BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Ordinance 28
Establishes regulations for a backflow prevention and cross connection control program within the municipal water distribution system

BE IT ENACTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS:

A. Purpose and Authority

The Bolinas Community Public Utility District furnishes public water supplies under permits issued by the State of California Department of Health Services. In order to comply with the terms of these permits and with all State regulations intended to protect the public water supply from contamination, an appropriate back flow preventer shall be installed at every service connection where one is required by regulations of the Department of Health Services, by other State regulations, or by this Ordinance of the BCPUD . In particular, this Regulation shall implement the requirements of Title 17, Sections 7583 through 7603, inclusive, of the California Code of Regulations and shall provide District operating rules for implementing a cross-connection program.

Examples of sites where back flow prevention devices are required include locations with an auxiliary water supply, locations where pressurized fluids are handled, locations with plumbing connections to unpotable piping or water storage facilities. Need shall be determined in accordance with Section 7585 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations; the California State "Manual of Cross-Connection Control Procedures & Practices" may also be referenced to determine need.

This Regulation supplements and does not supersede local plumbing regulations, codes or ordinances, or State regulations related to water supply.

B. Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions in Section 7583 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations shall apply.

C. Survey

When this Regulation becomes effective, the staff of the BCPUD shall conduct a survey by appropriate means to identify water user premises where cross-connections are likely to occur. Each new connection shall be evaluated for the possibility of cross-connection. Staff shall exercise reasonable diligence to identify changes at water user premises that indicate a possibility of cross-connection.

D. Cross-Connection Condition

A "cross-connection condition" shall be deemed to exist at a water user premises when there is an unprotected actual or potential connection between the potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water of any substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome and potable. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which back flow could

occur, shall be considered to constitute a cross-connection condition. Special consideration shall be given to premises of the types listed in Section 7585 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations for purposes of evaluating the degree of health hazard to the public water supply.

E. Cross-Connection Inspector

The District shall designate at least one person to be its cross-connection inspector, which person or persons shall have the responsibility for inspecting, testing, and certifying back flow preventers. Such inspectors shall be individuals certified by the American Water Works Association, the University of Southern California, or the BCPUD as back flow prevention testers.

F. Maintenance of Records

The District's staff shall maintain for a minimum of three years, records of the locations, tests, maintenance, repairs, and replacements of back flow preventers required pursuant to Section 7585 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations.

G. Master Shutoff Valve

Every customer service shall be equipped with a master shutoff valve regardless of whether or not a cross-connection condition exists at the water user premises.

H. Type of Backflow Preventer Required

In the event of a cross-connection condition at a water user premises, the type of preventer to be installed shall be determined by the district, giving consideration to the likelihood of back flow occurring, the type of contamination that may occur, and applicable State regulations. The general types of back flow preventers the District may require (in decreasing order of protection) are: Air Gap (AG), Reduced Pressure Principle device (RP), and double check valve (DCV). A single check valve installed as a back flow preventer shall not be deemed sufficient at a water user premises where a cross-connection condition exists. The specific model of any device must be approved by the District.

I. Initial Installation/Inspection, Testing, and Certification of Back flow Preventer

The manner and location of installation of a back flow preventer shall be subject to District approval. In general, all back flow preventers shall be installed by the District. However, the District may, at its discretion, authorize installation by others. The initial installation/inspection, testing, and certification of a required back flow preventer shall be at the expense of the customer or property owner.

J. Periodic Inspection and Testing of Back flow Preventers

A certified inspection by a District-designated inspector of all back flow preventers shall be performed annually. More frequent inspection shall be required in cases where successive inspections indicate repeated failure, or in cases where unusual conditions or unusually hazardous cross-connections indicate a need for more frequent inspection in order to safeguard the public water supply, or in cases where more frequent inspection is determined to be necessary by the health agency.

A report of each certified inspection shall be submitted to the district within thirty (30) days of the inspection. An inspection shall be conducted within thirty (30) days of the scheduled inspection date.

K. Repair and Replacement of Back flow Preventer

A back flow preventer that fails a performance test will be repaired or replaced by the District, provided that the preventer was initially installed by the District or has been previously certified by the District, and the bimonthly back flow service charge is in effect for the customer account for the water user premises where the preventer is located. If an upgrade of a back flow preventer is required, the upgrade installation and initial testing costs shall be at the expense of the customer or property owner, and shall not be covered by the bimonthly back flow service charge.

L. Noncompliance

If a consumer fails to comply with this Ordinance by failure to notify the District of the existence of a cross-connection condition, or a failure to install, test, or correct deficiencies, or by removal, tampering with, modifying, or bypassing a preventer, the District shall have the right to refuse water service or to discontinue water service, and, if it deems necessary, to physically disconnect the consumer's piping from the District's distribution system.

M. Access for Inspection

BCPUD personnel and representatives of any governmental health agency shall have the right of ingress to and egress from the consumer's premises during normal business hours with not less than 72 hours notification for the purpose of investigating compliance with this Ordinance and State Health Department requirements.

N. Liability

The District shall not be liable for any injury to persons or damage to property which may result directly or indirectly from the installation, malfunction, testing, or repair of any backflow preventer.

O. Charges

The customer or property owner shall pay for initial installation/inspection, testing, and certification of a backflow preventer, or for installation, testing, and certification of a required upgrade backflow preventer. These charges shall be based on the District's costs for time and materials plus the District's standard overhead factor. The certification charge at the time of initial installation/inspection, at the time of upgrade installation, and in cases where the bimonthly cross-connection charge is not applied, shall be eight dollars and fifty cents ($8.50).

Once a backflow preventer has been initially certified, the customer shall be charged an annual cross-connection charge, payment of which shall entitle the customer to inspections and certifications at the prescribed inspection intervals, maintenance, testing, repair, and replacement of the installed backflow preventer. The following shall be the schedule of annual charges:

Inspection Frequency Charge

Annual $7.00

Semiannual $12.00

Quarterly $24.00

Monthly $66.00

P. Exceptions for 1.5 Inch and Larger Assemblies

In the case of a 1.5 inch or larger backflow preventer assembly, the District may, at its option, provide periodic inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and certification on a time and materials (plus overhead) basis, rather than as provided for in paragraph "O" of this Ordinance. At its option, in the case of 1.5 inch or larger backflow preventer assembly, the District may require the customer or property owner to provide directly for maintenance, repair, and replacement of the backflow preventer, with the District providing only inspection, testing, and certification.

PASSED AND ADOPTED This 16th Day of November, 1994, following a first reading at the September 28, 1994 Regular Meeting, by the following vote:

AYES: Amoroso, McClellan, McNaughton, Pfeiffer, Siedman

NOES: None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT: None