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| Cross Connections Drinking
Water Regulations Relating to Cross Connection Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water Regulations Relating to Cross-Connection (This section has been extracted from WAC 246-290, Group A Drinking Water Regulations) Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms relating to cross-connections which have been extracted from WAC 246-290-010: "Approved air gap" means a physical separation between the free-flowing end of a potable water supply pipeline and the overflow rim of an open or nonpressurized receiving vessel. To be an air gap approved by the department, the separation must be at least:
"Approved atmospheric vacuum breaker" means an AVB of make, model, and size that is approved by the department. AVBs that appear on current approved backflow prevention assemblies list developed by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research or that are listed or approved by other nationally recognized testing agencies (such as IAPMO, ANSI or UL) acceptable to the local administrative authority are considered approved by the department. "Approved backflow preventer" means an approved air gap, an approved backflow prevention assembly, or approved AVB. The terms "approved backflow preventer," "approved air gap," or "approved backflow assembly" refer only to those approved backflow preventers relied upon by the purveyor for the protection of the public water system. The requirements of WAC 246-290-490 do not apply to backflow preventers installed for other purposes. "Approved backflow prevention assembly" means an RPBA, RPDA, DCVA, DCDA, PVBA or SBBA of make, model and size that is approved by the department. Assemblies that appear on the current approved backflow prevention assemblies list developed by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research or other entity acceptable to the department are considered approved by the department. "Backflow" means the undesirable reversal of flow of water or other substances through a cross-connection into the public water system or consumer's potable water system. "Backflow assembly tester" means a person holding a valid BAT certificate issued in accordance with chapter 246-292 WAC. "Backpressure" means a pressure (caused by a pump, elevated tank or piping, boiler, or other means) on the consumer's side of the service connection that is greater than the pressure provided by the public water system and which may cause backflow. "Backsiphonage" means backflow due to a reduction in system pressure in the purveyor's distribution system and/or consumer's water system. "Combination fire protection system" means a fire sprinkler system that:
"Consumer's water system," as used in WAC 246-290-490, means any potable and/or industrial water system that begins at the point of delivery from the public water system and is located on the consumer's premises. The consumer's water system includes all auxiliary sources of supply, storage, treatment, and distribution facilities, piping, plumbing and fixtures under the control of the consumer. "Cross-connection" means any actual or potential physical connection between a public water system or the consumer's water system and any source of nonpotable liquid, solid, or gas that could contaminate the potable water supply by backflow. "Cross-connection control program" means the administrative and technical procedures the purveyor implements to protect the public water system from contamination via cross-connections as required in WAC 246-292 WAC. "Cross-connection control specialist" means a person holding a valid CCS certificate issued in accordance with chapter 246-292 WAC. "Cross-connection control summary report" means the annual report that describes the status of the purveyor's cross-connection control program. "Flow-through fire protection system" means a fire sprinkler system that:
"High health cross-connection hazard" means a cross-connection which could impair the quality of potable water and create an actual public health hazard through poisoning or spread of disease by sewage, industrial liquids or waste. "In-premises protection" means a method of protecting the health of consumers served by the consumer's potable water system, located within the property lines of the consumer's premises by the installation of an approved air gap or backflow prevention assembly at the point of hazard, which is generally a plumbing fixture. "Local administrative authority" means the local official, board, department, or agency authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted under chapter 19.27 RCW. "Low health cross-connection hazard" means a cross-connection that could cause an impairment of the quality of potable water to a degree that does not create a hazard to the public health, but does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic qualities of such potable waters for domestic use. "Primary disinfection" means a treatment process for achieving inactivation of Giarda lamblia cysts, viruses, or other pathogenic organisms of public heath concern to comply with the treatment technique requirements of Part 6 of this chapter. "Reclaimed water" means effluent derived in any part from sewage from a wastewater treatment system that has been adequately and reliably treated, so that