Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-555 - PERMITTING, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Section 62-555.360 - Cross-Connection Control for Public Water Systems

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1)
				Cross-connections, as defined in Rule
				 62-550.200, F.A.C., are
				prohibited unless appropriate backflow protection is provided to prevent
				backflow through the cross-connection into the public water system. This does
				not prohibit a public water system from being interconnected to another public
				water system of the same type without backflow protection (i.e., a community
				water system [CWS] may be interconnected to another CWS without backflow
				protection, a non-transient non-community water system [NTNCWS] may be
				interconnected to another NTNCWS without backflow protection, and a transient
				non-community water system [TWS] may be interconnected to another TWS without
				backflow protection).
(a) Appropriate
				backflow protection for various applications is described in
Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection
				Control: AWWA Manual M14
, Third Edition, as clarified and modified in
				paragraphs (b) and (c), below, and in Table
				 62-555.360 -2, which appears at
				the end of this section. The third edition of
AWWA Manual M14
is incorporated herein by reference; is available from the American Water Works
				Association, 6666 West Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235,
www.awwa.org
; and is available for review at
				the Department of Environmental Protection, Source and Drinking Water Program,
				MS 3520, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, at the
				Department of Environmental Protection district offices, and at the Approved
				County Health Departments.
(b)
				Except for the temporary cross-connections described in paragraph (c), below,
				cross-connections between a public water system and a wastewater system or
				reclaimed water system are prohibited (i.e., an air gap shall be maintained
				between any public water system and any wastewater system or reclaimed water
				system). The Department shall allow an exception to this requirement if the
				supplier of water provides justification for the exception and provides
				alternative backflow protection that achieves a level of reliability and public
				health protection similar to that achieved by an air gap (e.g., two
				biannually-tested reduced-pressure principle assemblies installed in series);
				however, in no case shall the Department allow a single, annually-tested
				mechanical backflow preventer to be used as the only protection against
				backflow of wastewater or reclaimed water into a public water system.
(c) Temporary cross-connections may be made
				between a public water system and a wastewater system or reclaimed water system
				for either of the following purposes:
1. To
				supply water for flushing or testing a new wastewater force main or new
				reclaimed water main, in which case a double check valve assembly or
				reduced-pressure principle assembly shall be provided at the
				cross-connection.
2. To supply
				water for temporarily operating a new reclaimed water main that has not yet
				been connected to a reclaimed water supply, in which case a reduced-pressure
				principle assembly shall be provided at the
				cross-connection.