The City hereby establishes a program to:

A.    Protect the public water supply system from contamination due to cross connection.

B.    Prohibit and promote the elimination of all cross connections within the public water supply system.

C.    Provide for the maintenance of a continuing effective cross connection control program.

D.    Comply with the State Department of Health and Environment’s rules and regulations regarding water quality.

(Code 2015)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Approved backflow prevention device- means a device tested and accepted by the University of Southern California, Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, or devices which are approved by the City’s authorized representative dealing with cross connection control.

Approved tester- means a trained technician who has successfully passed a City-approved course in the inspection, testing and repair of backflow prevention devices.  An approved tester shall be registered with the City.

Authorized representative- means any person designated by the City Manager to administer the program created under this article.

Auxiliary water supply- means any water source or system, other than the City’s system, that may be available to a building or premises.  “Auxiliary water supply” does not include other State Department of Health and Environment permitted public water supply systems.

Backflow- means the flow of contamination into the distribution system of a public water supply system, either through back siphonage or back pressure.

Backflow prevention device- means any device, method or type of construction which prevents backflow into the public water supply system.  Backflow prevention devices are such devices which are approved by the City or its authorized representative.

Consumer- means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or agency or their authorized agent receiving water from the City.

Consumer water system- means all service pipes, distribution piping and all appurtenances on the downflow of the service meter.

Contamination- means the introduction to the public water supply system of any sewage, processed fluids, chemicals, wastes or any other substance not approved by the City or the State Department of Health and Environment.

Cross connection- means any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other of which contains water of unknown or questionable quality or contamination, whereby there may be flow from one piping system to the other piping system.

Flood level- rim means the edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.

Free water surface- means a water surface at atmospheric pressure.

Frost proof closet- means a hopper with no water in the bowl and with the trap and water supply control valve located below the frost line.

Nonpotable water- means water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable quality.

Plumbing- means the practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension or alteration of all piping fixtures, appliances and appurtenances.

Potable water- means water free from impurities in amounts sufficient to cause disease or harmful health effects.  Potable water shall conform to State Department of Health and Environment requirements for public water supplies.

Public water supply system- means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least ten (10) service connections or regularly serves an average of at least twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days out of the year.  Such term includes any source, treatment, storage or distribution facilities under the control of the operator of the system and used primarily in connection with the system, and any source, treatment, storage or distribution facilities not under such control but which are used in connection with such system.

Public water system- means the water supply source, distribution system and appurtenances to the service meter operated as a public utility which supplies potable water to the consumers’ water system.

RPZ- means a reduced pressure principal backflow prevention device that is approved for use by the City’s authorized representative.

Service connection- means the terminal end of the service line from the public water supply system.  If a meter is installed at the end of the service, then “service connection” means the downstream end of the meter.

Vacuum- means an absolute pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere.

Vacuum breaker- means a device that permits entrance check of air into the water supply system line to prevent back siphonage.

(K.S.A. 65-163a.; Code 2015)

This article shall apply to all consumers of the City’s public water supply system.

(Code 2015)

A.    The public water supply system shall be designed, installed and maintained in such a manner as to prevent contamination through cross connections or piping connections to the public water supply system.

B.    Cross connections are prohibited, except as approved by the City’s authorized representative.  No cross connection shall be installed or maintained whereby an auxiliary water supply system may enter a public water supply system.

C.    If, in the judgment of the City’s authorized representative, cross connection protection is required through either piping modification or installation of an approved backflow prevention device, due and appropriate notice shall be given to the consumer.  The consumer shall be given a reasonable amount of time to provide the required protection, at the consumer’s expense.  Failure or refusal to provide such protection shall constitute grounds for disconnection to the public water supply system until such time as protection has been provided.

(Code 2015)

A.    An approved backflow prevention device must be installed on each service line to a consumer’s water system serving a premises where there is actual or potential cross connection.

B.    An approved air gap separation or RPZ must be installed at the service connection or within any premises where, in the judgment of the City’s authorized representative, the nature or extent of activities on the premises, or the materials used in connection with the activities or materials stored on the premises, may present contamination of the public water supply system from a cross connection.

C.    Examples of situations where air gap separation or RPZ must be installed may include, but are not limited to, the following facilities or situations:

1.    Premises having an auxiliary water supply.

2.    Premises having internal plumbing arrangements which make it impractical to ascertain whether or not a cross connection exists.

3.    Premises where entry is restricted so that inspection for cross connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to ensure that cross connections do not exist.