as a result of that treatment, it is suitable for beneficial use or a controlled use that would otherwise occur, and it is no longer considered wastewater. "Unapproved auxiliary water supply" means a supply (other than the purveyor's water supply) or an available to the consumer's premises that is either not approved for human consumption by the health agency having jurisdiction or is not otherwise acceptable to the purveyor. "Uniform Plumbing Code" means the code adopted under RCQ 19.27.031(4) and amended under chapter 51-46 WAC. This code establishes statewide minimum plumbing standards applicable within the property lines of the consumer's premises. "Used water" means water which has left the control of the purveyor. Abbreviations and Acronyms AG air gap AVB atmospheric vacuum breaker BAT backflow assembly tester (for WAC 246-290-490) CCS cross-connection control specialist DCDA double check detector assembly DCVA double check valve assembly IAPMO International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials PVBA pressure vacuum breaker assembly RPBA reduced pressure backflow assembly RPDA reduced pressure detector assembly SVBA spill resistant vacuum breaker assembly UBC Uniform Building Code UL Underwriters Laboratories Inc. UPC Uniform Plumbers Code WAC 246-290-490 Cross-Connection Control. (1 )Applicability, purpose, and responsibility. (a) All community water systems shall comply with the cross-connection control requirements specified in this section. (b) All non-community water systems shall apply the principals of this sections, including subsection (4)(b) of this section, as applicable to protect the public water system from contamination via cross-connections. Non-community systems that comply with subsection(4)(b) of this section and the provisions of WAC 51-46-0603 of the UPC (which addresses the installation of backflow preventers at points of water use within the potable water system) shall be considered in compliance with the requirements of this section. (c) The purpose of the purveyor's cross-connection control shall be to protect the public water system, as defined in WAC 246-290-010, from contamination via cross-connections (d) The purveyor's responsibility for cross-connection control shall begin at the water supply source, include all the public water treatment, storage, and distribution facilities, and end at the point of delivery to the consumer's water system, which begins at the downstream end of the service connection or water meter located on the public right of way or utility-held easement. (e) Under the provisions of this section, purveyors are not responsible for eliminating or controlling cross-connections within the consumer's water system. Under chapter 19.27 RCW, the responsibility for cross-connection control within the consumer's water system, i.e., within the property lines of the consumers premises, falls under the jurisdiction of the local administrative authority. (2) General program requirements. (a) The purveyor shall develop and implement a cross-connection control program that meets the requirements of this section, but may establish a more stringent program through local ordinances, resolutions, codes bylaws or operating rules. (b) Purveyors shall ensure that good engineering and public health practices are used in the development and implementation of cross-connection programs. Department publications and the most recently published editions of references, such as, but not limited to, those listed below, may be used as guidance for cross-connection program development and implementation: (i) Manual of Cross-Connection published by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California (USC Manual); or (ii) Cross-Connection Control Manual, Accepted Procedure and Practice published by the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association (PNWS-AWWA Manual) (c) The purveyor may implement the cross-connection control program, or any portion thereof, directly or by means of a contract with another agency or party acceptable to the department. (d) The purveyor shall coordinate with the local administrative authority in all matters concerning cross-connection control. The purveyor shall document and describe such coordination, including delineation of responsibilities, in written cross-connection control program required in (e) of this sub section. (e) The purveyor shall include a written description of the cross-connection control program in the water system plan required under WAC 246-290-100 or the small water system management program required under WAC 246-290-105. The cross-connection control program shall include the minimum program elements described in subsection (3) of this section. (f) The purveyor shall ensure that cross-connections between the distribution system and a consumer's water system are eliminated or controlled by the installation of an approved backflow preventer commensurate with the degree of hazard. This can be accomplished by implementation of a cross-connection program that relies on: (i) Premises isolation as defined in WAC 246-290-010; or (ii) Premises isolation and in-premises protection as defined in WAC 246-290-010. (g) Purveyors with cross-connection control programs that rely both on premises isolation and in-premises protection: (i) Shall comply with the premises isolation