Attachment 2
14.04.090 Cross connections and backflow devices.
A. The owner shall comply with state and federal laws enforcing the installation of backflow prevention assemblies to protect the public potable water supply from the danger of cross connections. Backflow prevention assemblies must be installed directly downstream from the service and shall be open to test and inspection by the district at all times. Plans for installation of backflow prevention assemblies must be approved by the district prior to installation. Whenever backflow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering an owner's premises, then any and all water supply lines from the district's mains entering such premises, building, or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention assembly, regardless of the use of the additional water supply lines.
B. Backflow Prevention. District will establish and maintain a list of approved backflow prevention assemblies. Only those backflow prevention assemblies that meet the requirements below will be accepted by the District. (1) Standards found in Chapter 10 of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control, Tenth Edition, published by the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research; or (2) certification requirements for backflow prevention assemblies in the Standards of American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) International current as of 2022 that include ASSE 1015-2021 for the DC, ASSE 1048-2021 for the DCDA & DCDA-II, ASSE 1013-2021 for the RP, and ASSE 1047-2021 for the RPDA & RPDA-II and must have the 1YT mark.
Only backflow prevention assemblies which have been approved by the district shall be acceptable for installation by a water user. The type of backflow prevention assembly that may be required (listed in decreasing level of protection) includes: Air Gap Separation (A.G.), Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (R.P.), Double Check Valve Assembly (D.C.), for fire services, Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (R.P.D.A.), and Double Check Detector Assemblies (D.C.D.A.). The water user may choose a higher level of protection then required by the district. The minimum types of backflow protection required to protect the public potable water system at the user's water connection to premises with varying degrees of hazard are listed in Table 1 of Section 7604, Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations. APPENDIX D of the State Water Resources Control Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook.
Situations which are not covered in Table 1 APPENDIX D of the State Water Resources Control Board Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook shall be evaluated on a case by case basis and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the district. In special circumstances when the owner is engaged in the handling of especially dangerous corrosive liquids, industrial or processed water the owner shall be required to install an air gap separation as an additional precaution as a protection to the district's water supply.
A list of approved backflow prevention assemblies will be provided at request to any affected customer. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in a manner prescribed in the district's policy and procedures document. Location of the assemblies shall be as close as practical to the user's connection. The district shall have the final authority in determining the required location of a backflow prevention assembly.
C. Testing Backflow Prevention Assemblies. The district may inspect and test backflow prevention assemblies at random. Testing of backflow prevention assemblies shall be conducted only by certified testers. A list of certified testers will be provided to any affected customer. Testing of the assemblies shall be the responsibility of the water user. Backflow prevention assemblies will be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation, or repair. More frequent testing may be required if deemed necessary by the district. Assemblies shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective and all costs of repair, maintenance, and testing shall be borne by the water user. Approval must be obtained from the Hesperia Water District prior to removing, relocating, or replacing a backflow prevention assembly.
D. Termination of Service. Unprotected cross connections are prohibited. An appropriate backflow prevention assembly shall be installed, tested and maintained by and at the expense of the water user, at each user connection where required to prevent backflow from the water users premises to the public potable water system. It shall be the water user's responsibility to comply with the district's requirements. Failure to comply with the district requirements shall be cause for water service termination to the premises until corrective actions have been taken. The service of water to any premises may be immediately disconnected by the district if any defect is found in the backflow prevention assembly or if it is found that dangerous unprotected cross connections exist. Service will not be restored until such defects are corrected.
E. Hazard Assessment. To evaluate the potential for backflow into the public potable water supply, the District must conduct an initial hazard assessment of all user’s premises within its service area. Each hazard assessment must identify the degree of hazard to the distribution system as either a high hazard cross-connection, a low hazard cross-connection, or having no hazard. Subsequent to the initial hazard assessment, the District must perform a hazard assessment under the following criteria:
(1) if a user premises changes account holder, excluding single-family residences; (2) if a user premises is newly or re-connected to the public water system; (3) if evidence exists of changes in the activities or materials on a user’s premises; (4) if backflow from a user’s premises occurs;
(5) periodically, as identified in the District’s Cross-Connection Control Plan.