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TUID Cross Connection Control Policy
TUID has the authority to control our water system pursuant to Section 10-8-14, Utah Code Annotated.
No drinking water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by TUID or any other water utility unless the water supply on the premises is protected as required.
Definitions:
- Cross Connection: Any connection from the TUID system that is connected in any way to allow water or other liquids, or mixtures of substances, which are not suitable for human consumption and may cause a health risk if consumed.
- Backflow: The reversal of normal flow of water caused either by back-pressure or back-siphonage.
- Back-Pressure: The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures of substances, which are not suitable for human consumption and may cause a health risk if consumed, back into the drinking water system by a means of creating higher pressure on the individual connection than TUID's normal operating pressure.
- Back-Siphonage: The flow of water or other liquids, or mixtures of substances, which are not suitable for human consumption and may cause a health risk if consumed backing into the drinking water system by the means of a negative pressure created in the distribution system, or an individual connection.
- Back-Flow Preventor: The use of methods, devices or assemblies to prevent backflow and protect water or other liquids, or mixtures of substances, which are not suitable for human consumption and may cause a health risk if consumed.
- Containment: Protection of the drinking water system from any connection in TUID at a point of jurisdiction or the water meter. The type of protection is at the discretion of TUID.
- Isolation: Protection of the drinking water system from any connection in TUID at each potential source of contamination. Refer to International Plumbing Code and State of Utah Amendments, in reference to cross connection control.
- Swing Connection: A flexible connection from the law sprinkling system to either the drinking water system or the pressure irrigation system, created such that only the drinking water system or the pressure irrigation system can be connected to the lawn sprinkling system at any given time, and a properly installed Reduced Pressure Principal Assembly on the drinking water system feed line.
- Program Administrator: The individual designated by TUID who has the authority to enforce this policy.
Policy:
Duty to Inspect: This policy provides the program administrator to be able to enter the premises of a connection to the drinking water system to be able to inspect for any unprotected cross connection.
Duty of Installation: Testing and Maintenance: It shall be the responsibility of the water consumer to stand the expense associated with the purchase, installation, testing, and maintenance of backflow preventor(s) where necessary and to control a cross connection. The consumer shall have certified inspections, testing, and maintenance of any assembly of high hazard air gaps annually. If TUID deems it necessary, they may require testing of assemblies more frequently than yearly. All such installation, maintenance, and testing shall be according to International Plumbing Code and/or Division of Drinking Water rules.
New Connections/Construction: The Program Administrator shall review the plans for any new construction in TUID to make sure no unprotected cross connection will be installed and shall be involved in the final inspection before occupancy of said construction. If any such connections are noted, International Plumbing Code and/or Division of Drinking Water rules will be utilized to determine what type of protection is necessary.
Existing Connections/Construction: The Program Administrator shall have the authority, upon inspection, to require the owner of the connection to TUID drinking water system to protect any existing cross connection.
Access for Inspection: A consumer system shall be open for inspection, by the Program Administrator, at all reasonable times. Consumer shall be responsible to provide access across their property for inspection purposes free from liter, overgrowth, threat of vicious animals, or other hindrances that may be detrimental to ease of access.
Certified Back-Flow Technician: All tests and repairs to assemblies shall be conducted by an individual certified by the State of Utah. That individual will be responsible for following the Division of Drinking Water rules for a Certified Back-Flow Technician.
Public Notification: Although failure of a consumer to be aware of this policy shall be no defense to violation, The TUID Program Administrator shall use reasonable means to notify customers of the hazard of cross connections and the need for annual inspection of back-flow assemblies.
Records: The TUID Program Administrator shall keep reasonable records of cross connection hazards and the condition of back-flow assemblies, including those records require by state and federal agencies.
Violations: The Program Administrator shall have the authority to discontinue service to any consumer if a violation to this policy is found. The discontinuation of service shall be ten (10) days after proper notices of the violation and explanation of what must be done to correct the violation. The Program Administrator shall have the authority to terminate service to a consumer immediately if a backflow occurs or it is determined there is an immediate health risk associated with the connection. A violation exists as indicated below, but is not inclusive of all possible situations:
- If back-flow prevention assembly required herein for control of a cross connection is not installed, tested or maintained.
- If it is found that a back-flow prevention assembly is removed or has been bypassed.
- If an unprotected cross connection exists on the premises.
- If a periodic consumer inspection has not been conducted.
In addition, to any penalty provided herein, violation of this policy shall be a class B misdemeanor.
