Ordinance No. 984
1
ORDINANCE NO. 984
2
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF VERNON AMENDING THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF VERNON BY REPEALING ARTICLE VI OF
ORDlijANCE NO. 793 AND VERNON CITY CODE
SECTIONS 25.40 THROUGH 25.43 AND BY
ENACTING CHAPTER 25, ARTICLE V OF THE
VERNON CITY CODE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE
WATER SUPPLY AND THE CONTROL OF CROSS-
CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF VERNON
3
4
5
6
7
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Vernon adopted
8
Ordinance No. 793 on May 7, 1968 entitled: "An Ordinance of the
City Council of the City of Vernon, Regulating the Water Supply
9
10
11
within the City of Vernon, the Drilling, Reconstruction or
Conversion of Water Wells, and the Closing of the Same, and
12
Providing for Permits for the Same,
and Controlling the
13
Abandonment and Destruction of Water Wells,
and Providing for
14
Cross-Connection Controls, and Control of Sewage within the City
15
of Vernon": and
16
WHEREAS, said Ordinance contained "Article VI. Cross-
17
Connections Control,"
which set standards to prevent
18
contamination or pollution of the domestic water supply by means
19
of cross connections with water using or water operated
20
21
equipment: and
WHEREAS, Article VI of Ordinance No. 793 was codified
22
as Vernon City Code Sections 25.40 to 25.43 by Ordinance No. 827
23
adopted May 4, 1971: and
24
WHEREAS, the State of California Code of Regulations,
Title 17-Public Health, Sections 7583 to 7605, authorize a
25
26
program of "Regulations Relating to Cross-Connections," and
27
recommend the following elements:
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
(a) The adoption of operating rules or ordinances to
implement a cross connection control program;
(b) the conduct of surveys to identify water user premises
where cross connections are likely to occur;
(c) the provision of backflow protection by the water user
at the user's connection or within the user's premises,
or both;
(d) the provision of at least one person trained in cross
connection control to carry out the cross connection
program;
(e) the establishment of a procedure or system for testing
backflow prevention devices;
(f) the maintenance of records of locations, tests, and
repairs of backflow prevention devices; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of an ordinance and rules and
regulations to prevent cross-connections will protect the
heal th, safety, and wel fare of the residents, employees, and
businesses of the City of Vernon.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Findinas.
The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and
determines that the recitals contained hereinabove are true and
correct.
SECTION 2: Repeal.
Article VI of Ordinance No. 793 of the City of Vernon,
"Protection of Water Supply" and Vernon Code Sections 25.40,
-2-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
25.41, 25.42 and 25.43 are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3: Enactment.
Article V of Chapter 25 of the Vernon City Code
Entitled, "Protection of Water Supply," attached hereto and made
a part hereof by reference, is hereby enacted.
SECTION 4: Violation.
Violation of this Ordinance or any part hereof is
punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars
($500), or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of
not more than six (6) months, or by both such find and
imprisonment. Each day or any portion thereof during which any
violation of any provision of this ordinance is committed,
continued or permitted, constitutes a separate and individual
offense.
SECTION 5: Conflicts.
Any ordinance or resolution or parts thereof that are
found to be in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 6: Severability.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase
or word of this ordinance is for any reason held to be void or
21 unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of
22 the remaining portions of this ordinance, it being the intention
23 of the City Council of the City of Vernon to adopt and pass this
24
25
26
27
28
ordinance and each section,
subsection, sentence, clause or
phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that one or more of the
sections, subsections, clauses, sentences or phrases thereof may
be declared void or unconstitutional.
-3-
1
SECTION 7: Publication.
2
There being no newspaper printed, published or
3
circulated in the City of Vernon, the City Clerk is hereby
directed to certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall
4
5
post the same, or cause the same to be posted, within fifteen
6
(15) days after its passage in accordance with section 36933 of
the Government Code, in three (3) of the most public places in
7
8
the City of Vernon, to wit:
the northwest corner of 38th street
9
and Santa Fe Avenue, the northeast corner of Leonis Boulevard
10
11
and Pacific Boulevard, and on the bulletin board in the lobby of
the City Hall of said city, located at 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, all
12
in the City of Vernon,
County of Los Angeles,
State of
13
California.
14
SECTION 8: Effective Date.
15
That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect
16
thirty (30) days from and after its passage of the same.
17
18
19
20 AT~
21
22 BRUCE V.
23
24
25
26
27
28
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21 day of November, 1989.
~~.
