ORD 23-016ORDINANCE NO. 23-016
An ORDINANCE amending certain provisions of Chapter 13.32
of the Camas Municipal Code to address Cross-Connection
Control including the required testing of backflow prevention
devices.
WHEREAS, the City is required to protect the public water supply by providing for
Cross-Connection Control of the water supply system in actordance with the Washington
Administrative Code 246-290; and
WHEREAS, backflow prevention devices are the physical infrastructure that provides
the cross-connection control; and
WHEREAS, the City is required by the Washington Administrative Code and the
Washington State Department of Health to have all backflow devices tested annually; and
WHEREAS, the City needs to better define the types of backflow prevention devices
allowed within its public water system; and
WHEREAS, the City does not currently have the authority within the Camas
Municipal Code to enforce annual testing of backflow devices in accordance with the
Washington Administrative Code and is amending Chapter 13.32 to allow disconnecting
water service as a last resort to require testing of backflow devices.
Now therefore, the Council of the City of Camas do ordain as follows:
Section I
Chapter 13.32 of the Camas Municipal Code is hereby amended as shown in Exhibit A.
Section II
Effective Date of Ordinance. This ordinance shall take force and be in effect five
(5)days from and after its publication according to law.
PASSED BY the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Camas,
Washington , this 4th day of December, 2023 .
APPROVED as to form:
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City Attorney
13.32.010 Cross-connection defined.
As used in this chapter, the term "cross-connection" shall be construed to mean any physical
arrangement whereby the public water supply is connected, directly or indirectly, with any other
water supply system, sewer, drain , conduit, pool , storage reservoir , plumbing fixture or other
device which contains or may contain contaminated water, sewage or other wastes or liquids of
unknown or unsafe quality or which may be capable of imparting contamination to the public
water supply as a result of backflow.
13.32.020 Cross -connection-Permit required.
It is unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees , to make connections with
any water main or water pipe belonging to the municipal water supply system, i.,•ithout first
obtaining 1Nritten permission to do so from the public 1.¥orks director or his designated
representative and without first obtaining the required permits through the City of Camas.
13.32.030 Cross-connection-Compliance with provisions required .
The installation or maintaining of a cross-connection with the public water supply system of the
city is prohibited, except as provided in Section 13.32.050.
13.32.040 Cross-connection-Control or elimination.
The control or elimination of cross-connections shall be in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Washington State Board of Health regarding public water supplies, WAC 248 -
54-285 as it now exists or as it may hereinafter be amended, and with any requirements set
forth by the "U.S . Environmental Protection Agency" as authorized by the "Safe Drinking Water
Act," PL 93-523 , as it presently exists or as it may hereinafter be amended, and with any
manual of standard practice pertaining to cross-connection control approved by the public works
director or his designated representative .
13.32.050 Cross -connection-Backflow prevention device requirements.
The owner or operator of any water system having a separate source of water supply may
cross-connect such water supply to the city water system only after first having installed, at the
point of such cross-connection , an allowed backflow p reventati've device approved in writing by
the public 1Norks director or designated representative . Such approval shall not be given
unless the backflov, device meets the existing requirements of the Washington State Board of
Health . per Camas Municipal Code 13.32.090 and obtaining all required permits.
When a cross-connection exists, if there is no allowed backflow prevention device protecting the
city water supply, the property owner will be required at their sole cost, to install an allowed
backflow prevention device within 30 days of notice from the city to avoid having water service
disconnected and a disconnection fee added to the utility account.
13.32.060 Automatic fire sprinkler system connection requirements.
All automatic fire sprinkler systems connected to the city water supply system shall be required
to have Washington State Board of Health approved type backflow preventative devices
installed at or near the service connection and ahead of any type of outlet or pumper
connection .
13.32.070 Inspection-Right of entry.
The director of public works, or -A+S their designated representative, upon showing proper
identification, shall be allowed access to all portions of the premises, including buildings and
structures, to which city water is supplied , at reasonable hours of the day and for the sole
purpose of inspecting and determining compliance with all provisions of this chapter. Water
service may be refused or discontinued to any premises for failure to allow such necessary
access and inspection .
13.32.080 Backflow prevention device-Inspection and testing requirements .
Where a backflow preventative device is in service , the device shall be inspected and tested at
least annually by the public works director or an authorized representative , and must be in a
satisfactory operating condition . a minimum of annually by a Washington State Certified
Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT). Verification by the Backflow Assembly Tester of a passing
inspection must be provided to the City. If the device is tested and not found to be in a
satisfactory operating condition , the connection between the city water supply and the system
isolated by the device shall be severed immediately or city 'Nater service may be discontinued
'A'ithout notice . the owner will be given notice with 30 days to repair or replace the device . If the
30 days have lapsed and no passing backflow test has been received by the city, the resident's
water service will be disconnected and all applicable disconnection and reconnection fees
added to the utility account. Service will not be restored until the backflow device is working
properly and the city has received a passing test result from a Certified Backflow Assembly
Tester.
Properties that do not test the backflow prevention device and are in violation of the required
annual backflow testing will receive two notifications of non-compliance mailed to the property in
which the backflow device is located , or to the mailing address listed on their utility billing
account. After the allotted time on the notifications has passed, if a passing backflow test result
has not been received, the city w ill send a BAT to the location to perform the test. The cost of
the test plus an administrative fee will be added to the resident's utility bill.
13.32.090 Allowed backflow devices
The City of Camas allows the following types of backflow prevention devices in accordance with
the Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington : Double Check Valve
Assembly (DCVA), Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA) and Pressure Vacuum
Breaker Assembly (PVBA).
Atmospheric Vacuum Breakers (AVB) and Anti-Siphon Valves (ASV) are not allowed and may
only be used in addition to an allowed backflow prevention device, with the allowed backflow
prevention device positioned between the water supply and the AVB or ASV.