Cross Connection Policy

I. Summary

This program is designed to prevent the contamination of drinking water by the backflow of water or other liquids, gases, mixtures, compounds, or other substances into the Public Distribution System of the Orono-Veazie Water District from a source or sources other than its intended sources.

II. Authority

This program gains its enforceability from:

Title 22, M. R.S.A., C-601, subchapter 2, section 2612(5), Maine.
Department of Human Services Cross Connection Rules number 10-144A CMR 266.
In addition, authority arises from the Rules and Regulations as published by the Orono-Veazie Water District and approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

III. Definitions

Anti-backflow device - A device or means to prevent backflow.
Approved source - A source of water utilized by a public water system for distribution to the public for consumption or other purposes and which is approved by the Department of Human Services for said use.
Backflow - The flow of water or foreign liquids, gases, mixtures, compounds or other substances into the public water distribution system from any source other than the intended.
Backflow preventer - A device or means to prevent backflow, sub-defined as follows:
1. Air gap - Physical separation sufficient to prevent backflow between the free flowing discharge end of the potable water system and any other system.
2. Atmospheric vacuum breaker – A device that prevents back siphonage by creating an atmospheric vent where there is either a negative pressure or a sub-atmospheric pressure in a water system.
3. Backflow preventer w/immediate atmospheric vent – A device having two check valves separated by an atmospheric vent.
4. Double check valve assembly – A device having two springs loaded bronze faced check valves with soft rubber discs and test cocks for periodic testing.
5. Hose bib vacuum breaker – A device which is permanently attached to a hose bib and which acts as an atmospheric vacuum breaker.
6. Pressure vacuum breaker – A device containing a spring loaded check valve and a spring-loaded atmospheric vent, which opens when the pressure approaches atmospheric. It contains valves and fittings, which allow for periodic testing.
7. Reduced pressure principle backflow preventer – An assembly of check valves and a reduced zone, which spills water to the atmosphere in the event of failure of the check valves. It has valves and fittings, which allow for periodic testing.
8. Residential dual check valve – An assembly of two independently acting check valves used primarily on residential and low-hazard services.
Back pressure – A condition where the owner’s system pressure is greater than the supplier’s system pressure, causing a reversal of the normal direction of flow.
Back-siphonage – Backflow resulting from a negative pressure in the distribution pipes of a public water supply system.
Containment – A method of backflow prevention, which requires a backflow preventer at the water, service entrance.
Cross-connection - Any actual or potential connection between the public water supply and a source of contamination or pollution.
Department – State of Maine, Department of Human Services.
Fixture Isolation – A method of backflow prevention in which a backflow preventer is located to prevent a cross-connection at an in-plant unit rather than at the water service entrance.
Owner – Any individual, tenant, corporation, political body or sub-division or any other entity who has legal title to operate or inhabit a property upon which a cross-connection is present.
Permit – A document issued by the Department with the approval of the Supplier, which allows the use of a backflow preventer.
Person – Any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, political sub-division or agency of the state, department or agency or instrumentality United States or any other legal entity.
Potable water – Approved water, free from impurities present in any amount sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects. Its physical, chemical, bacteriological and radiological quality conforms to the Maine State Drinking Water Act, or any regulations pertaining thereto.
Private water source – Any source of water which may or may not be approved by the department, utilized by any Owner for consumptive and/or other purposes, and which is not under the immediate control of the supplier.
Public water system – Any publicly or privately owned system of pipes, structures and facilities through which potable water is sold, furnished or distributed to the public for human consumption and which is under control of the supplier. The system shall not include the portion of service pipe owned and maintained by the owner.
Supplier – Orono-Veazie Water District
Water service entrance – That point at which the owners water supply system is beyond sanitary control of the supplier. This will ordinarily be the outlet of the water meter and will always be before the first branch line.

IV. Administration

The supplier shall not permit any cross-connection at a point within its system unless approved pursuant to a permit specifically issued for that cross-connection.
The owner shall allow his property to be inspected for possible cross-connections and shall follow the provisions of this program.
Both the supplier and the owner shall attempt to eliminate all cross-connections.