4.    Premises having a previous history of cross connections being established or reestablished.

5.    Premises which, due to the nature of the enterprise therein, are subject to recurring modifications or expansion.

6.    Premises on which any substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the public water supply system, or where a cross connection could reasonably be expected to occur.  This shall include the handling process waters and cooling waters.

7.    Premises where toxic or hazardous materials are handled.

8.    Potable water connections to boiler water feed systems in which boiler water conditioning chemicals are or can be introduced.

9.    Potable water connections to fire lines and fire sprinkler systems in which water conditioning chemicals are or can be introduced, or piping not approved for potable water.

10.  Agricultural chemical facilities.

11.  Buildings: hotels, apartments, public or private buildings, or other structures having actual cross connections.

12.  Bulk water facilities.

13.  Car washing facilities.

14.  Chemical manufacturing, processing, compounding or treatment facilities.

15.  Chill water systems.

16.  Dairies and cold storage facilities.

17.  Feed lots.

18.  Film or photography processing laboratories.

19.  Hazardous wastes storage and disposal sites.

20.  Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, or other such facilities as discovered by water use surveys.

21.  Irrigation and sprinkler systems.

22.  Laundries and dry cleaners.

23.  Meat processing plants.

24.  Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing and fabricating plants.

25.  Oil and gas production, refining, storage or transmission properties.

26.  Packing or food processing plants.

27.  Plating plants.

28.  Power plants.

29.  Research and analytical laboratories.

30.  Sand, gravel and asphalt plants.

31.  Schools and colleges.

32.  Sewage and storm drainage facilities and reclaimed water systems.

33.  Solar heating systems.

34.  Temporary service connections such as fire hydrants, air valves, water blowoffs and other outlets.

35.  Veterinary clinics.

(Code 2015)

The following connections to the public water supply system are prohibited, unless properly protected by the appropriate approved backflow prevention device:

A.    Bidets.

B.    Operating, dissecting, embalming and mortuary tables or similar equipment.  In such installations the hose used for water supply shall terminate at least twelve (12) inches away from every point of the table or its attachments.

C.    Building drains, sewers or vent systems.

D.    Commercial buildings or industrial plants, manufacturing or otherwise using polluting or contaminating substances.

E.    Frost proof closet yard hydrants and any fixture of similar hazard.

(Code 2015)

A.    Any backflow prevention device required by this article shall be of a model approved by the University of Southern California.

B.    The following devices are recognized for cross connection control and backflow prevention by the City:

1.    Air gap: The air gap must be two pipe diameters and in no case less than one inch.

2.    Barometric loops.

3.    Atmospheric vacuum breakers.

4.    Pressure vacuum breakers.

5.    Dual check valves.

6.    Double check valve assemblies.

7.    RPZ.

(Code 2015)

A.    Approved backflow prevention devices required by this article shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the City’s authorized representative.  All devices shall be installed at the expense of the consumer.

B.    All approved backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection, on the consumer’s side of the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical, and prior to any other connection.

(Code 2015)

A.    Consumers are required to notify the City’s authorized representative within thirty (30) days of any inspection, tests, repairs and overhauls of backflow prevention devices in accordance with the following schedule:

1.    Air gap separations shall be inspected at the time of installation.

2.    All backflow prevention devices shall be inspected and tested at the time of installation and shall be tested annually thereafter.

3.    RPZ’s shall be dismantled and inspected every five (5) years and rebuilt if needed.

4.    All backflow devices shall be rebuilt when it fails testing or when apparent lack of maintenance or physical inspection by a certified inspector or a city’s authorized representative indicates the need.

B.    Inspections, tests, and repairs of backflow prevention devices shall be made at the expense of the consumer and shall be performed by an approved tester.

(Code 2015)

A.    The consumer must maintain a complete record of each backflow prevention device from purchase to retirement.  Records shall include all tests, inspections and repairs.  All records of inspections, tests and repairs shall be provided within thirty (30) days to the City.

B.    Backflow prevention devices shall have a tag showing the date of last inspection, the test, repair or other maintenance.

C.    The City’s authorized representative may inspect all backflow prevention devices’ installation and may assist in the development of the appropriate testing and repair schedules for such devices.

D.    Backflow prevention devices shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed, or otherwise made ineffective without specific written authorization by the City’s authorized representative.

(Code 2015)

In addition to the provisions of Section 13-217, the consumer shall provide access to such Consumer’s premises and information for the purpose of conducting surveys and investigations of water use practices.

(Code 2015)

A.    If a violation of this article is not corrected within thirty (30) days of notification by the City, a fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day for each violation may be levied, and/or the City may terminate delivery of water to the building or premises.

B.    Water service, if discontinued, shall not be restored until the consumer is in compliance with this article.

(Code 2015)