Cross-Connection Control

In compliance with the Arkansas Department of Health's "Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Public Water Systems", Section VII E, Cross-Connection Program, it is the responsibility of the Forrest City Water Utility to protect its drinking water by instituting and enforcing a CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM.

The provisions contained within this CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM (CCC PROGRAM) are in keeping with the provisions of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974; the National Interim Drinking Water Regulations of 1977; The Arkansas State Plumbing Law, Act 200 of 1951, as amended; the Laws of the State of Arkansas Act 96 of 1913; Arkansas Statues 1947, Section 82-110 and the United states Environmental Protection Agency and the SDWA Amendments of 1986.

A CROSS-CONNECTION is any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other water or other substances of unknown or questionable safety, whereby water may flow from one pressure differential to the other between the two systems.

BACKFLOW is the flow of water, other liquids, gases, mixtures or substances, under positive (back pressure) or reduced pressure (backsiphonage) into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any source other than its intended source.

CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL is the use of backflow prevention assemblies, methods and procedures to prevent the contamination of a potable water supply through cross-connections.

A CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM (CCC PROGRAM) is the Utility's policies and procedures for controlling cross-connections to the potable water system of the Utility. At a minimum, the CCC PROGRAM will include the identification of all HIGH HAZARD commercial facilities, the requirement of an approved backflow prevention assembly to be placed on the USER'S service line between the HIGH HAZARD facility and the public water system, and the requirement that these assemblies be evaluated on a yearly basis to determine if the assembly functions properly.

Part A

SECTION I

PURPOSE OF THE CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
Each instance where a cross-connection exists within a USER'S property creates the possibility of backflow. This is especially significant because such cross-­connections may easily result in the contamination of the City water supply system. Such situations may result in the public water system becoming a transmitter f disease, toxic materials or other hazardous substances which may adversely affect the citizens of Forrest City.

The purposes of the CCC PROGRAM are:

A) To protect the potable water supply of the City of Forrest City from the possibility of contamination from backflow or back-siphonage into the public water system by requiring each FACILITY (USER) WITH BACKFLOW POTENTIAL to  install an approved backflow prevention assembly located on the outlet end of the facility's water meter at allocation approved by the Utility. The type of assembly shall depend on the degree of hazard involved. This method of control is called CONTAINMENT.

B) To provide for a continuing program of cross-connection control that will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination of the Utility's potable water system.

SECTION II

USERS AFFECTED BY THE CCC PROGRAM

WATER USERS affected by the CCC PROGRAM shall be any commercial, institutional or industrial facility with backflow potential where

• 1) there is an auxiliary water supply which is, or can be, connected to the potable water piping
• 2) there is piping for conveying piping is under pressure and piping
• 3) there is intricate plumbing which makes whether or not cross-connections exist
  
• 4) its impractical to ascertain
  
• 5) there are cross-connections or potential cross-connections
  
• 6) there are chemicals used or mixed with the system's potable water
  
• 7) all lawn or farming irrigation systems.
  
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DWELLING units, unless involved in commercial operations or have lawn irrigation systems connected to their water service line, are exempt from the requirements of this CCC PROGRAM.

SECTION III

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER USERS

• COMMERCIAL (0) WATER USER
  A business or other non-residential establishment with water meters water service lines 2-inches or less with water use of a and DOMESTIC nature only.
• COMMERCIAL (I) WATER USER
  A business or other non-residential establishment with water service lines or water meters 2-inches or less and with LOW HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL.
• COMMERCIAL (II) WATER USER
  A business or other non-residential establishment with water service lines and water meters 2-inches or less and with HIGH HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL.
• COMMERCIAL (III) WATER USER
  A facility of a COMMERCIAL or INDUSTRIAL nature with water service lines or water meters 2-inches or larger with water used in manufacturing processes involving chemicals, pollutants or other contaminants. All INDUSTRIAL WATER USE will be assumed to have HIGH HAZARD BACK FLOW POTENTIAL unless it can be proven otherwise.
• FARMSTEAD WATER USER A RESIDENTIAL WATER USER
  with water use to farming operations connected through the same meter or with the potential of connecting farming operations to the residential service lines. All FARMSTEAD WATER USE will be assumed to have HIGH HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL unless it can be proven otherwise. (It would be advisable for the safety of the domestic use to either be separated entirely or the BACKFLOW Assembly be located in a position to protect the residential use.)
• RESIDENTIAL WATER USER
  A single-family dwelling used only for the occupancy and use of families or individuals.
• LAWN IRRIGATION/SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
  Any COMMERCIAL or RESIDENTIAL WATER USERS with an underground sprinkler or irrigation system. All sprinkler and irrigation systems shall be classified as having HIGH HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL.
• FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
  Dedicated connections to the public water supply systems for any fire connections or fire sprinkler systems and not for public use.

SECTION IV

CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDS AND REQUIRED BACKFLOW PROTECTION

• HIGH HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL are those facilities where the substance which could backflow is hazardous to human health.
• LOW HAZARD BACKFLOW POTENTIAL are those facilities where the substance which could backflow is objectionable from an aesthetic point-of-view, but does not pose an unreasonable risk to human health and there is no possibility of back pressure in the downstream piping system

It shall be the total responsibility of the WATER USER to prove to the UTILITY a backflow assembly of lesser protection than determined by the UTILITY will suffice.

SECTION V

APPROVAL OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES

All BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES shall be approved by the UTILITY before it is installed and shall be certified as being accepted and approved for use by the Arkansas Department of Health. (See Section 10.5.3, ARKANSAS STATE PLUMBING CODE)  

SECTION VI

EXISTING BACKFLOW PREVENTION SYSTEMS

All existing and active backflow prevention assemblies and assemblies in service on the date of this CCC PROGRAM that do not meet the requirements of the CCC PROGRAM but were approved assemblies for the purposes described herein at the time of installation and have been properly maintained, shall, except for the inspection, testing and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirements of these regulations so long as it is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the WATER SYSTEM. If the existing assembly is moved or requires more than minimum maintenance, or the UTILITY, determines the operation or maintenance of this assembly constitutes a hazard, the assembly shall be replaced by an approved system as required for new systems.
All facilities with existing and active backflow prevention assemblies in service on the date of this CCC PROGRAM shall have the assembly tested in accordance with this CCC PROGRAM and a report forwarded to the Utility or present to the UTILITY a certified test report from a licensed TESTER showing the assembly has passed the testing requirement of this CCC PROGRAM within the past twelve (12) months.

SECTION VII

NEW, MODIFIED OR EXPANDED FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Shall conform to the Arkansas Department of Health's latest publication, POLICY for CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL on FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS. (APPENDIX B)