) internal cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected or protected against, or (2) intricate plumbing, and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not dangerous cross-connections exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow by installing, or requiring the property owner to install, an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line.

(c)

Types of protection required.

(1)

In the case of an auxiliary water supply the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principal backflow prevention assembly.

(2)

In the case of water or a substance that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by, at minimum, an approved double check valve backflow prevention assembly, whichever is applicable in accordance with Rule 62-555.360, F.A.C.

(3)

In the case of any material dangerous to health that is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principal backflow prevention assembly.

(4)

In the case of "uncontrolled" cross-connections, either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air gap or an approved reduced pressure principal backflow prevention assembly.

(5)

In the case where, in the opinion of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or delegated county health department, an undue health threat is posed because of the presence of extremely toxic substances, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or delegated county health department may require an air gap. This requirement will be at the discretion of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or delegated county health department and is dependent upon the degree of hazards.

(6)

At or for a residential or non-residential dedicated irrigation service connection: PVB (pressure vacuum breaker) if backpressure cannot develop in the downstream piping; or an RP (reduced-pressure principal assembly) if backpressure could develop in the downstream piping. A DC (double check valve assembly) may be provided only if both of the following conditions are met: (1) the dedicated irrigation service connection initially was constructed prior to May 4, 2014; and (2) no chemicals are fed into the irrigation system.

(d)

Assembly standards and specifications. Any backflow prevention device or assembly required in this section shall be of a make, model and size approved by the City of Dania Beach. The term "approved backflow prevention assembly" shall mean an assembly that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association titled:

AWWA/ANSI C510-07 Standard for Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly or latest edition; AWWA/ANSI C511-07 Standard for Reduced Pressure Principal Backflow Prevention Assembly or latest edition; and, have met completely the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCHR) of the University of Southern California established by: "Specifications of Backflow Prevention Assemblies" - Section 10 of the most current edition of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control.

AWWA and USC FCCCHR standards and specifications have been adopted by the water purveyor. Final approval shall be evidenced by a "Certificate of Compliance" for the AWWA standards or a "Certificate of Approval" for the USC FCCCHR Specifications, issued by an approved testing laboratory.

All installations must be performed by a certified or licensed professional.

(e)

Testing and maintenance requirements.

(1)

It shall be the duty of the property owner to have tests made, at the sole expense of the owner, upon required backflow assemblies installations and at least once per year thereafter. Failed inspections, or those instances where the director of the division deems the hazard to be great enough, shall require replacement or repair of the backflow preventer. Likewise, air gaps shall also be tested annually. These inspections shall be performed only by a certified or licensed tester, and shall require a premises permit issued by the city public works department and shall be conducted as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Florida Building Code. Non-testable backflow devices that cannot be field-tested with test gauges shall be inspected and assessed or verified by a plumber or certified tester. Connection with non-testable devices must be assessed to determine the appropriate backflow preventer in accordance with Rule 62-555.360, F.A.C. In instances where the water purveyor deems the hazard to be great enough, inspections or certified field tests at more frequent intervals may be performed. Such testing shall be performed by certified or licensed testing professional.

(2)

A field test report shall be created for all backflow preventer inspections or field tests. Backflow prevention devices and assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced whenever the devices or assemblies are found to be defective. Where tests are made by the property owner, confirmation documentation with results shall be provided to the purveyor within thirty (30) days of the test performance. The water purveyor shall retain records of field tests, inspections or repairs of backflow devices and assemblies as specified in this policy.

(f)

Right of inspection. All premises served by the purveyor's water system are under the ownership or control of the water purveyor. Therefore, all aforementioned premises shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times by authorized representatives of the water purveyor for the purpose of determining whether unprotected cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the water purveyor shall immediately coordinate, or require the property owner to coordinate, with a State certified or licensed plumber or a licensed contractor to eliminate the cross-connection by providing for a physical break in the service line or correcting the condition(s) in conformance with this policy, local and state regulations relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant to them. The city department of public services shall: monitor and report any prohibited or inappropriately protected (non-neutralized) cross-connections on any customer's property; monitor and report customer's premises that are altered under a city issued building permit that may change the backflow protection required for the service connection to the customer; monitor and report when a connection is reactivated or, when an existing customer reports that the customer is modifying their water use practices or changing the nature of their business. The city may elect, in its discretion, to conduct verification testing using its personnel or an outside contractor as the city deems appropriate. All costs of such confirmation testing shall be borne by the owner of the premises and will consist of the city's personnel time and material or the actual cost charged the city by the outside contractor, plus a ten (10) percent administrative charge.

(g)

New construction plan review. The water purveyor shall not provide water service to a newly constructed facility without first performing a cross-connection control hazard assessment of the facility and ensuring that the purveyor's water system is protected according to this policy. In lieu of such a hazard assessment by the water purveyor, receipt of a documented cross-connection control hazard assessment by a plumbing inspector of the governmental entity requiring a building permit may be utilized. The conditions for service established by this policy must also be satisfied.

(h)

Enforcement.

(1)

The public services director or designee shall be responsible for the protection of the utility system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through water service connection. When backflow prevention is required at the consumer's water service connection or within such consumer's system, as provided in this section, the public services director or designee shall give notice in writing to such consumer to install such approved backflow prevention assembly or means.

(2)

Service of water to any facility on the water purveyor's premises may be discontinued if an occupant, tenant or consumer interferes with or obstructs the implementation of this policy. If it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed, bypassed, or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on a tenant or consumer's premises, service shall be discontinued. Service to a facility, tenant or consumer may be discontinued immediately and without written notice if, in the opinion of the water purveyor, such action is necessary to protect public health or the public water supply. Service will not be restored until all circumstances, conditions or defects causing discontinuance of service are fully corrected.

(3)

Record keeping. Cross-connection control related records shall be retained for a minimum of ten years commencing from the date of adoption of this policy and shall be available for review by regulatory agencies when requested. At a minimum, the following records shall be maintained:

a.

Inventory. The water purveyor shall maintain, in a spreadsheet format, written inventory of all required backflow prevention assemblies present in the water system. Such information will include a description of the hazard isolated at each applicable premise, the location of each backflow assembly or air gap, the type of backflow prevention assembly and, if not an air gap, information describing the size, make, model and serial number of installed backflow assemblies. The most recent inspection or test date or cross-connection control survey of each required assembly will be noted and recorded, as well as the installation and repair dates.

b.

Test reports and certified testers. Backflow device inspection and assembly test, maintenance and repair reports shall be retained. Documentation supporting the credentials of certified testers will be retained.

c.

Other documentation. Copies of all other cross-connection program documentation will be retained, including service contracts, notifications to customers, enforcement actions, backflow incident reports and other related activity.

(i)

Penalties—Termination of service. Any receiver of water service from the city, failing to perform the required testing or make required repairs to a premises backflow device, or both such testing and repair, shall be subject to termination of service. Such terminations shall continue until all violations of this policy are corrected. The city may elect at its discretion to undertake such repair, testing or both using its personnel, outside contractor or both as the city deems necessary to correct the violation. All costs to repair, replace (or both) and test the violating device plus city personnel time and material, plus a ten (10) percent administrative charge shall be the responsibility of the violating party.

(Ord. No. 2018-012, § 4, 10-9-18)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 2018-012, § 4, adopted October 9, 2018, amended section 27-9 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former section 27-9, pertained to backflow preventers, and derived from Ord. No. 2011-035, § 2, 11-22-11.