§ 26-252. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Authority means the Water and Sewer Superintendent of the City of Tupelo Water and Light Department is vested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement for the provisions of this article.

Approved means accepted by the authority responsible as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this article or as suitable for the proposed use.

Auxiliary water supply means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor's approved public water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor's public potable water supply or any natural sources, such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor, and so forth; used waters; or industrial fluids. These waters may be contaminated or polluted, or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which the water purveyor does not have sanitary control.

Backflow means the reversal of normal flow direction where water flows from the intended point of delivery towards the supply.

Back pressure backflow means backflow caused by a lower pressure in the potable supply than at the point of delivery. Back siphonage backflow means backflow caused by a negative pressure in the potable supply line. Backflow preventor means a device or means designed to prevent backflow or back-siphonage, most commonly categorized as air gap, double check valve assembly, and reduced pressure principle device. Residential dual check, atmospheric vacuum breaker, hose bib vacuum breaker, and pressure vacuum breaker are also backflow preventors, but are not approved for use under this article.

(1)

Air gap means a physical separation sufficient to prevent backflow between the free-flowing discharge end of the potable water system and any other system. Physically defined as a distance equal to twice the diameter of the supply side pipe diameter but never less than one (1) inch.

(2)

Double check valve assembly means an assembly of two (2) independently operating spring loaded check valves with tightly closing shut off valves on each side of the check valves, plus properly located test cocks for the testing of each check valve.

(3)

Reduced pressure principle backflow preventor means an assembly consisting of two (2) independently operating approved check valves with an automatically operating differential relief valve located between the two (2) check valves, tightly closing shut-off valves on each side of the check valves plus properly located test cocks for the testing of the check valves and the relief valve.

Containment means a method of backflow prevention which requires a backflow preventor at the water service entrance.

Contaminant means a substance that will impair the quality of the water to a degree that it creates a serious health hazard to the public leading to poisoning or the spread of disease.

Cross-connection means any arrangement of piping where a potable water line is connected to non-potable water whether a pipe-to-pipe connection where potable and non-potable water lines are directly connected, or a pipe-to-water connection where the potable water outlet is submerged in non-potable water. If the potable and non-potable source are separated by gate valves, check valves or devices other than the appropriate backflow preventor as outlined by this ordinance, a cross-connection exists. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, swivel or change over assemblies, or other temporary or permanent assemblies through which, or because of which backflow may occur are considered to be cross-connected.

Department means City of Tupelo Water and Light Department.

Division means the Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Water Supply.

Fixture isolation means a method of backflow prevention in which a backflow preventor is located to correct a cross-connection at an in-plant location rather than at a water service entrance.

Hazard, degree of means the term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.

(1)

Hazard—Health (high hazard) means a cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that could, if introduced in the potable water supply, cause death, illness, spread disease, or have a high probability of causing such effects.

(2)

Hazard—Non-health means a cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the potable water supply.

Owner means any person who has legal title to, or license to operate or habitate in, a property upon which a cross-connection inspection is to be made or upon which a cross-connection is present.

Person means any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, political subdivision or agency of the state department, agency or instrumentality or the United States or any other legal entity.

Permit means a document issued by the department which allows the use of backflow preventors.

Pollutant means a foreign substance which, if permitted to get into the public water system, will degrade its quality so as to constitute a moderate hazard, or impair the usefulness or quality of water to a degree which does not create an actual hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably effect such water for domestic use.

Professionally installed means installed in a workmanlike manner with no apparent errors.

Water—Nonpotable means water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable quality.

Water—Potable means water that is safe for human consumption as described by the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Water service entrance means that point in the owner's water system beyond the sanitary control of the department; generally considered to be the outlet end of the water meter and always before any unprotected branch.

(Ord. of 11-16-99, §§ 2—2.21; Ord. of 1-3-02, §§ 2—2.22)