Section 16-27-1. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to protect the City's public water system from contaminants or pollutants that could enter the system by backflow from a customer's facility through the service connection.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-2. Authority.

The City has the authority to adopt this Article pursuant to:

Safe Drinking Water Act -- Title XIV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300F-300J-9) as added by Public Law 93-523 (1974) and the amendments made by subsequent enactments.

C.R.S. §§ 25-1-114 and 25-1-114.1.

Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations (5 CCR 1002-11).

Safe Drinking Water Program Policy, Water Quality Control Division, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ("Policy 7").

International Plumbing Code, 2009 Edition.

The City shall have the authority to survey all service connections within the distribution system to determine if the connection is a cross-connection.

The City may collect fees for the administration of this program. The fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

The City shall maintain records of cross-connection surveys and the installation, testing and repair of all backflow prevention assemblies installed for containment and containment by isolation purposes.

The City may adopt rules and regulations to administer this program.

Except as otherwise provided herein, the Northglenn Director of Public Works and Utilities shall administer, implement and enforce the provisions of this Article.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-3. Applicability.

This Article applies to all commercial, industrial and multi-family residential service connections within the City of Northglenn and to any persons outside the City who are, by contract or agreement with Northglenn, users of the Northglenn public water system. This article does not apply to single-family-residential service connections.

This Article shall apply to all existing and new service connections.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-4. Definitions.

For purposes of this Article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Air gap means the physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel.

Backflow prevention assembly (or device), approved means a backflow prevention assembly that meets the standards and installation requirements as outlined in manuals such as the latest edition of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Colorado Cross-connection Control Manual, the EPA Cross-connection Control Manual and the latest edition of the Manual of Cross-connection Control (USC Manual), and/or that meets requirements of the Public Works and Utilities Department.

Backpressure means the elevation of pressure in downstream piping greater than the supply pressure that would cause reversal of normal direction of flow.

Backsiphonage means the reversal of flow caused when a partial vacuum creates low pressure in the supply line allowing water from a potentially contaminated source to be pulled into the supply line.

Contaminant means any substance that shall impair the quality of water in such a way as to create an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning, the spread of disease, etc.

Cross-connection means a physical connection or arrangement between any part of the City's public water system and another piping system that contains water of questionable or unknown safety. The two classifications of cross-connections are direct and indirect.

Direct cross-connection means a cross-connection that is subject to both backpressure and backsiphonage.

Indirect cross-connection means a cross-connection that is subject only to backsiphonage.

Isolation means the appropriate assembly or method of backflow prevention within a customer's potable water system at the point of use, commensurate with the degree of hazard.

Non-testable means a backflow prevention device that does not have specific points for connecting a test kit or that must be removed from the line for testing.

Point of use means means a specific location where the potable water piping connects to a fixture or piece of equipment.

Pollutant means any substance that shall impair the quality of water to a degree that does not create a hazard to public health, but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such waters for domestic use.

Potable means water that is suitable for drinking, food preparation and personal hygiene purposes.

Reduced pressure principle means an assembly containing two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between the check valves, and at the same time below the first check valve. The unit shall include properly located resilient seated test cocks, and tightly closing resilient seated shutoff valves at each end of the assembly. This assembly is designed to protect against a non-health hazard from a pollutant or a health-hazard from a contaminant.

Survey means an onsite inspection of a customer's property to identify the presence of cross-connections for possible hazards and for determining compliance with this Article.

Testable means a backflow prevention device provided with specific points for connecting a test kit. Testing is performed with the backflow preventer still in line.

In addition to the definitions provided in subsection (a) hereof, other terms used in this Article shall have the meaning ascribed to them in Regulation 11.39 of Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations and Policy 7.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-5. General Requirements.

Commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings shall have an approved reduced pressure principle assembly for containment installed at the customer's water service connection. The assembly shall be installed in horizontal plumbing immediately downstream of the water meter or as close to that location as deemed practical by the City.

