Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 179 - PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
Chapter 22 - OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COMMUNITY AND NON-TRANSIENT NON-COMMUNITY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS
Section 179-22-004 - GENERAL OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: 179 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 22 ยง 004

Current through September 17, 2024

All community and NTNC public water systems must:

1. Be operated and supervised by competent personnel possessing a certificate of competency issued by the Director.

2. Assure an adequate supply of safe drinking water on a continuous basis.

3. Notify the Director of any situation with the water system which presents or may present an imminent and substantial hazard to health.

4. Flush and disinfect all newly constructed or serviced storage facilities, wells, and water mains not subject to the requirements of 179 NAC 2-007.02 or 2-007.04.

Disinfection must be accomplished prior to placing the new or repaired portion of the system into service. Disinfection must be accomplished in accordance with the following methods which are incorporated herein by reference. They are available for viewing at the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, Public Health Assurance Division, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509, or they can be obtained from the American Water Works Association, 6666 West Quincey Ave., Denver, CO 80235. Alternate methods may be approved by the Director after consultation.

a. Water wells
(1) Community - C 654-97

(2) NTNC - C 654-97 or requirements of 178 NAC 12-004.05A

b. Water Storage - C 652-02

c. Mains - C 651-99

5. Provide or have available personnel, tools, spare parts, work areas, and chemicals necessary to accomplish continuous operation of the system.

6. Maintain an emergency plan of operations for safeguarding the water supply, protecting the drinking water, and, if necessary, providing for an alternate drinking water supply in the event of natural or man-made disasters. The plan must include a list of individuals who may be called for help in times of disaster, their titles and their phone numbers. This list must be updated annually with a copy provided to the Department. The plan must state the basic domestic water needs and usage under normal conditions. Any special institutional, commercial or industrial users must be shown. Any special back-up or standby equipment or auxiliary power supply must be included as well as alternate sources of supply or bottled water sources. All available chemicals and equipment for the purpose of disinfection must be listed. The emergency plan must outline all emergency operations and must be updated at least every 3 years with copies provided to the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure for inclusion in the state Drinking Water Emergency plan located in the Division of Public Health Assurance. The emergency plan must be placed at key locations, clearly marked and readily accessible to utility personnel.

7. Conduct an on-going program for the effective detection and elimination of cross-connections and the prevention of backflow. Such program is subject to review by the Director and must include and require:

a. That there be no unprotected physical connection between the public water system and any pipes, pumps, hydrants, tanks, steam condensate returns, engine jackets, heat exchangers, or other water supplies whereby potentially unsafe water or contaminating materials may be discharged or drawn into the public water system unless first approved by the public water system and then by the Director.

b. That the public water system must install or require installation of properly located backflow prevention assemblies, devices or methods appropriate to the potential hazards enumerated in Tables 1 and 2 when such hazards exist and where, in the opinion of the public water system, effective measures consistent with a potential risk have not been taken. Title 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.b. does not apply to lawn sprinkling systems, with the exception of those with provisions to inject toxic substances including lawn chemicals. A public water system that enacted provisions in its cross-connection control program requiring installation of dual check valves on residential service lines to protect the public water system from low hazard cross-connections prior to [the effective date of these regulations] will be permitted to continue only if such installation was accomplished and maintenance of the devices is performed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

c. That there be no interconnection with the public water system and another potable water system unless first approved by the public water system and then by the Director.

TABLE 1

Cross-Connections Rated by Degree of Hazard for Commonly Encountered Equipment and Fixtures and Their Use

[For a more complete list, refer to the Manual of Cross-Connection Control referenced in 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.i.(1)]

Direct or Indirect Potable Water Connections

Hazard

High

Low

I. Subject to Back Pressure

A. Pumps, tanks and lines handling:

1. Sewage

X

2. Toxic substances

X

3. Nontoxic substances

X

B. Water connection to steam and steam boiler

1. Boiler or steam connection to toxic substances

X

2. Boiler or steam connection to nontoxic substances (boiler blowoff through air gap)

X

II. Not Subject to Back Pressure

A. Sewer-connected water line (not subject to waste stoppages)

X

B. Low inlets to receptacles containing:

1. Toxic substances

X

2. Nontoxic substances

X

C. Coils or jackets used as heat exchangers in compressors in lines carrying:

1. Sewage

X

2. Toxic substances

X

3. Nontoxic substances

X

D. Flush valve toilets or urinals

X

E. Toilet, urinal tanks and approved bathtubs

X

F. Bidets, sitz tanks, or spa, therapy and roman pools not otherwise isolated by design or backflow protectors

X

G. Valved outlets or fixtures with hose attachments that may constitute a cross-connection to:

1. Toxic substances

X

2. Nontoxic substances

X

H. Aspirators that may constitute a cross-connection to:

1. Toxic substances

X

2. Nontoxic substances

X

TABLE 2

Permitted Backflow Assemblies, Devices and Methods

Assembly, Device or Method1

Degree of Hazard

Installation2,3,4,6

Low

High

Back Siph onage

Back Pressure

Back Siph onage

Back Pressure

Air Gap

X

X

X

X

Must be a minimum of 1 inch but not less than 2 times the diameter of the effective spout opening when not affected by side walls, and 3 times the diameter of the effective opening when affected by side walls. Side walls will be assumed to not affect air gaps when they are spaced horizontally a distance greater than 4 times the effective opening from the spout opening.

