CH28 28 .11 - Protecting Public Water System

TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM FOR PROTECTING THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM FROM CONTAMINATION DUE TO BACKFLOW OF CONTAMINANTS THROUGH THE WATER SERVICE CONNECTION INTO THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.

WHEREAS 675 Indiana Administrative Code, Article 16, Rule 1.4 of the Indiana Plumbing Code, as adopted by the Indiana Fire Prevension and Building Safety Commission, requires protection of the public water supply from contaminants due to backflow through connections to fire protection and standpipe systems; and,

WHEREAS the Indiana Department of Environmental Management authorizes the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control which will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination of all potable water systems;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Lapel Town Council of the Town of Lapel of the State of Indiana:

SECTION 1. That a cross connection shall be defined as a physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which contains potable water from the Town of Lapel water syste, and the other, water from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or stream, gases, or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.

SECTION 2. That no person, firm, or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any cross connection. No interconnection shall be established whereby potable water from a private, auxillary, or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the Town of Lapel may enter the supply or distribution systems of said municipality, unless such private, auxillary, or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by Lapel Municipal Water and by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in accordance with 327 IAC 8-10.

SECTION 3. That is shall be the duty of Lapel Municipal Water to cause inspections to be made of all properties served by the prublic water system where cross connection with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and re-inspections based on potential health hazards involved shall be established by Lapel Municipal Water.

SECTION 4. That upon presentation of credentials, the representative of Lapel Municipal Water shall have the right to request entry at any reasonable time to examine the property served by a connection to the public water system of the Town of Lapel for cross connections. On request, the owner, lessee, or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the inspection agency any pertinent information regarding the piping system or systems on such property. The refusal of access or refusal of requested pertinent information shall be deemed evidence of the presence of cross connections.

SECTION 5. That Lapel Municipal Water is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of this ordinance exists, and to take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service shall be discontinued only after reasonable notice is served on the owner, lessee, or occupants of the property or premises where a violation is found or suspected to exist. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross connection(s) has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this ordinance.

SECTION 6. That, if it is deemed by Lapel Municipal Water that a cross connection or any emergency endangers public health, safety, or welfare and requires immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the clerk of the Town of Lapel and delivered to the consumer's premises, service may be immediately discontinued. The consumer shall have an opportunity for hearing within 10 days of such emergency discontinuance.

SECTION 7. That all consumers using toxic or hazardous liquids, all hospitals, mortuaries, wastewater treatment plants, laboratories, and all other hazardous users install and maintain a reduced pressure principal backflow preventer in the main water line serving each building on the premises. The backflow preventer must be installed in an easily accessible location not subject to flooding or freezing.

SECTION 8. The reduced pressure principle backflow preventers shall not be installed below ground level.

SECTION 9. That this ordinance does not supersede the Indiana plumbing code, the IDEM Rule 327 IAC 8-10 or the Town of Lapel plumbing ordinance No. 11-99, but is supplementary to them.

SECTION 10. In addition to IDEM Rule 327 IAC 8-10-4(C), all businesses within the Town of Lapel need a backflow prevention device.

SECTION 11. That if, in the judgement of the Superintendent of Water, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system; the Superintendent of Water will give notice to the water consumer to install such an approved device immediately. The water consumer shall, at his own expenses, install such an approved device at a location and in a matter approved by the Superintendent of Water and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices as required by the Superintendent of Water and in accordance with the IDEM Rule 327 IAC 8-10.

SECTION 12. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after adoption on second reading, the welfare of the Town of Lapel requiring it.

SECTION 13. The commissioner may issue a letter exempting a customer from the requirements if the customer can show to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the activities taking place at the customer's facility, and the materials used in connection with these activities or stored on the premises, cannot endanger the health of customers of the public water system should backflow occur. An exemption shall remain valid for no more than three (3) years from the date of issuance. If the commissioner finds that the customer facility has become a cross connection hazard, the commisioner will void the exemption and so notify the customer.

Further Information

11-2019
Date Passed: 10/3/2019
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