§ 4.16.130. System protection.

A.

Protective Measures. The following provisions are intended to protect the District's potable water supplies against actual, undiscovered, unauthorized, or potential cross-connections to the user's recycled water system. These provisions are in addition to, not in lieu of, the controls and requirements of other regulatory agencies. These provisions are in accordance with Title 17 (Public Health) of the California Code of Regulations.

1.

Approved backflow prevention devices on the District's potable water services to the property as required in these provisions, shall be provided, installed, tested, and maintained according to Chapter 4.12. These devices shall be located at the property line served immediately downstream of the meter. All devices shall be readily accessible for testing and maintenance and no device shall be submerged at any time.

2.

When a request for recycled water service is initiated, the applicant must provide sufficient information, including plumbing and building plans, to enable the Administrator and other regulatory agencies to determine the level of backflow protection required. The proper backflow protection, as determined by the Administrator and other regulatory agencies, shall then be installed and tested according to Chapter 4.12 before recycled water service is provided.

3.

Each time there is a change of tenant on any commercial or industrial premises, the owner or user shall notify the Administrator immediately. The Administrator will then reassess the level of protection required. In addition, any alterations to existing on-site facilities that may affect required protection level must be reported immediately to the Administrator.

4.

At their discretion, representatives of any health agency having jurisdiction, and the Administrator, may inspect any property provided recycled water service by the District. The inspection shall serve to determine if any actual or potential cross-connections exist. The owner or user shall provide full cooperation in facilitating the inspection.

5.

Where protection is required, an approved backflow protection device for potable water supplies shall be provided as follows:

(a)

Each District water service connection that supplies potable water to premises having an auxiliary water supply (including recycled water) that is not accepted as a potable source by the Administrator, and/or is not approved for potable use by DHS, shall be protected against backflow from the premises into the District's potable water system.

(b)

Each District water service connection supplying potable or recycled water to a premises on which any substance is handled in such a fashion as to permit entry into the District water systems (potable or recycled) from the premises shall be protected against backflow. This shall include, but not limited to, the handling of fertilizers, process waters, waters originating from any of the District water systems that have been subject to deterioration in quality, and agricultural use.

(c)

Approved backflow devices shall be installed where premises have intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where not all portions of the premises are readily accessible for inspection.

(d)

Appropriate backflow protection may be required at premises where there has been a history of cross-connections being re-established.

6.

Other Measures:

(a)

Water meters used for recycled water service shall be tagged or color-coded purple, color pantone 512 or 522, or otherwise distinguished as such per AWWA standards. These meters shall not be interchanged or used for potable water service after repairs and/or meter testing have been performed.

(b)

Periodic inspection by the District of the recycled water facilities will determine if all identifying items are still clearly discernable. If not, they shall be replaced, repaired or refurbished as needed, by the user. These items include:

i.

Warning tags;

ii.

Painted surfaces;

iii.

Warning tape;

iv.

Identification tape;

v.

Covers, caps, signs;

vi.

Other items that indicate recycled water is being used.

(c)

To determine the existence of any cross-connections or backflow conditions into the potable water system, periodic testing by DHS approved methods will be performed by the Administrator and/or other regulatory agencies.

(d)

In the event of contamination or pollution of a District potable water system due to a cross-connection or other failure, the DHS, the Administrator, and the IEUA shall be promptly notified by telephone so that appropriate and immediate measures may be taken to correct the problem.

(e)

The State and County Health Departments, the Administrator, and the IEUA shall be kept informed by written document of the identity of the person responsible for the user's recycled water system on all premises concerned with these rules and regulations. At each authorized use area, an "On-site" Recycled Water Supervisor shall be designated. This supervisor shall be responsible for:

i.

The installation and use of all components of the on-site recycled water system(s);

ii.

Prevention of cross-connections;

iii.

Change in use of recycled water.

7.

When the recycled water uses or conditions, as determined by the Administrator or other regulatory agency, represent a clear and immediate hazard to the District potable and/or recycled water supply that cannot be immediately removed or corrected, the Administrator shall terminate recycled water use. Conditions or uses that create a basis for termination include, but are not limited to, refusal to install, test or repair a required backflow prevention device.

B.

Types of Protection. The level of protection required shall be related to the degree of potential hazard that exists on the premises served, and will be determined by the Administrator.

C.

Testing and Maintenance of Backflow Prevention Devices. The user is responsible for testing all backflow prevention devices and maintaining these devices in a satisfactory operating condition. Testing shall be performed at least once a year by a San Bernardino County certified backflow prevention tester. More frequent testing may be required if successive inspections indicate repeated failures. The backflow prevention devices shall be repaired, overhauled and/or replaced whenever they are found to be defective. These devices shall also be tested immediately after they are installed, relocated or repaired. All inspections, tests and repairs shall be performed at the user's expense. The user shall maintain records of all such tests, repairs and overhauls. These records shall be submitted to the Administrator, annually, and made available to the DHS, on request.

( Ord. No. 46-C, § 2(Exh. A), 5-27-2014 )