Connections or tees between the meter and the reduced pressure principle assembly are prohibited except as provided for herein.

In rare instances where a reduced pressure principle assembly cannot be installed, the owner must install approved backflow prevention devices at all cross-connections within the owner's plumbing system.

Reduced pressure principle assemblies are to be installed in an accessible location to facilitate maintenance, testing and repair but shall not be installed in underground pits or vaults.

Provisions shall be made to convey the discharge of water from reduced pressure principle assemblies to a suitable drain.

All backflow prevention devices shall be protected to prevent freezing. Those devices used for seasonal services may be removed in lieu of being protected from freezing; however, the devices must be reinstalled and then tested by a certified cross-connection control technician prior to the service being activated.

Where a backflow prevention device is installed on the water supply system using storage water heating equipment such that thermal expansion causes an increase in pressure, a device for controlling pressure shall be installed.

For new buildings, all building plans must be submitted to the City and approved prior to the issuance of water service. Building plans must show:

Water service type, size and location;

Meter size and location;

Backflow prevention assembly size, type and location;

Fire sprinkler system(s) service line, size and type of backflow prevention assembly.

All fire sprinkling lines shall have a minimum protection of an approved double check valve assembly for containment of the system.

All glycol (ethylene or propylene), or antifreeze systems shall have an approved reduced pressure principle assembly for containment.

Dry fire systems shall have an approved double check valve assembly installed upstream of the air pressure valve.

All fire sprinkler systems shall conform to the following sections of the National Fire Protection Association Pamphlets Number Thirteen and Twenty-Four: Pamphlet Number Thirteen, Sections 1-11.2 Hydrostatic Testing, and Sections 1-1.2.2 Allowable Leakage. Pamphlet Number Twenty-Four, "Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances," Sections 8.4.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-6. Surveying. The City shall perform a survey of all backflow assemblies in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the City.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-7. Inspection, Testing and Repair. Backflow prevention devices shall be tested by a certified cross-connection control technician upon installation and tested at least annually, in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the City. The City also requires maintenance and repair of all backflow prevention devices in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the City.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-8. Reporting and Recordkeeping.

Copies of records of test reports, repairs and retests, or replacements shall be kept by the customer for a minimum of three (3) years.

Copies of records of test reports, repairs and retests shall be submitted to the City by mail, facsimile or e-mail by the testing company or testing technician.

Information on test reports shall conform to the policies adopted by the City.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-9. Right of Entry. The City shall have the right of entry to survey and inspect any and all buildings and premises for the presence of cross-connections and possible hazards relative to and for determining compliance with this Article. This right of entry shall be a condition of water service in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of customers throughout the City's distribution system.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-10. Compliance.

Customers shall cooperate with the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, repair and replacement of backflow prevention assemblies and with the survey process.

For any identified uncontrolled cross-connections, the City shall complete one of the following actions:

Control the cross-connection

Remove the cross-connection

Suspend service to the cross-connection

The City shall give notice in writing to any owner whose plumbing system has been found to present a hazard to the potable water supply through an uncontrolled cross-connection. The notice and order shall state that the owner must install an approved reduced pressure principle device at each service connection to the owner's premises to contain the water service. The notice and order will give a date by which the owner must comply with the order.

In rare instances where a reduced pressure principle device cannot be installed, the owner must install approved backflow prevention devices at all cross-connections within the owner's plumbing system. The notice and order will give a date by which the owner must comply with the order.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-11. Violations and Penalties. Any violation of the provisions of this Ordinance, shall, upon conviction be punishable as provided in Section 1-1-10(a)(2) of the Northglenn Municipal Code.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]

Section 16-27-12. Conflict with Other Codes. If a dispute or conflict arises between this Article and any plumbing, mechanical, building, electrical, fire or other code adopted by the State, then the most stringent provisions of each respective code shall prevail.

[Source: Ord. 1709, 2016]