§ 26-255. Responsibility of water system.

(a)

Surveys. An authorized agent of the department, using written guidelines published by the Mississippi State Department of Health, shall conduct surveys and on-site visits as necessary to locate existing cross-connections. Single-family dwellings and multi-family dwelling[s] designed to house no more than eight (8) families shall not be included in this survey unless there is reason to believe a cross-connection exists. A survey of the water system shall be completed by August 1, 2000. Upon completion of this survey, the responsible official of the Department shall certify to the Mississippi State Department of Health, on forms provided by the division, that the required survey has been property performed and completed in accordance with the written guidelines published by the department.

(b)

Right to entry. The department, acting through its agent, shall have the right to enter any nonresidential building, during reasonable hours and with the consent of the owner or owner's representative, to inspect the plumbing system installed in any such building or premises provided prior notification of the inspection is given. The agent shall first obtain consent of the owner to enter any single-family dwelling.

(c)

Classification of hazard. Each cross-connection found will be classified as high hazard or low hazard by the authorized agent of the department. If a connection is found to be a high hazard cross-connection, the owner of the connection shall be notified in writing within ten (10) days, that the cross-connection must be eliminated or protected by the appropriate backflow preventor within ninety (90) days of notification. If the connection is found to be low hazard cross-connection, the owner of the connection shall be notified in writing within ten (10) days, that the connection shall be eliminated or protected by the appropriate backflow preventor within one (1) year of notification.

The following cross-connections shall be considered as low hazard cross connection posing a very low risk and shall be exempt from the provisions of this article:

(1)

Any lawn sprinkler system or lawn irrigation system that is connected to a public water system and was professionally installed, regardless of whether the system is underground or whether the system has pop-up sprinkler heads;

(2)

Any swimming pool that is connected to a public water system and was professionally installed, or any swimming pool that is connected to a public water system and has a fill line with an anti-siphon air gap;

(3)

Any water fountain or cooler that provides drinking water for human consumption, that is connected to a public water system and was professionally installed;

(4)

Any fire sprinkler system that contains only water or a dry pipe and no chemicals, that is connected to a public water system and was professionally installed; and

(5)

Any commercial establishment that is connected to a public water system, that contains no cross connections directly with a dangerous or hazardous substance of material.

(d)

Lawn systems with chemicals/high hazard. Any lawn sprinkler system or lawn irrigation system that is connected to a public water system and either injects or stores lawn chemicals or is connected to a wastewater supply shall be considered as high hazard cross-connection and not exempt from the requirements of this article.

(e)

Selecting the appropriate backflow preventor. It shall be the responsibility of the department, acting through its agent, to determine the type of backflow preventor required at each cross-connection and the location the preventor will be installed. The type backflow preventor required and location to be installed will be selected using guidelines published by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the City of Tupelo.

(f)

Existing backflow preventor. Any backflow preventor device or assembly installed on the department's system to protect against the possibility of backflow from a customer's water service prior to the adoption of this article must be approved by the department and shall be governed by this policy.

(g)

No additional backflow preventor required. Additional backflow preventor devices shall not be required for carbonated beverage dispensers if (a) the water supply connection to the carbonated beverage dispenser is protected against backflow by a backflow preventor device conforming to ASSE1022 or by an air gap, and (b) the backflow preventor device and the piping downstream from the device are not affected by carbon dioxide gas.

(h)

Review of meter applications. All meter applicants (domestic, commercial, and industrial) must fill out water service application to determine if a cross-connection will be created and, if so, the applicant will attend a scheduled meeting with department to discuss what type of backflow device will be required.

(i)

Inspections. The department, acting through its agent, will periodically inspect any connection to the water system as deemed necessary to insure cross-connections have not been created.

(j)

Record keeping. The department shall maintain records of the type, size and location of each backflow preventor installed in the system, when each backflow preventor is due to be tested, and the results of each test. Records shall be maintained for five (5) years from date of test and inspection.

(Ord. of 11-16-99, §§ 5—5.8; Ord. of 1-3-02, §§ 5—5.10)