PALOMINO LAKES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY CROSS CONNECTION PREVENTION POLICY DRAFT Rev: October 1, 2003

The following shall be the policy to be used in concert with the By-laws and CC&R's.

Regulatory Authority:

The PLMWC will follow and adhere to the regulations set forth by the primacy agencies governing the operation of the potable water distribution system and all other regulations concerning the administration and execution of a Cross Connection Control Policy and resulting Cross Connection Control Program. This policy and program will be modified as needed by changes in law and regulation specific to Cross Connection Control and protection of the potable water system to assure compliance with any and all said regulations and laws.

Primacy agencies

• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• California Department of Health Services / Division of Drinking Water
• Sonoma County Permit & Resource Management Department
• Sonoma County Health Department

Specific Regulations
The specific regulations to be adhered to, but not limited to, are the following:

• 2001 California Plumbing Code (and subsequent editions adopted by Sonoma County PRMD)
• California Code of Regulations - Title 17 / 7^th Edition - Sections 7583 through 7605 (and subsequent editions adopted by California Department of Health Service – Drinking Water Field Operations Branch)

Industry Publications
Further industry publications referenced as guidance documents are:

• US / EPA Cross Connection Control Manual – June 1989 / EPA 570-9-89-007 (and subsequent editions)
• AWWA Cross Connection Control Manual M-14 (and subsequent editions)
• USC – Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research Manual for Cross Connection Control – 9^th. Edition (and subsequent editions)
• USC – Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies (and subsequent editions)
• State of California Department of Health Services List of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies

Definition:

“Cross-connection” means a structural arrangement between a public water system, or a distribution system conveying water obtained from the public water system and located on the premises of a water user, and any source or distribution system containing liquid, gas, or other substances not from an approved water supply [California Title 17, Chapter 19, Article 1 (section 64750.20)]

Un-Corrected Cross Connections:

On annual CCC surveys and random inspections of PLMWC customers’ property, any potential or actual cross-connections identified shall be rectified voluntarily by the Property Owner at his or her expense. Inspection notice will be sent to the property owner by Registered Letter, and will be scheduled to occur no less than 15 days from receipt of the notice to the property owner. Scheduled date of inspection will occur in a timely manner by mutual consent of PLMWC representatives and the property owner. If a cross connection is reported or found, the PLMWC board will contact the Property Owner by Registered Letter, advising the owner of the parcel that an actual or potential direct or indirect cross connection condition occurs on the property, and advising the property owner to take appropriate corrective actions. The Property owner will be given 30 days to correct the problem.

If the property owner can not or will not mitigate the actual or potential direct or indirect cross connection, the regulations of the primacy agencies * will be carried out to the satisfaction of the primacy agencies representatives.

If the property owner refuses to allow a cross connection inspection, the PLMWC and the assigned Cross Connection Control Program Specialist may specify and contract the installation of a suitable backflow prevention device specified by the PLMWC and DHS recognized Cross Connection Control Program Specialist, to be installed between the property owners water supply piping and the distribution system, by a licensed plumbing contractor with required building permits, at the Property Owners expense.

After the customers water piping is surveyed by a PLMWC and DHS recognized Cross Connection Control Specialist, and the 30 day grace period has elapsed after written notification by Registered letter addressed to the property owner, the PLMWC and DHS recognized Cross Connection Control Program Specialist will re-survey the property to determine if all noted potential cross connections have been mitigated. If, upon inspection, the potential or actual cross connection has not been remedied, the PLMWC may specify and contract the installation of a suitable backflow prevention device specified by a PLMWC and DHS recognized Cross Connection Control Specialist, to be installed between the property owners water supply piping and the distribution system, by a licensed plumbing contractor with required building permits, at the Property Owners expense.

A newly installed backflow prevention assembly is required to be tested upon installation and at least every 12 months at the Property Owner's expense. Testing of backflow prevention devices will be carried out by a PLMWC and DHS recognized Cross Connection Control Device Tester. A copy of the property owners cross connection control device certification will be submitted to the PLMWC no less than 5 days after the certification has taken place and no later than the 30 day grace period aforementioned. An additional administration fee of $40 annually ($10/ quarter) will be levied by the PLMWC on any backflow device installed on the property owners connection to the system. This fee is to offset any and all administrative cost and may be readjusted as necessary to offset administrativeand regulation needs .

Internal (Property) Protection Guidelines:

The goal under this policy is point-of-use (self/voluntary) remediation of problems that could potentially endanger the entire community by impacting the safety of the drinking water. The following are simple, inexpensive, and common sense steps each property owners can employ to assist in protecting their own water and the system from backflow and back pressure contamination and pollution:

• All faucets must have vacuum breakers (hose bibs) installed – cost ~$4 each
• Never fill a pond, hot tub, pool, or water trough with an immersed hose.
• All ponds and water troughs must use an air-gapped device such as a float device, positioned at least 2x the infeed pipe diameter (or 1-1/2", whichever is larger) above the highest overflow/drain point.
• Pools or other water using devices must be plumbed in accordance with proper plumbing practices and devices (airgaps integrated).
• Irrigation valves must be at least 12” above the highest emitter in the system.
• Never use chemical or fertilizer injection on an irrigation system connected to your potable (Mutual Water Company) water supply.
• Shower and other faucet extensions must not be long enough where they can lay in the water collection basin (i.e. the tub).
• Faucets should be high enough so that they never come into contact with the water (in the basin) below.
• Never pipe an alternative source of water into the same plumbing that provides water from the Mutual Water Company. This includes rainwater cisterns and old wells.
• Always use proper plumbing code when installing new water-using appliances, and ensure such appliances meet plumbing codes (e.g. solar collectors, etc.).
• If you have animals on your property, take steps to ensure their effluent is not washed or placed into our water shed. Remember, our water well supply is downstream from our development.

Further Information:

The PLMWC web site contains links to up-to-date state documents and guidelines, as well as other links regarding cross connection.

We all are responsible for the safety of our water…