1. Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Update
BSRC Presentation - July 13, 2017
Division of Water, Backflow Compliance Office
George F. Meyers, P.E.

2. OEPA Rule Change – OAC: 3745-95
OEPA rule revisions - initiated our review of our cross connection control program
Rule and Regulation Update
Comply with Ohio Administrative Code (OAC)
Clarify/document DOW standard practices
Mandatory Surveys, Non-residential Customers – Every 5 years
Mandatory water-use questionnaire
Site visit follow up if review determines containment required or inconclusive
Customers selected based on non-residential account types in billing system.
Discuss that changes to OAC initiated review of R&R. While reviewing for compliance also reviewed our practices and decided to incorporate into written standards.

3. Cross-connection Hazards
Cross-connection –Point of connection between the potable plumbing system and non-potable sources of water.
Provides a path for contaminants to backflow into the potable water system.
Brief discussion of what cross-connections are and why it’s a concern for us.

4. Backflow Prevention is a Team Effort
Owner/customer must protect potable water system from self-contamination
OEPA sets minimum standards to protect public water system.
Division of Water applies/enforces standards
Discussion of entities with a role in backflow prevention
ODOC sets minimum standards to protect private water system (building occupants)
Building and Zoning Services (or local building department) applies/enforces standards

5. Isolation vs. Containment
B&Z
Isolation of hazard
Separation between potable and non-potable system
WATER POWERED SUMP PUMP
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
DOW
Containment of all contaminants on site
Installed at end of water service line
(separation between public and private system)
Backflow Preventer

6. Backflow Prevention Methods
Level of Protection Depends on Consequence
Death or permanent impairment – Air gap (AG) mandatory
Recoverable sickness – Reduced Pressure Assembly (RP) or AG
Aesthetic – Double Check Assembly, or RP, or AG

7. Typical Applications Air Gap (AG)
Use for any hazard. Required for toxic substances. Substance and site specific. Pair with RP at meter.
Reduced Pressure Assembly (RP)
Domestic service lines, combined fire/domestic service lines when containment is required. Cannot be submerged.
Reduced Pressure Detector Assembly (RPDA)
Fire-protection-only service lines for fire suppression w/ chemicals. Includes meter.
Double Check Detector Assembly (DCDA)
Fire-protection-only service lines for water-only fire suppression systems. OK in pits or inside. Includes meter.
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
Residential irrigation systems with no other on-site hazard
Will provide verbal examples. AG typically in industrial setting; metal plating dip tanks; chemical manufacturing, etc. RP most retail/commercial; residential with 5 or more dwelling units served by single meter; food service operations and retail food establishments. DC typically only allowed on fire protection systems

8. Proposed DPU Rule Changes
Section 2, Definitions
Added this section to clarify application of standards.
Section 6, Where Protection is Required
Added language to clarify standard practices of the Division of Water
Section 6.A.2 – Clarifying the requirement for backflow prevention for residential properties when more than 5 dwelling units are served by a single service line and meter.
Section 6.A.3 - all non-residential properties require containment on the domestic or combined fire and domestic service line, however, customers may apply for an exemption for owner occupied properties in some cases.
Section 6.A.4 - Expanded the list of specified hazards that require containment. Additions are water powered sump pumps, geothermal heating systems and yard hydrants.
6.A.3 shifts responsibility to customer to demonstrate they qualify for an exemption. Necessary to control effort needed to survey non-residential properties every 5 years. Process change, not standard change. 6.A.4 specifically calls out some common hazards that we consider to be hazardous cross-connections. The rule change is meant to more clearly specify requirements for common hazards for which we already require containment. This is to lessen confusion for our stakeholders and does not change our authority.

9. Proposed DPU Rule Changes
Section 7, Type of Protection Required
Section 7.E and F.2 - Established a baseline of requiring an RP or RPDA for fire prevention systems. Exceptions may be requested to allow a DC or DCDA if the site is not a type likely to have the fire department use a foam mixture in the fire department connection.
Section 8, Backflow Preventers
Documents the DOW’s existing practice for size requirements for backflow preventers
Section 9, Installation
Specified standards for installation requirements that were previously shown on standard details or required by standard practice.
Section 7.E and F.2 shifts responsibility to customer to demonstrate they qualify for an exemption. Necessary to control effort needed to survey non-residential properties every 5 years. Process change, not standard change. Section 9 – for example horizontal installation required, no butterfly valves, PVB’s can’t be subject to backpressure, etc.

10. Proposed DPU Rule Changes
Section 11, Approval to Inspect, Test, and Overhaul Backflow Prevention Assemblies
Incorporate tester approval requirements into rule and regulation
Section 12, Booster Pumps
Added requirements for booster pump and tracking required by OAC as of 10/26/2015.
Section 13, Abandonment
Clarified requirements for abandonment of cross-connected hazards in a manner that will satisfy the Administrator that the potential hazard has been eliminated or abated.
Section 14, Violations
Updated to reflect violations of low pressure sustaining methods associated with booster pumps as now required by OAC as of 10/26/2015.
Sections 12 and 14. Booster pumps require low pressure sustaining method (cutoff switch, throttling valve, variable speed controller). Must be tested annually and test report submitted to DOW. DOW must track and enforce installation and annual testing. Plan to inventory non-residential during survey process.

11. Fire Suppression Systems
DPU Rule and Regulation VI.E (current rule)
“Fire protection systems with chemicals added or the ability to be added shall install an approved reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly”
Division of Fire may pump foam fire suppressant into Fire Department Connection (FDC).
Changes water-only system into chemical system
DC/DCDA insufficient for protection from chemical system
Only anticipated for Building Use and Occupancy Class, High Hazard H1-H5
Existing H1-H5 with FDC w/o RP/RPDA must retrofit
Not a rule change. Division of Fire practice resulted in change to hazard.

12. Questions?