V. Responsibility

Supplier's Responsibility
1. The supplier’s inspection for all cross-connection or potential cross-connections shall be during normal working hours unless otherwise arranged with the owner.
2. The supplier shall, after the initial inspection of the owner’s premises, inform the owner by letter of any correction(s) and the time allowed to make the correction(s). In no case will the time allowed exceed thirty (30) days. At the end of the allowed time, a reinspection will be conducted.
3. The supplier will not allow any cross-connection to remain unless it is protected by an approved backflow preventer, for which a permit has been issued, and which is regularly tested and operates satisfactorily. Note: certain fixtures are exempted from this provision and are listed in section VII.
4. The supplier shall inform the owner by letter of any failure of compliance by the time of the first re-inspection. The supplier will allow a maximum extension of two calendar weeks of the correction to be made. If there is a failure to comply by the date of the second re-inspection, the supplier shall inform the owner by letter that the water service to the owner’s premises shall be terminated in accordance with the rules and regulations for non-payment.
5. If the supplier determines at any time that a serious threat to the public health exist, service shall be terminated immediately as allowed by Maine Utilities Commission , Chapter 81, section 7 (a) (8).
6. Re-establishment of service before the installation of a backflow preventer be allowed by the supplier and an agreement has been made between the supplier, the Owner and/or the Department indicating the intention of the owner to comply with the provisions of the agreement and after the supplier determines that no immediate threat to the public health exist.
7. The supplier shall conduct an inspection and re-inspection program that covers all industrial customers as deemed necessary.
8. The supplier shall ensure all new construction, including residential, complies with this program.
9. The supplier shall inspect dwellings with more than four units and require that they comply with this program. Also, the supplier shall inform the owners of the dwelling with four or less units of potential hazards of cross-connections, giving examples of possible backflow situations. The owner of any dwelling, residence, institution or business shall be required to install a backflow preventer in accordance with this program.
Owner's Responsibility
1. The Owner, after being informed by a letter from the supplier shall at his expense, install, maintain and ensure the testing of any backflow preventer deemed necessary on his premises.
2. The Owner shall correct any malfunction of the backflow preventer, which is revealed by periodic testing. This includes the replacement of parts or of the backflow preventer if deemed necessary by the Supplier or the Department. Failure to comply with testing, repairing or replacement requirements will result in termination of service, according to the District’s Regulations for non-payment.
3. The Owner shall inform the supplier by letter of a new or modified cross-connections and also of any cross-connections of which the Owner is aware but have not been found be the Supplier’s inspections.
4. Any Owner having a private water source within the building or establishment shall have a reduced pressure principle device installed whether or not the private source is cross-connected to the Supplier’s system. Permission may be denied to cross-connect by the Supplier or the Department.
5. Owners who cannot shut down for testing must provide additional backflow preventers to allow for the periodic testing of each device.
6. The Owner shall not install any backflow preventer not listed or approved by the Department.
7. The Owner shall install the backflow preventer in a manner approved by the Manufacturer, Supplier and/or the Department.
8. Any plumbing on the Supplier’s side of a backflow preventer shall also have a backflow preventer.

VI. Degree of Hazard

Different types of cross-connections constitute different degrees of hazard which are classified as follows, listed with the approved types of devices:

Class 1 - If backflow were to occur, the resulting health significance would be limited to minor changes in the esthetic quality such as taste, odor, or color. The foreign substance must be non-toxic and non-bacterial in nature and have no significant health effect. Allowed devices are air gap, non-pressure type vacuum breaker, pressure type vacuum breaker, testable double check valve assembly, or reduced pressure principle device.
Class 2 - If backflow were to occur, the resulting effect on the water supply would be significant change in esthetic qualities. The foreign substance must be non-toxic and non-bacterial in nature. Allowed devices are air gap, pressure type vacuum breaker, testable double check valve assembly, or reduced pressure principle device.
Class 3 – If backflow were to occur, the resulting effect on the water supply could cause illness or death if consumed by humans. The foreign substance may be toxic to humans either from a chemical, bacteriological or radiological standpoint and may result from either long or short-term exposure. Allowed devices are air-gap or reduced pressure principle device.

VII. Permits

Permits will be issued by the department upon recommendation of supplier.
Permits will be issued only if the cross-connection is deemed necessary and cannot be eliminated
The degrees of hazard, testing frequency, type, size, model and make of backflow preventer and any exemption shall be listed on the permit. If more than one device is used to protect a single cross-connection, they shall all be listed on the permit.
Permits are non-transferable and shall be renewed by the Department every five years.
The supplier shall determine the degree of hazard to be listed on the permit.
The Owner shall apply for a permit on appropriate forms to be provided by the supplier, and shall submit said application to the Supplier in triplicate along with any sketches or plans required by the Supplier.
The supplier shall forward two copies of the permit application to the Department along with recommendations as to whether or not the permit should be issued.

VII. Exemptions

Any cross-connection protected against backflow at the time of this program becomes effective may continue with the same protection unless:
1. The existing protection is deemed inadequate by the supplier or the Department.
2. The Department notifies the Supplier, in writing, that a change must be made.
The exemption will expire at any time that the backflow preventer must be replaced. In such cases, the replacement backflow preventer must be of the type required by the degree of hazard.

