10-144 C.M.R. ch. 226, § 2 - DEFINITIONS

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.

T. Owner - Any person who has legal title to, or license to operate or inhabit a property upon which a cross-connection inspection is to be made or upon which a cross-connection is present.

U. Person - Any individual, partnership, company, public or private corporation, political subdivision or agency of the state, Department, agency or instrumentality of the United States or any other legal entity.

V. Political Subdivision - Any municipality, county, district or any portion or combination of two(2) or more thereof.

W. Pollutant - A foreign substance that impairs the quality of the water to a degree which does not create a hazard to the public health but which does adversely and unreasonably affect the aesthetic quality (taste, odor or color) of such water for domestic use.

X. Potable Water - An approved water source, free from impurities present in any amount sufficient to cause disease or harmful physiological effects. An approved water source whose physical, bacteriological, chemical and radiological quality must conform with the requirements of the State of Maine Rules Relating to Drinking Water at 10-144 CMR 231.

Y. Public Water System "Public water system" means any publicly or privately owned system of pipes or other constructed conveyances, structures and facilities through which water is obtained for or sold, furnished or distributed to the public for human consumption, if such a system has at least 15 service connections, regularly serves an average of at least 25 individuals daily at least 60 days out of the year or bottles water for sale. Any publicly or privately owned system that only stores and distributes water, without treating or collecting it; obtains all its water from, but is not owned or operated by, a public water system; and does not sell water or bottled water to any person, is not a "public water system." The term "public water system" includes any collection, treatment, storage or distribution pipes or other constructed conveyances, structures or facilities under the control of the supplier of water and used primarily in connection with such a system, and any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under that control that are used primarily in connection with such a system. The system does not include the portion of service pipe owned and maintained by a customer of the public water system.

Z. Residential Hazard - Any connection that has the same level of hazard as a typical residential household. Public water suppliers can increase protection from residential cross connection hazards using anti-backflow devices at the discretion of the supplier.

AA. Startup Date - The date a public water system starts providing water to its customers.

BB. Supplier - Any person who controls, owns or generally manages a public water system.

CC. System - Public Water System as defined in these Rules above and in the Rules Relating to Drinking Water at 10-144 CMR 231.

Notes

10-144 C.M.R. ch. 226, § 2