requirements specified in subsection (4)(b) of this sub section . (ii) May reduce premises isolation requirements and rely on in-premises protection for premises other than the type not addressed in subsection (4)(b) of this section, if the conditions in (h) of this subsection are met. (h) Purveyors may rely on in-premises protection only when the following conditions are met: (i) The in-premises backflow preventers provide a level of protection commensurate with the purveyor's assessed degree of hazard; (ii) Backflow preventers which provide the in-premises back flow protection meet the definition of approved backflow preventers as described in WAC 246-290-010; (iii) The approved backflow preventers are installed, inspected, tested (if applicable), maintained, and repaired in accordance with subsections (6) and (7) of this section; (iv) Records of such backflow preventers are maintained in accordance with subsections (3)(j) and (8) of this section; and (v)The purveyor has reasonable access to the consumer's premises to conduct an initial hazard evaluation and periodic re-evaluations to determine whether the in-premises protection is adequate to protect the purveyor's distribution system. (i) The purveyor shall take appropriate corrective action within its authority if: (ii) A cross-connection exists that is not controlled commensurate to the degree of hazard assessed by the purveyor; or (iii) A consumer fails to comply with the purveyor's requirements regarding the installation, inspection, testing, maintenance or repair of approved backflow preventers required by this chapter. (j) The purveyor's corrective action may include, but is not limited to: (i) Denying or discontinuing water service to a consumer's premises until the cross-connection hazard is eliminated or controlled to the satisfaction of the purveyor; (ii) Requiring the consumer to install an approved backflow preventer for premises isolation commensurate with the degree of hazard; or (iii) The purveyor installing an approved backflow preventer for premises isolation commensurate with the degree of hazard. (k) Purveyors denying or discontinuing water service to a consumer's premises for one or more other reasons listed in (I) of this subsection shall notify the local administrative authority prior to taking such action except in the event of an emergency. (l) The purveyor shall prohibit the intentional return of used water to the purveyor's distribution system. Such water would include, but is not limited to, water used for heating, cooling; or other purposes within the consumer's water system. (3) Minimum elements of a cross-connection control program. (a) To be acceptable to the department, the purveyor's cross-connection control program shall include the minimum elements identified in this subsection. (b) Element 1: The purveyor shall adopt a local ordinance, resolution, code, bylaw, or other written legal instrument that: (i) Establishes the purveyor's legal authority to implement a cross-connection control program; (ii) Describes the operating policies and technical provisions of the purveyor's cross-connection control program; and (iii) Describes the corrective actions used to ensure that consumers comply with the purveyor's cross-connection control requirements. 246-290-490 (c) Element 2: The purveyor shall develop and implement procedures and schedules for evaluating new and existing service connections to assess the degree of hazard posed by the consumers premises to the purveyor's distribution system and notifying the consumer within a reasonable time frame of hazard evaluation results. At a minimum, the program shall meet the following: (i) For new connections made on or after the effective date of these regulations, procedures shall ensure that an initial evaluation is conducted before service is provided; (ii) For existing connections made prior to the effective date of these regulations, procedures shall ensure that an initial evaluation is conducted in accordance with a schedule acceptable to the department; and (iii) For all service connections, once an initial evaluation has been conducted. Procedures shall ensure that periodic reevaluations are conducted in accordance of a schedule acceptable to the department and whenever there is a change in the use of the premises. (d) Element 3: The purveyor shall develop and implement procedures and schedules for ensuring that: (i) Cross-connections are eliminated whenever possible; (ii) When cross-connections cannot be eliminated, they are controlled by installation of approved backflow preventers commensurate with the degree of hazard; and (iii) Approved backflow preventers are installed in accordance with the requirements of subsection (6) of this section. (e) Element 4: The purveyor shall ensure that personnel, including at least one person certified as a CCS, are provided to develop and implement the cross-connection control program. (f) Element 5: The purveyor shall develop and implement procedures to ensure that approved backflow preventers are inspected and/or tested (as applicable) in accordance with subsection (7) of this section. (g) Element 6: The purveyor shall develop and implement a backflow prevention assembly testing quality control assurance program, including, but not limited to, documentation of tester certification and test calibration