Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
(1)
General
(a) All public water systems shall
initiate and maintain a viable cross connection control program. Such a program
shall consist of:
(i) Locating and
eliminating unprotected cross connections.
(ii) Maintaining records pertaining to the
location of existing backflow prevention assemblies, type and size of each
assembly and test results.
(b) No person shall install, permit to be
installed or maintain any cross connection between a public water system and
any other non-public water system, sewer or a line from any container of
liquids or other substances, unless an approved backflow prevention device or
assembly is installed between the public water system and the source of
contamination.
(2) Low
Hazard Cross Connections
A connection between an approved public water system and
another water source not hazardous to health but not meeting the standards of
the approved public water system and not cross-connected within its system with
a potentially dangerous substance shall be considered a low hazard category
cross connection. At a minimum, an approved Double Check Valve Assembly or
Pressure Vacuum Breaker must be installed on a low hazard cross connection
except as provided for in section3below.
(3) Residential Lawn Irrigation Systems
(a) Low hazard residential lawn irrigation
systems - Each public water system which has low hazard residential irrigation
systems directly or indirectly connected to their public water system must have
a written low hazard residential lawn irrigation system cross connection
control policy. This policy must be documented in writing and must be approved
by the governing body of the public water system. The policy must specify the
minimum acceptable device for low hazard residential lawn sprinkler systems.
The minimum acceptable device for low hazard residential lawn sprinkler systems
is a residential dual check. If a water system specifies another backflow
prevention assembly as the minimum acceptable protection for these cross
connections, the policy must be approved by the governing body of the public
water system with due opportunity being provided for public comment and
participation. The written policy must:
(i)
identify the type of backflow prevention device or assembly that is required to
be installed on low hazard residential lawn irrigation system
connections.
(ii) establish a
schedule for the required testing of double check valve assemblies, or other
testable assembly, if testable assemblies are designated by the policy as
minimum acceptable protection for low hazard residential lawn irrigation
systems. The minimum testing frequency must be specified in the policy and
appropriate records must be maintained to verify compliance with the
established testing requirements.
(iii) establish a schedule for the required
change out of residential dual checks if these are the devices designated by
the policy as minimum acceptable protection for low hazard residential lawn
irrigation systems. The minimum change out frequency must be specified in the
policy and appropriate records must be maintained to verify compliance with the
established change out requirements.
(b) High hazard residential lawn irrigation
systems - Any residential lawn irrigation system that includes chemical
addition, or is also connected to another water source which is not an approved
public water system, shall be considered a high hazard cross connection and
must meet the requirements of paragraph (4) below.
(4) High Hazard Cross Connections
(a) A connection between an approved public
water system and a service or other water system which has or may have any
material in the water dangerous to health, or connected to any material
dangerous to health, that is or may be handled under pressure, or subject to
negative pressure, shall be considered a high hazard category cross connection.
Protection shall be by air gap separation or an approved reduced pressure
principle backflow prevention assembly.
(b) Reduced pressure principal backflow
prevention assemblies shall not be installed in any location subject to
possible flooding. This includes pits or vaults which are not provided with a
gravity drain to the ground's surface that is capable of exceeding the
discharge rate of the relief valve.
(5) Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire line sprinkler systems, except those in the high hazard
category shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly. High
hazard category fire sprinkler systems shall include, but not be limited to:
antifreeze systems, foam systems, systems charged from or tied into ponds,
lakes, streams, or any water source other than the approved public water
supply. High hazard category fire sprinkler systems shall comply with the
requirements of Paragraph (4) above.
(6) Approved Devices and Assemblies
The Department shall prepare and publish a list of backflow
prevention assemblies approved by the Department for use in South Carolina, and
this list shall be updated at least once annually.
(7) Testing Requirements
When double check valve assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers,
and/or reduced pressure principal backflow prevention assemblies are installed
to protect a public water system against the possibility of backflow from a
customer's water service, routine testing of the assemblies shall be performed
by a certified tester.
(a) Each
assembly shall be tested by a certified tester after installation and before
use by the customer. Except as specified in paragraph 3(a)(ii) above, each
assembly shall be tested at least once annually by a certified
tester.
(b) The public water system
is to receive a written report of the inspection and testing results for all
assemblies tested within its distribution system. The report shall be submitted
by the certified tester making the inspection and test.
(c) All backflow prevention assemblies shall
be tested immediately after repairs of any kind are made to the
assembly.
(8) Backflow
Prevention Tester Certification
There are four (4) types of certified testers of backflow
prevention assemblies: General Tester, Limited Tester, Inspector Tester and
Manufacturer's Agent. The definition of each type of certified tester is
specified in R.61-58(A)(A).
(a) Each certified tester's license shall
expire three (3) years from the date of issue. In order to renew this
certification for three (3) more years, the tester shall come before a
designated person approved by the Department and shall successfully complete a
written examination with a passing score of 70%, and perform the prescribed
test on an approved reduced pressure principal backflow prevention assembly,
double check valve assembly, and a pressure vacuum breaker using the tester's
own differential pressure gauge. The gauge must be accurate within 2% of full
scale or plus or minus 0.3 pounds per square inch differential (PSID). Any
gauge found to be inaccurate or malfunctioning will be required to be
calibrated or repaired as needed to bring it into compliance before
certification will be renewed.
(b)
Any applicant for certification who fails to properly perform the above
prescribed tests will have his certification revoked immediately and will have
to successfully complete the state sponsored backflow prevention training and
certification course in order to become re-certified as a tester of backflow
prevention assemblies in South Carolina.
(c) A certified tester may have his tester's
certification revoked due to incompetence or falsification of test results, as
determined by the Department.
(d)
The Department shall reserve the right to charge or allow for the charge of a
nominal fee for the administration of the recertification of testers. This fee
shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
(9) Installation of Pressure Vacuum Breakers
Where used, pressure vacuum breakers shall be installed at a
minimum of twelve (12) inches above the highest downstream piping and shall not
be subject to backpressure.
