| (3) New mains shall be thoroughly disinfected in accordance
with AWWA Standard C651 and then flushed and sampled before being
placed in service. Samples shall be collected for microbiological
analysis to check the effectiveness of the disinfection procedure.
Sampling shall be repeated if contamination persists. A minimum of
one sample for each 1,000 feet of completed waterline will be required
or at the next available sampling point beyond 1,000 feet as designated
by the design engineer.
(g) Interconnections.
(1) Each proposal for a direct connection between public
drinking water systems under separate administrative authority will
be considered on an individual basis.
(A) Documents covering the responsibility for sanitary
control shall accompany the submitted planning material.
(B) Each water supply shall be of a safe, potable quality.
(2) Where an interconnection between systems is proposed
to provide a second source of supply for one or both systems, the
system being utilized as a second source of supply must be capable
of supplying a minimum of 0.35 gallons per minute per connection for
the total number of connections in the combined distribution systems.
(h) Backflow, siphonage.
(1) No water connection from any public drinking water
supply system shall be allowed to any residence or establishment where
an actual or potential contamination hazard exists unless the public
water facilities are protected from contamination.
(A) At any residence or establishment where an actual
or potential contamination hazard exists, additional protection shall
be required at the meter in the form of an air gap or backflow prevention
assembly. The type of backflow prevention assembly required shall
be determined by the specific potential hazard identified in §290.47(f)
of this title (relating to Appendices).
(B) At any residence or establishment where an actual
or potential contamination hazard exists and an adequate internal
cross-connection control program is in effect, backflow protection
at the water service entrance or meter is not required.
(i) An adequate internal cross-connection control program
shall include an annual inspection and testing by a licensed backflow
prevention assembly tester on all backflow prevention assemblies used
for health hazard protection.
(ii) Copies of all such inspection and test reports
must be obtained and kept on file by the water purveyor.
(iii) It will be the responsibility of the water purveyor
to ensure that these requirements are met.
(2) No water connection from any public drinking water
supply system shall be connected to any condensing, cooling, or industrial
process or any other system of nonpotable usage over which the public
water supply system officials do not have sanitary control, unless
the said connection is made in accordance with the requirements of
paragraph (1) of this subsection. Water from such systems cannot be
returned to the potable water supply.
(3) Overhead bulk water dispensing stations must be
provided with an air gap between the filling outlet hose and the receiving
tank to protect against back siphonage and cross-contamination.
(4) All backflow prevention assemblies that are required
according to this section and associated table located in §290.47(f)
of this title shall be tested upon installation by a licensed backflow
prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications.
Backflow prevention assemblies which are installed to provide protection
against health hazards must also be tested and certified to be operating
within specifications at least annually by a licensed backflow prevention
assembly tester.
(A) Backflow prevention assembly testers shall have
completed an executive director-approved course on cross-connection
control and backflow prevention assembly testing, pass an examination
administered by the executive director, and hold a current license
as a backflow prevention assembly tester.
(i) Backflow prevention assembly testers are qualified
to test and repair assemblies on any domestic, commercial, industrial,
or irrigation service.
(ii) Backflow prevention assembly testers may test
and repair assemblies on firelines only if they are permanently employed
by an Approved Fireline Contractor. The Texas Department of Insurance's
State Fire Marshal's Office requires that any person performing maintenance
on firelines must be employed by an Approved Fireline Contractor.
(B) Gauges used in the testing of backflow prevention
assemblies shall be tested for accuracy annually in accordance with
the University of Southern California's Manual of Cross-Connection
Control or the AWWA's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention
and Cross-Connection Control (AWWA Manual M14). Public water systems
shall require testers to include test gauge serial numbers on the
Backflow Prevention Assembly Test and Maintenance Report (commission
Form 20700), and ensure testers have gauges tested for accuracy.
(C) A test report must be completed by the recognized
backflow prevention assembly tester for each assembly tested. The
signed and dated original must be submitted to the public water supplier
for recordkeeping purposes. Any form which varies from the format
specified in commission Form 20700 must be approved by the executive
director prior to being placed in use.
(5) The use of a backflow prevention assembly at the
service connection shall be considered as additional backflow protection
and shall not negate the use of backflow protection on internal hazards
as outlined and enforced by local plumbing codes.
(6) At any residence or establishment where there is
no actual or potential contamination hazard, a backflow prevention
assembly is not required.
(i) Water hauling. When drinking water is distributed
by tank truck or trailer, it must be accomplished in the following
manner.
(1) Water shall be obtained from an approved source.
(2) The equipment used to haul the water must be approved
by the executive director and must be constructed as follows.
(A) The tank truck or trailer shall be used for transporting
drinking water only and shall be labeled "Drinking Water." Tanks which
have been used previously for purposes other than transporting potable
liquids shall not be used for hauling drinking water.
(B) The tank shall be watertight and of an approved
material which is impervious and easily cleaned and disinfected. Any
paint or coating and any plastic or fiberglass materials used as contact
surfaces must be approved by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, the United States Food and Drug Administration, or the NSF.
Effective January 1, 1993, any newly installed surfaces shall conform
to ANSI/NSF Standard 61 and must be certified by an organization accredited
by ANSI.
(C) The tank shall have a manhole and a manhole cover
which overlaps the raised manhole opening by a minimum of two inches
and terminates in a downward direction. The cover shall fit firmly
on the manhole opening and shall be kept locked.
(D) The tank shall have a vent which is faced downward
and located to minimize the possibility of drawing contaminants into
the stored water. The vent must be screened with 16-mesh or finer
corrosion-resistant material.
(E) Connections for filling and emptying the tank shall
be properly protected to prevent the possible entrance of contamination.
These openings must be provided with caps and keeper chains.
(F) A drain shall be provided which will completely
empty the tank for cleaning or repairs.
(G) When a pump is used to transfer the water from
the tank, the pump shall be permanently mounted with a permanent connection
to the tank. The discharge side of the pump shall be properly protected
between uses by a protective cap and keeper chain.
(H) Hoses used for the transfer of drinking water to
and from the tank shall be used only for that purpose and labeled
for drinking water only. The hoses shall conform to ANSI/NSF Standard
61 and must be certified by an entity recognized by the commission.
Hoses and related appurtenances must be cleaned and disinfected on
a regular basis during prolonged use or before start-up during intermittent
use. Hoses must be properly stored between uses and must be provided
with caps and keeper chains or have the ends connected together.
(I) The tank shall be disinfected monthly and at any
time that contamination is suspected.
(J) At least one sample per month from each tank shall
be collected and submitted for microbiological analysis to one of
the executive director's accredited laboratories for each month of
operation.
Cont'd... |