, A ///..-7 - LEONIS C. MAL URG, Ma or
/#A7~~
MALKENHORST, City Clerk
-4-
1
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
2
ss
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
3
I, BRUCE V. MALKENHORST, City Clerk of the City of
4
Vernon,
do hereby certify that the foregoing ordinance, being
5
Ordinance No. 984, was duly and regularly introduced at a
6
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Vernon, held
7
on Tuesday, November 7, 1989, and thereafter finally adopted at
8
a
regular meeting
of
said city council held on
9
Tuesday, November 21, 1989
, and thereafter duly signed by the
10
Mayor of the City of Vernon, by the following vote:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 (SEAL)
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
AYES:
Councilmen: Malburg, Ybarra, McCormick,
Gonzales, Davis
NOES:
Councilmen: None
ABSENT:
Councilmen: None
~ vld~~
BRUCE V. MALKENHORST, City Clerk
-5-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
VERNON CITY CODE CHAPTER 25
Article V. Protection of Water Supply
Sec. 25.80. Purpose.
The purpose of this ordinance is (1) to protect the
public water supply of the City of Vernon against actual or
potential cross-connection by isolating within the premises
contamination or pollution that may occur because of some
undiscovered or unauthorized cross-connection on the premises;
(2) to eliminate existing connections between drinking water
systems and other sources of water that are not approved as safe
and potable for human consumption; (3) to eliminate cross-
connections between drinking water systems and sources of
contamination; and (4) to prevent the making of cross-
connections in the future.
section. 25.81. Prohibition.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or
corporation at any time:
(1) to make or maintain or cause to be made or
maintained, temporarily or permanently, for any period of time
whatsoever, any cross-connection between the water supply of the
City of Vernon and any other source of water; or
(2) to maintain any sanitary fixture or other
appurtenances or fixtures which by reason of their construction
may cause or allow backflow of water or other substances into
A-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
the water supply system of the City andlor the water pipes or
fixtures of any consumer of the City.
Sec. 25.82: ~efinitions.
Approved backflow prevention device shall mean a device
which has passed laboratory and field evaluation tests performed
by a recognized testing organization which has demonstrated its
competency to perform such tests to the California Department of
Health Services.
Approved water supplY shall mean any water supply whose
potability is regulated by a state or local health agency.
Auxiliary water supplY shall mean any water supply on
or available to the premises other than the approved water
supply.
Backflow shall mean a flow condition caused by a
differential in pressure, that causes the flow of water or other
liquids, gases, mixtures or substances into the distributing
pipes of a potable supply of water from any source or sources
other than an approved water supply source. Backsiphonage is
one cause of backflow; backpressure is another cause.
Building Department shall mean the City of Vernon
Department of Community Services.
City shall mean the city of Vernon and its departments.
contamination shall mean a degradation of the quality
of the potable water by any foreign substance which creates a
hazard to the public health through poisoning or through spread
A-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
of disease.
Cross-connection shall mean any unprotected actual or
potential connection between a potable water system used to
supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system
containing unapproved water or a substance that is not or cannot
be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable. By-pass
arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or
changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow
could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections.
Health Aaency shall mean the California Department of
Health Services, or the local health agency with respect to a
small water system.
Health Officer shall mean the City of Vernon Health
Officer.
Person shall mean an individual, corporation, company,
association, partnership, municipality, public utility , or
other public body or institution.
Pollution shall mean an impairment of potable water to
a degree which adversely affects the aesthetic quality of the
water, but does not create a hazard to the public health.
Premises shall mean any and all areas on a customer's
property which are served or have the potential to be served by
the public water system.
Public water system shall mean a system for the
provision of piped water to the public for human consumption
which has five or more service connections or regularly serves
an average of 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the
A-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
year.
service connection shall mean the point of connection
of a water user's system to the public water system.
Water Department shall mean the City of Vernon Water
Department.
Water use site shall mean a location on a water user
system where water is utilized for a purpose.
Water user shall mean any person obtaining water from
an approved water supply system.
Water user's system shall mean a system for the
provision of piped water for human consumption on the premises
of a water user.
Sec. 25.83. cross-connection rules and requlations.
The City Council shall by resolution enact Cross-
Connection Rules and Regulations to implement and clarify the
requirements of this article regarding the installation,
maintenance, testing, and inspection of backflow prevention
devices. Upon approval such rules and regulations shall have
the same force and effect as the provisions of this ordinance.
Sec. 25.84. Cross-connection protection requirements.
a. The City Water Department is responsible for
protecting the water within the City-owned public water system.
The Health Officer and the Building Department shall also
A-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
implement the cross-connection control program.
b. Unprotected cross-connections with the public
water supply are prohibited.
c. Whenever backflow protection is necessary, the City
shall require the water user to install an approved backflow
prevention device by and at the user's expense for continued
service or before a new service will be granted.
d. Whenever backflow protection is necessary on a
water supply line entering a water user's premises, then any and
all water supply lines from the public water system entering
such premises, buildings, or structures shall be protected by an
approved backflow prevention device. The type of device to be
installed will be in accordance with the Cross-Connection Rules
and Regulations.
e. Whenever backflow protection is necessary at a
water use site on the water user's system, then that water use
site shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention
device. The type of device to be installed will be in
accordance with the Cross-Connection Rules and Regulations.