kit, test report contents, and time frames for submitting completed test reports. (h) Element 7: The purveyor shall develop and implement (when appropriate) procedures for responding to backflow incidents. (i) Element 8: The purveyor shall include information on cross-connection control in the purveyor's existing program for educating consumers about water system operation. Such a program may include periodic bill inserts, public service announcements, pamphlet distribution, notification of new consumers and consumer confidence reports. (j) Element 9: The purveyor shall develop and maintain cross-connection control records including, but not limited to, the following: (i) A master list of service connections and/or consumer's premises where the purveyor relies upon approved backflow preventers to protect the public water system from contamination, the assessed hazard level of each, and the required backflow preventer(s); (ii) Inventory information on: (A) Approved air gaps installed in lieu of approved backflow assemblies including exact air gap location, assessed degree of hazard, installation date, history of inspections, inspection results, and person conducting the inspections (B) Approved backflow assemblies including exact assembly location, assembly description (type, manufacture, model, size, and serial number), assessed degree of hazard, installation date, history of inspections, tests and repairs, test results, and person performing the inspection(s). (C) Approved AVBs used for irrigation system applications including location, description (manufacture, model, size), installation date, history of inspection(s), and person performing inspection(s). (iii) Cross-connection program summary reports and backflow incident reports required under subsection (8) of this document. (k) Element 10: Purveyors who distribute and/or have facilities that receive reclaimed water within their water service area shall meet any additional cross-connection control requirements imposed by the department under a permit issued in accordance with chapter 90.46 RCQ. (4) Approved backflow preventer selection. (a) The purveyor shall ensure that a CCS: (i) Assesses the degree of hazard posed by the consumer's water system upon the purveyor's distribution system; and (ii) Determines the appropriate method of backflow protection for premises isolation in accordance with Table 8. Table 8 APPRORIATE METHODS OF BACKFLOW PROTECTION FOR PREMISES ISOLATION
(b) Premises isolation requirements. (i) For service connections with premises posing a high health cross-connection hazard including, but not limited to, those premises listed in Table 9, the purveyor shall ensure that an approved air gap or RPBA is installed for premises isolation. (ii) If the purveyor's CCS determines that no hazard exists for a connection serving premises of the type listed in Table 9, the requirements of (b)(i) of this subsection do not apply. (iii) The purveyor shall document, on a case-by-case basis, the reasons for not applying the requirements of (b)(i) of this subsection to a connection serving premises of the type listed in Table 9 and include such documentation in the cross-connection control program summary report required in subsection (8) of this section. TABLE 9 HIGH HEALTH CROSS CONNECTION HAZARD PREMISES REQUIRING PREMISES ISOLATION BY AG OR RPBA Agriculture (farms and dairies) Beverage bottling plants Car washer Chemical plants Commercial laundries and dry cleaners Premises where both reclaimed water and potable water are provided Film processing facilities Food processing plants Hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes, veterinary, medical and dental clinics, and blood and plasma centers Premises with separate irrigation systems using the purveyor's water supply with chemical additions+ Laboratories Metal plating industries Mortuaries Petroleum processing plants or storage plants Piers and docks Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors * Survey access denied or restricted Wastewater lift stations and plumbing stations Wastewater treatment plants * Premises with an unapproved auxiliary water supply interconnected with the potable water supply + For example, parks, playgrounds, golf courses, cemeteries, estates, etc. * RPBAs for connections serving these premises are acceptable only when used in combination with an in-plant approved air gap; otherwise, the purveyor shall require an approved air gap at the service connection. (c) Backflow protection for single-family residences. (i) For single-family residential service connections, the purveyor shall comply with the requirements of (b) of this subsection when applicable. (ii) If the requirements of (b) of this subsection do not apply and the requirements specified in subsection (2)(h) of this section are met, the purveyor may rely on backflow protection provided at the point of hazard in accordance with WAC 51-46-0603 of the UPC for hazards such as, but not limited to: (A) Irrigation systems; (B) Swimming pools or spas; (C) Ponds; and (D) Boilers. For example, the purveyor may accept an approved AVB on a residential irrigation system, if the AVB is properly installed in accordance with the UPC. (d) Backflow protection for fire protection systems. (i) Backflow protection is not required for residential flow-through or combination fire protection