Atmospheric

Vacuum

Breaker

X

X

Upright position. No valves downstream. Minimum of 6 inches or listed distance above all downstream piping & flood level rim of receptor5

Double Check Valve Assembly

X

X

Horizontal unless otherwise listed. Requires 1 foot below & sufficient side & head room for testing & maintenance with a maximum of 5 feet above the ground, work floor, or a permanently installed working platform with stairs or ladder affixed. Does not discharge water during normal operation.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly

X

X

Upright position. May have valves downstream. Minimum of 12 inches above all downstream piping & flood level rim of receptor. May discharge water.

Reduced

Pressure

Principle

Backflow

Prevention

Assembly

X

X

X

X

Same as Double Check Valve Assembly above except may discharge water & wherever installed, provision for draining away at least 2 times the rated gallons per minute of the assembly must be made.

Footnotes:

1 For description of assemblies and devices, refer to the Cross-Connection Control Standards found in 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.i. Backflow preventers described herein and in the standards as "assemblies" must be installed as assemblies keeping the shutoff valves intact. Examples of sites having potential cross-connections are found in the manuals referenced in 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.i.

2 Previous approval by the public water system is required for use of a pit or vault (normally prohibited due to possible flooding) or for parallel and bypass installations (normally prohibited without special design considerations and proper cross-connection controls).

3 Backflow preventers must not be located in any area containing fumes that are toxic, poisonous or corrosive; nor in any area in which they could be damaged by freezing, or by excessively high temperatures or pressures, vibration, physical impact or structural stress; nor knowingly be allowed to conduct highly corrosive or sandy waters without a special testing and maintenance program to assure proper & safe operation.

4 Refer to general and specific installation requirements as stated in the Cross-Connection Control Standards provided for in 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.i.(1) for conditions or situations not otherwise covered in these regulations.

5 Not to be subjected to operating pressure for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period. Hose bibb vacuum breakers are permitted for some uses described in the Cross-Connection Control Standards listed in 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.i.(1). Where required under 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.b., hose bibbs must be protected with approved, anti-siphoning hose bibb vacuum breakers or a hose bibb with integral backflow protection. In hose bibb installations subject to freezing, such hose bibb vacuum breakers must be frostproof and self-draining.

6 Fire protection systems as a minimum must be equipped with backflow prevention devices as described in AWWA Manual M-14, second edition. Backflow preventers under this regulation and connected to fire protection systems must be considered part of those systems. As such, they must not be installed, moved, removed, replaced, shut off or in any way altered unless in strict compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Fire Marshal.

d. That all backflow protection devices equipped with test ports be tested as often as required by the public water system but at least once each year by a Grade 6 certified water operator, with test results certified to the public water system as often as required by the public water system, but in no case more than 30 calendar days after the test. Title 179 NAC 22-003 item 7.d. does not apply to lawn sprinkling systems, with the exception of those with provision to inject toxic substances including lawn chemicals.

e. That the public water system require its consumers to assess and report potential backflow hazards on their premises no less often than every five years and to take any steps necessary for protection of public health and safety as reasonably requested by the public water system.

f. That the public water system must maintain, or cause to be maintained, records of locations, types, tests and repairs of backflow preventers for a period of five years of said tests and repairs.

g. That backflow preventers required by this regulation must have been tested and approved or listed for the intended use by one of the following organizations:
(1) Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydrologic Research, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089.

(2) American National Standards Institute, 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.

(3) Underwriters Laboratories Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.

(4) National Sanitation Foundation, 2355 West Stadium Boulevard, P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106.

(5) International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, 5032 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90032.

h. That an on-going public information program must be conducted by the public water system to further the public water system customers' understanding and awareness of cross-connection hazards, the types of remedies available and the need to protect the public water system against backflow no less often than once per year.

i. That approval of Cross-Connection Control Programs (including as a minimum, backflow preventers, their installation, operation, testing, maintenance and repair) must be based on the following standards.
(1) Manual of Cross-Connection Control, published by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California, ninth edition, a copy of which is available for viewing at the Office of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, Public Health Assurance Division, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509. Said manual may be obtained from the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, University of Southern California, KAP-200 University Park MC-2531, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2531.

(2) American Water Works Manual, M-14, second edition, a copy of which is available for viewing at the Office of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, Public Health Assurance Division, 301 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE 68509. Said manual may be obtained from the American Water Works Association, 6666 West Quincey Ave., Denver, CO 80235.

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