(a)   Auxiliary Water Supply. Any water source or system other than the city potable water supply that may be available in any building or premises.

(b)   Backflow. The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source or sources other than its intended source. Backflow includes back-siphonage.

(c)   Cross-Connection. Any physical connection between the city’s water supply and any fluid waste pipe, soil pipe, sewer, drain, or auxiliary water supply. It is also any potable water supply outlet which is submerged or can be submerged in waste water or any other source of contamination.

(d)   Health Hazard. Any conditions devices, or practices on or near the water supply system and its operation which create or, in the judgment of the designated agent of the City, may create a danger to the quality of the water including, but not limited to, structural defects in the water supply system, whether of location, design, or construction, that regularly or occasionally may prevent satisfactory purification of the water supply or cause it to be polluted from extraneous sources.

(a)   Inspection. The designated agent of the City shall have the right of entry into any building, during reasonable hours, for the purpose of making inspection of the plumbing systems installed in such building or premises to determine compliance with this article.

(b)   Notification. The designated agent of the City shall notify the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of any such building or premises to correct, within a given time, any plumbing installation which in his judgment constitutes a health hazard.

(a)   General. The city’s potable water supply system shall be designed, installed and maintained in such manner as to prevent, introduction of nonpotable liquids, solids, or gases into the potable water supply through cross-connections or any other piping connections to the system.

(b)   Auxiliary Water Supply Systems and Cross-Connections Prohibited. Cross-connections between potable water systems and other systems or equipment containing water or other substances which might constitute a health hazard are prohibited. Piping without an air gap may be permitted when suitable protective devices such as the reduced pressure zone backflow preventer are installed and maintained to approved standards of the City of Minneapolis an upon written approval of the City of Minneapolis.

(c)   Interconnections. Interconnections between two or more public water supplies shall be permitted only with the approval of all parties having jurisdiction.

(d)   Refrigerating Unit Condensers and Cooling Jackets. Where potable water is provided for a refrigerator condenser or cooling jacket, the inlet connection shall be provided with an approved check valve. Also adjacent to and at the outlet side of the check valve, an approved pressure relief valve set to relieve at 5 psi above the maximum water pressure at the point of installation shall be provided. All water must be discharged to storm sewer, irrigation or disposal well at conclusion of cooling cycle.

(e)   Water Outlets. A potable water system shall be protected against backflow and backsiphonage by providing and maintaining at each outlet either:

(1)   Air Gap. An air gap between the potable water outlet and the flood level rim of the fixture it supplies of between the outlet and any other source of contamination. An “air gap” is a fixture supplied of at least twice the inside diameter of the supply pipe.

(2)   Backflow Preventer. A mechanical device or means to prevent backflow as approved by the City of Minneapolis.

(f)   Installation of Backflow Prevention Devices.

(1)   Vacuum Breakers. Vacuum breakers shall be installed with the critical level at least six (6) inches above the flood level rim of the fixture. No shut-off valve or faucet shall be installed beyond the vacuum breaker. For closed equipment or vessels such as pressure sterilizers the top of the vessel shall be treated as the flood level rim, but a check valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the vacuum breaker.

(2)   Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer. A reduced pressure principle type back flow preventer may be approved for certain applications. This type of apparatus is to be installed in a frost-free structure above ground. Written approval will be granted only after review of the particular unit by the City of Minneapolis

(3)   Devices for All Types. Backflow preventing devices shall be accessibly located, preferably in the same room with the fixture they serve. Installation in utility or service spaces is also permitted provided they are readily accessible.

(4)   Partial list of cross-connections which may be subject to backpressure:

(A)  Chemical Lines;

(B)  Dock Water Outlets;

(C)  Individual Water Supplies;

(D)  Yard Sprinkling Systems;

(E)   Pressure Tanks;

(F)   Fire and Sprinkler Systems that Operate with Elevated Pressures;

(G)  Pumps;

(H)  Steam Lines;

(I)    Swimming Pools;

(J)   Tanks and Vats-Bottom inlets.

(a)   General Requirements. It shall be the responsibility of building and premises owners to maintain all backflow preventers and vacuum breakers within the building or on the premises in good working order and to make no piping or other arrangements for the purpose of by passing backflow devices and subject to periodic inspection by the designated agent of the City.

(b)   Backflow Preventers. Periodic testing and inspection schedules shall be established by the city council for all backflow preventers and the interval between such testing and inspections and overhauls of each device shall be established in accordance with the age and condition of the device. These devices should be inspected frequently after the initial installation to assure that they continue to comply with this article.

The designated agent of the City shall notify the owner of the building or premises in which there is found a violation of this article, of such violation. The designated agent of the City may order an immediate discontinuance of service if necessary to prevent contamination of the city’s water supply. Minor violations are to be removed or corrected as soon as possible. Upon failure of the owner to take corrective action, the City of Minneapolis may terminate water service. If reasonable corrective action has not been taken within thirty (30) days after notice, the owner of the property shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or thirty (30) days in jail, or both fined and imprisoned.

No person, firm or corporation shall drill a water well in Markley’s 2nd Addition, Minneapolis, Ottawa County, Kansas.