systems constructed of potable water piping and materials. (ii) For service connections with fire protection systems other than flow-through or combination systems, the purveyor shall ensure that backflow protection consistent with WAC 51-46-0603 of the UPC is installed. The UPC requires minimum protection as follows: (A) An RPBA or RPDA for fire protection systems with chemical addition or using unapproved auxiliary water supply; and (B) A DCVA of DCDA for all other fire protection systems. (iii) For new connections being made on or after the effective date of these regulations, the purveyor shall ensure that backflow protection is installed before water service is provided. (iv) For existing fire protection systems: (A) With chemical addition or using unapproved auxiliary water supplies, the purveyor shall ensure that backflow protection is installed within ninety days of the purveyor notifying the consumer of the high heath cross-connection hazard or in accordance with an alternate schedule acceptable to the purveyor. (B) Without chemical addition, without on-site storage, and using only the purveyor's water (i.e., no unapproved auxiliary supplies on or available to the premises), the purveyor shall ensure that backflow protection is installed in accordance with a schedule acceptable to the purveyor or at an earlier date if required by the agency administrating the Uniform Building Code as adopted under chapter 19.27 RCW. (C) When establishing backflow protection retrofitting schedules for fire protection systems that have the characteristics listed in (d)(iv)(B) of this subsection, the purveyor may consider factors such as, but not limited to, impacts of assembly installation on sprinkler performance, costs of retrofitting, and difficulty of assembly installation. (e) Purveyors may require backflow preventers commensurate with the degree of hazard determined by the purveyor to be installed for premises isolation for connections serving premises that have characteristics such as, but not limited to, the following: (i) Complex plumbing arrangements or plumbing potential subject to frequent changes that make it impractical to assess whether or cross-connection hazards exist; (ii) A repeated history of cross-connections being established or reestablished; or (iii) Cross-connection hazards are unavoidable or not correctable, such as, but not limited to, tall buildings. (5) Approved backflow preventers. (a) The purveyor shall ensure that all backflow prevention assemblies relied upon by the purveyor are models included on the current list of backflow prevention assemblies approved for use in Washington State. The current approved assemblies list is available from the department upon request. (b) The purveyor may rely on testable backflow prevention assemblies that are not currently approved by the department, if the assemblies: (i) Were included on the department and/or USC list of approved backflow prevention assemblies at the time of installation; (ii) Have been properly maintained; (iii) Are commensurate with the purveyor's assessed degree of hazard; and (iv) Have been inspected and tested at least annually and have successfully passed the annual tests. (c) The purveyor shall ensure that an unlisted backflow prevention assembly is replaced by an approved assembly commensurate with the degree oh hazard, when the unlisted assembly: (i) Does not meet the conditions specified in (b)(i) through (iv) of this subsection; (ii) Is moved; or (iii) Cannot be repaired using spare parts from the original manufacture. (d) The purveyor shall ensure that AVBs meet the definition of approved atmospheric vacuum breakers as described in WAC 246-290-010. (6) Approved backflow preventer installation.
(a) The purveyor shall ensure that approved backflow preventers are installed in the orientation for which they are approved (where applicable). (b) The purveyor shall ensure that approved backflow preventers are installed in a matter that: (i) Facilitates their proper operation, maintenance, inspection, and/or in-line testing (as applicable) using standard installation procedures acceptable to the department such as those in the USC Manual or PNWS-AWWA Manual; (ii) Ensures that the assembly will not become submerged due to weather-related conditions such as flooding; and (iii) Ensures compliance with all applicable safety regulations. (c) The purveyor shall ensure that approved backflow assemblies for premises isolation are installed at a location adjacent to the meter or property line or an alternate location acceptable by the purveyor (d) When premises isolation assemblies are installed at an alternate location acceptable to the purveyor, the purveyor shall ensure that there are no connections between the point of delivery from the public water system and the approved backflow assembly, unless the installation of such a connection meets the purveyor's cross-connection control requirements and is specifically approved by the purveyor. (e) The purveyor shall ensure that approved backflow preventers are installed in accordance with the following time frames: (i) For new connections made on or after the effective date of these regulations, the following conditions shall be met before service is provided: (A) The provisions of subsection (3)(d)(ii) of this section; and (B) Satisfactory completion of a test by BAT in accordance with subsection (7) of this section. (ii) For existing connections where the purveyor identifies a high health cross-connection hazard, the provisions of (3)(d)(ii) of this section shall be met: (A) Within ninety days of the purveyor notifying the consumer of the high health cross-connection hazard; or (B) In accordance with an alternate schedule acceptable to the purveyor.