Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 226 - CROSS CONNECTION RULES › Section 144-226-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Air-Gap Separation
- A
				physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water
				supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. An air-gap
				separation shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe measured
				vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel - in no case less than one inch
				(2.54 cm).
B.
Anti-Backflow
				Assembly -
An anti-backflow device with gate valves directly before and
				after it.
C.
Anti-Backflow
				Device
- A device or means to prevent backflow. For the purposes of
				these Rules, the term "backflow device" shall include the term "Anti-Backflow
				Assembly".
D.
Approved
				Source
- A source of water utilized by a public water system for
				distribution to the public for consumptive purposes and which is approved by
				the Department for such use, following a required and/or approved treatment
				process.
E.
Backflow
				Preventer
- An anti-backflow device.
F.
Backflow
- The undesirable
				reversal of the flow of water or mixtures of water and other liquids, gases, or
				other substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply from any
				source or sources other than the public water system's approved
				source.
G.
Backflow
				Preventer, Reduced Pressure Principle Type
- An assembly of differential
				valves and check valves including an automatically opened spillage port to the
				atmosphere.
H.
Back-Siphonage
- Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the
				distribution pipes of a potable water supply.
I.
Commissioner
- Department of
				Health and Human Services Commissioner
A.
Community Public Water System -
A public water system which serves at least fifteen service connections
				used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five
				year-round residents.
B.
Containment -
method for protection from contamination by a facility
				with internal cross connections of a supplier's public water system.
L.
Contaminant
- Any chemical,
				biological, or radiological substance or matter which is an impairment of the
				quality of the water which creates an actual hazard to the public health
				through poisoning or through the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids
				or waste.
M.
Cross-connection
- Any physical or potentialconnection, or structural
				arrangement between two otherwise separate systems, one of which contains
				potable water and the other which contains water of unknown or questionable
				safety and/or steam, chemicals, gases or other contaminants and/or pollutants,
				whereby there may be a flow of an unapproved water to a potable water
				supply.
N.
Department
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine CDC, Division of
				Environmental Health, Drinking Water Program.
O.
Fixture Isolation -
method
				for the prevention of contamination by cross connections
within
a facility served by a public water system.
P
High Hazard-
a contamination
				hazard, as defined in the Maine State Internal Plumbing Code at 02-395 CMR 4.
				If a backflow were to occur, the resulting effect on the water supply could
				cause illness or death if consumed by humans. The foreign substance
				(contaminant) may be toxic and/or harmful to humans either from a chemical,
				bacteriological, or radiological standpoint. The effects of the contaminants
				may result from a short or long-term exposure.
Q.
Industrial Fluids
-Any fluid
				or solution which may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or
				polluted in a form or concentration such as would constitute a health, system,
				pollution or plumbing hazard if introduced into an approved water supply. This
				may include, but is not limited to: polluted or contaminated used waters; all
				types of process waters and "used waters" originating from public potable water
				system which may deteriorate in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form;
				plating acids and alkalines; circulated cooling waters connected to an open
				cooling tower and/or cooling waters that are chemically or biologically treated
				or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters such as from
				wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or
				systems, etc.; oils, gases, glycerine, paraffines, caustic and acid solutions
				and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other processes or
				for fire fighting purposes.
R.
Low Hazard-
a pollution hazard, as defined in the Maine State
				Internal Plumbing Code at 02-395 CMR 4. If a backflow were to occur, the
				resulting health significance would be limited to changes in aesthetic quality
				such as taste, odor or color. The foreign substance must be non-toxic and
				non-bacterial in nature with no significant health effect.
S.
Non-Community Public Water
				System
- A public water system that is not a community water system.
				There are two types of Non-Community Water Systems, which include
				non-transient, non-community systems and transient systems.
a.
Non-Transient, Non-Community Water
				Systems
: A Non-Community water system that serves at least 25 of the
				same persons for six months or more per year and may include, but is not
				limited to, a school, factory, industrial park or office building,
				and
b.
Transient
				Non-Community Water Systems
: A Non-Community water system that serves at
				least 25 persons, but not necessarily the same persons, for at least 60 days
				per year and may include, but is not limited to, a highway rest stop, seasonal
				restaurant, seasonal motel, golf course, park or campground. A bottled water
				company is a transient, non-community water system.