IX. Periodic Testing

It is recognized that any backflow preventer can fail and any method of protection can be subverted. Therefore yearly testing of all Double Check (DC), Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ), Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker, and Pressure Vacuum Breaker are necessary. The district can require that a backflow preventer be tested more than yearly if the degree of hazard is determined to be high. Therefore:

Periodic testing shall be performed by a person who has been certified for testing backflows by the New England Water Works Association or the American Backflow Prevention Association, or any other certified testing school and approved by the Orono-Veazie Water District. The cost of such testing shall be at the expense of the Owner.
Any backflow preventer, which fails during any test, shall be immediately repaired. The Supplier shall require that repair parts be ordered by the Owner within twenty-four hours and that shipment be by the most expedient means possible. Any delay of repair for more than four days requires termination of service or some other means to ensure the protection of the public water system and the safety of the public health.
Certain situations with a class 2 or class 3 degree of hazard shall not be allowed to continue unprotected if the backflow preventer fails and cannot be immediately repaired.
A copy of the test results shall be delivered to Orono-Veazie Water District within 30 days after the test has been completed.

NOTE: It is re-emphasized that in order to minimize down time, the Owner should be encouraged to have replacement parts on hand.

X. Residential Services

All commercial and industrial establishments shall have a state approved backflow preventer installed on the service line, immediately after the meter and before the first branch line and before any pump. The type of device shall be determined by the actual or potential degree of hazard.

XI. Commercial and Industrial Services

XII. Fire Protection Service Lines

New service lines with direct connection from the utilities water mains only, and have no pumps, tank or reservoirs and without any physical connection from other water supplies and not having anti-freeze or other additives and all drains discharging to atmosphere shall have a state approved inline testable double check valve assembly installed on the service line and before the first branch line.

New service lines with direct connection from the utilities water mains and having any one or all of the following: elevated storage tanks, fire pumps taking suction from above ground covered reservoirs or tanks and provided these storage facilities are filled with public water only and that the water in the tanks are kept in a potable condition shall have a state approved testable double check valve assembly installed on the service line that is connected to the utilities water main and before the first branch line, and before any pump.

New service lines with direct connection from the utilities water mains and interconnected with auxiliary supplies, such as, pumps, tank suctions from rivers, ponds, wells, or reservoirs exposed to contamination, or where antifreeze is added and other industrial water systems shall have a state approved reduced pressure zone principal backflow preventer in such a matter as to protect the public water system.

In such instances where protection of the water supply is needed from fire protection service lines: and such requirements are not included in the above, the utility will assess the degree of protection required. If any modification or renewals to an existing sprinkler system is made, than at that time an appropriate state approved in line testable backflow preventer shall be installed. Note: the owner shall be responsible for any system redesigning that will be required to insure adequate flows for protection.

NOTE: Fire lines shall not have strainers installed before the backflow preventer.

XIV. Type of Prevention Required

State approved prevention device of type specified shall be installed on each domestic service line to the following facilities.

This list is a guideline and should not be construed as being complete.

Type of facility	Type of protection
Apartment buildings up to 4 units	RDC
Auxiliary water system (private wells) connected or not	RP
Barber/Beauty Shops	RP/DC
Beverage Bottling Plants	DC
Car Washes	RP
Cemeteries	RP
Chemical Plants	RP
Dairies	DC/RP
Dental Offices	RP
Dry Cleaners	RP
Film Laboratory or Processing Plants	RP
Florist Shops with irrigation and plant growth	RP
Florist Shops without irrigation and plant growth	DC
Food Processing	DC/RP
Gas Stations, Pumps Only	DC
Garages for equipment and vehicle repair	RP
Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Buildings	RP
Hotels and Motels	RP/DC
Laundries with Dry Cleaning	RP
Laundries without Dry Cleaning	DC
Metal Plating and Processing Plants	RP
Morgues and Mortuaries	RP
Nursing Homes	RP
Petroleum Storage Yards	RP
Piers, Docks, Waterfront Facilities	RP
Print Shops	RP
Restaurants	RP/DC
R. V. Parks and Campgrounds	RP
Sand and Gravel Pits	RP
Single Family Residential	RDC
Sprinkler or Irrigation	RP
Swimming Pools	RP
Sewage Treatment Plants	RP
Sewage Treatment Pumping Stations	RP
Tanneries	RP
Veterinary Establishments	RP
Home Occupations	DC/RP

DC - Double Check Assembly
RP - Reduced Pressure Zone Principle Device
RDC-Residential Dual Check

XV. Testers

All Certified testers must keep their certificates current and provide the Orono-Veazie Water District with a copy of said certificate. The District will not accept any test results that we do not have a copy of the testers certificate.