(iii) For existing connections where the purveyor identifies a low health cross-connection hazard, the provisions of subsection (3)(d)(ii) of this section shall be met in accordance with a schedule acceptable to the purveyor.(f) The purveyor shall ensure that bypass piping installed around any approved backflow preventer is equipped with an approved backflow preventer that:(i) Affords at least the same level of protection as the approved backflow preventer that is being bypassed; and (ii) Complies with all applicable requirements of this section. (7) Approved backflow preventer inspection and testing. (a) The purveyor shall ensure that:(i ) A CCS inspects backflow preventer installations to ensure that protection is provided commensurate with the assessed degree of hazard;(ii) Either a BAT or CCS inspects:(A) Air gaps installed in lieu of approved backflow prevention assemblies for compliance with the approved air gap definition; and (B) Backflow prevention assemblies for the correct installation and approval status.(iii) A BAT tests approved backflow prevention assemblies for proper operation.(b) The purveyor shall ensure that inspections and/or tests of approved air gaps and approved backflow assemblies are conducted:(i) At the time of installation;(ii) Annually after installation, or more frequently, if required by the purveyor for connections serving premises or systems that pose a high health cross-connection hazard or for assemblies that repeatedly fail; (iii) After a backflow incident; and(iv) After an assembly is repaired, reinstalled, or relocated or an air gap is replumbed. (c) The purveyor shall ensure that inspections of AVBs installed on irrigation systems are conducted:(i) At the time of installation;(ii) After a backflow incident; and (iii) After repair, reinstallation, or relocation. (d) The purveyor shall ensure that approved backflow assemblies are tested using procedures acceptable to the department, such as those specified in the most recently published edition of the USC Manual. When circumstances, such as, but not limited to, configuration or location of the assembly, preclude the use of the USC test procedures, the purveyor may allow, on a case-by-case basis, the use of alternate (non-USC) test procedures acceptable to the department.(e) The purveyor shall ensure that results of backflow assembly inspections and tests are documented and reported in a manner acceptable to the purveyor. (f) The purveyor shall ensure that an approved backflow prevention assembly or AVB, whenever found to be improperly installed, defective, not commensurate with the degree of hazard, or failing a test (if applicable) is properly reinstalled, repaired, overhauled, or replaced.(g) The purveyor shall ensure that an approved air, gap, whenever found to be altered or improperly installed, is properly replumbed or, if commensurate with the degree of hazard, is replaced by an approved RPBA. (8) Record keeping and reporting. (a) Purveyors shall keep cross-connection control records for the following time frames: (i) Records pertaining to the master list of service connections and/or consumer's premises required in subsection (3)(j)(i) of this section shall be kept as long as the premises pose a cross-connection hazard to the purveyor's distribution system; (ii) Records regarding inventory information required in subsection (3)(j)(ii) of this section shall be kept for five years or for the life of the approved backflow preventer whichever is shorter; and (iii) Records regarding backflow incidents and annual summary reports required in subsection (3)(j)(iii) of this section shall be kept for five years. (b) Purveyors may maintain cross-connection control records in original form or transfer data to tabular summaries(c) Purveyors may maintain records or data in any media, such as paper, film or electronic format. (d) The purveyor shall complete the cross-connection control program summary report annually. Report forms and guidance on completing the report are available from the department. (e) The purveyor shall make all records and reports required in subsection (3)(j) of this section available to the department or its representatives upon request.(f) The purveyor shall notify the department, local administrative authority, and local health jurisdiction as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the next business day, when a backflow incident is known by the purveyor to have: (i) Contaminated the public water system; or(ii) Occurred within the premises of a consumer served by the purveyor.(g) The purveyor shall: (i) Document details of backflow incidents on a form acceptable to the department such as the backflow incident report form included in the most recent edition if the PNWS-AWWA Manual; and (ii) Include all backflow incident report(s) in the annual cross-connection program summary report referenced in (d) of this subsection, unless otherwise requested by the department. |