Sec. 25.85. Where protection is required.
a. Each service connection from the public water
system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water
supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the
premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water
supply is accepted as an additional water source by the City.
A-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
b. Each service connection from the public water
system for supplying water to any premises on which any
substance is handled in such fashion as may allow its entry into
the public water system shall be protected against backflow of
the water from the premises into the public water system. This
shall include the handling of process waters and waters
originating from the public water system which have been
subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality.
c. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on
the service connection to any premises (1) having internal
cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected and
controlled to the satisfaction of the state or local health
department and the City, (2) having intricate plumbing and
piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the
premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes,
making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or
not a cross-connection exists.
d. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at
water use sites where any substance is handled in such a manner
as may allow its entry into the water user's system.
Sec. 25.86. Type of protection required.
a. The type of protection to prevent backflow into the
approved water supply shall be commensurate with the degree of
hazard that exists on the consumer's premises. The type of
protection device that may be required (listed in an increasing
A-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
level of protection) includes: Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB);
Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB); Double Check Valve Assembly (DC):
Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Device (RP): and
Air-gap separation (AG). The water user may choose a higher
level of protection than required by the city. The minimum
types of backflow protection required to protect the approved
water supply of premises with varying degrees of hazard are
given in the Cross-Connection Rules and Regulations.
b. Backflow protection for the City public water
system shall be installed at the service connection unless the
cross-connection can be satisfactorily corrected within the
premises. Backflow protection for the water user's system shall
be installed as prescribed by the City. situations which are
not covered in the Cross-Connection Rules and Regulations shall
be evaluated on a case by case basis and the appropriate
backflow protection shall be determined by the City or health
agency.
c. Only backflow prevention devices which have been
approved by the City shall be acceptable for installation at a
service connection or on a water user's system. The City will
provide upon request, to any affected customer, a list of
approved backflow prevention devices.
d. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed in a
manner prescribed in the Cross-Connection Rules and Regulations.
A-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Sec. 25.87. User supervisor.
At each premises where the City deems it necessary, a
user supervisor shall be designated by and at the expense of the
water user. This user supervisor shall be responsible for the
monitoring of the backflow prevention devices and for avoidance
of cross-connections. In the event of contamination or
pollution of the drinking water system due to a cross-connection
on the premises, the City shall be promptly notified by the user
supervisor so that appropriate measures may be taken to overcome
the contamination. The water user shall inform the City of the
user supervisor's identity, as a minimum on an annual basis and
whenever a change occurs.
Sec. 25.88. Water system service survey.
a. The City shall review all requests for new services
or water system modifications to determine if backflow
protection is needed. As a condition of new or continued
service, plans and specifications must be submitted to the City
for review of possible cross-connection hazards. If it is
determined that a backflow prevention device is necessary to
protect the approved water supply, the required device must be
installed in accordance with the Cross-Connection Rules and
Regulations before service will be granted.
b. The City may require an on-premise inspection to
evaluate cross-connection hazards. Any customer who cannot or
A-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
II
12
13
14
15
16
17
l8
19
will not allow an on-premise inspection of their piping system
shall be required to install the backflow prevention device
which the City considers necessary.
c. The City, at it's discretion, may require a
reinspect ion for cross-connection hazards of any premises to
which it serves water. Any customer which cannot or will not
allow an on-premise inspection of their piping system shall be
required to install the backflow prevention device which the
City considers necessary.
Sec. 25.89. Water service termination.
a. When the City encounters water uses that represent
a clear and immediate hazard to the potable water supply that
cannot be immediately abated, the city shall institute the
procedure for discontinuing service from the City water system.
b. Conditions or water uses that create a basis for
water service termination shall include, but are not limited to,
the following items:
(1) Refusal to install a required backflow prevention
20
21 device.
22
23
24 device.
25
26
device.
27
28
(2) Refusal to test a backflow prevention device.
(3) Refusal to repair a faulty backflow prevention
(4) Refusal to replace a faulty backflow prevention
A-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
II
12
13
14
15
l6
l7
l8
19
(5) A direct or indirect connection between the public
water system and a sewer line.
(6) An unprotected direct or indirect connection
between the public water system and a system or equipment
containing contaminants or pollutants.
(7) An unprotected direct or indirect connection
between the public water system and an auxiliary water system.
(8) A situation which presents an immediate health
hazard to the public water system.
c. For conditions (1), (2), (3), or (4) above, the
City will terminate service to a customer's premise after two
(2) written notices have been sent specifying the corrective
action needed and the time period in which it must be done. If
no action is taken within the allowed time period water service
may be terminated.
d. For conditions (5), (6), (7), or (8) above, the
City will take the following steps:
(1) Make a reasonable effort to advise the water user
of the City'S intent to terminate water service;
(2) Terminate the water supply and lock the service
The water service will remain inactive until correction
violation has been approved by the City.
20
21 valve.
22 of the
23
24
25
26
27
28
A-10