Presentation from the San Diego County Water Authority’s workshop on Recycled Water and Dual Plumbing.

1. CDPH
California Department of Public Health
Dual Plumbed Systems
and
Cross Connection Control
Nov 9, 2010

2. Dual Plumbed Systems
Presented by Randy Barnard
Drinking Water Program
California Department of Public Health

3. CDPH, Drinking Water Program
Besides regulating public drinking water systems,
CDPH:
 Established Water Recycling Criteria (Title 22) which
outline treatment and reuse requirements
 Established Cross-Connection Control Regulations
(Title 17) to protect public water supplies
 On-going involvement with cross-connection control
issues
 Reviews new and emerging treatment technologies
 Collects fees from project applicants

4. What is Recycled Water
Water which, as a result of treatment of waste,
is suitable for direct beneficial use.
(Direct beneficial use means the use of RW that has been
transported from the point of treatment or production to the
point of use without an intervening discharge to waters of the
State.)
Mostly municipal wastewater.

5. Types of Recycled Water
Secondary (undisinfected)
Secondary-23
Secondary-2.2
Tertiary
 Filtered via media or membrane
 Disinfected-2.2 via CT criteria or Alt method
Tertiary is what we will focus on!!

6. Uses of Recycled Water
According to Title 22, Section 60307
Disinfected tertiary recycled water:
 Flushing toilets and urinals
 Commercial laundries
 Decorative fountains
 Priming drain traps
 Industrial process water

7. Dual Plumbed Systems
According to Title 22, Section 60301.250
Means a system with separate piping for
recycled water and potable water within a
facility.
And the recycle water serves
 Plumbing outlets (not fire) within a building
or
 Outdoor landscape irrigation at residences.

8. Not Allowed Dual Plumbed
Toilet and urinal flushing in mental facilities. (Section
13554(a))
Inside facilities that
produce/process food.
(Section 60313(c))
Internal individually-owned residential units (except for
fire). (Section 60313(b))*
*Conflicts with new 2007 statue 13553

9. Recycled Water and Condos
According to CA Water Code, Section 13553
(New statue not reflected in regs yet!)
RW may be used in condos if
 Title 22 Engineering report
 Backflow protection of drinking water
 Appropriate modifications
 Cross connection testing
 Maintain records
 Condo declaration stating RW use

10. New CA Plumbing Code
Code Chapter 16 - Part II
California Dual Plumbing Code established
statewide standards for installing both potable and
recycled water plumbing systems in commercial,
retail, and office buildings, theaters, auditoriums,
condominiums, schools, hotels, apartments,
barracks, dormitories, jails, prisons, and
reformatories.
The new code will be effective January 2011.

11. Title 22 Engineering Report
Section 60323 (general)
 Qualified, CA PE engineer with wastewater
experience.
 Design description.
 Indicate means for
compliance with regs.
 Contingency plan assuring
only treated RW to use areas.

12. Title 22 Engineering Report
Section 60314 (Dual plumbed specific)
 Details of:
 Number, location, and type of facilities in use
area.
 Ave number of persons served daily.
 Boundaries including maps.
 List of operation personnel at each facility.
 RW use at each use area.

13. Title 22 Engineering Report
Section 60314 (Dual plumbed specific)
 Plans and Specs including:
 Proposed piping system.
 Pipe locations for RW and PW.
 Type and location of fixtures accessible to
public.
 Back flow prevention methods.
 Description of cross connection prevention
methods.

14. Other Key Points of Dual Plumbed
PW back up supply only allowed via an air-
gap separation.
Report back flow incidents to CDPH <24
hours.

15. Other Key Points of Dual Plumbed
Back flow devices inspected/maintained.
Cross Connection inspections (visual)
 Before system S/U
 Annually
Cross Connection tests (physical)
 Every 4 years

16. Cross Connection Control
Internal Dual Plumbed
Presented by Brian Bernados
Drinking Water Program
California Department of Public Health

17. •Title 17: Backflow Protection
Reasons for Backflow Protection
 Water user’s onsite activities pose a
health risk to the water supply if
access is provided.
 Many involve Increase threat of
cross-connections (dual plumbed,
graywater, recycled water systems)

18. Backflow Prevention
Usually Nothing Happens
Its Big News When it Does Happen
Multiple Things Go Wrong
Need Water and Contaminants
Something is plumbed wrong
Humans Aren’t Paying Attention
It Happens

19. Poorly Plumbed Fixtures
The public had been drinking
recycled water for several years
from a drinking fountain before
this was discovered.
This was found through a
pressure shutdown testing
procedure.

20. Title 17 Regulations
PWS must install backflow protection
assemblies approved by the CDPH. (a
list of approved assemblies is available)
Annual testing is required of Backflow
Assemblies; defective assemblies must
be replaced or repaired with approved
parts/assemblies

21. What Happens Beyond the meter?
Location of Backflow Protection - Generally,
located as close as practicable to user’s
connection (typically at the meter).
Protects public distribution system
Leaves the on-site system vulnerable to
potential for cross-connections

22. Tertiary Recycled Water is Highly
Treated, But Not Potable

23. Recycled Water Systems
CROSS-CONNECTION TESTS ARE
IMPORTANT!!!
 Tracer, Pressure or Shut-down Test
 Visual Inspections
 Plan Check/As- builts
 On-site Supervisor Training
 Signs

24. 1620A .0 Inspection and Testing.
(a) Initial cross-connection test before the initial operation
system;
(b) an annual visual system inspection;
(c) a cross-connection test every 4 years;
(d) a cross-connection test when there is material reason to
believe that the potable water and/or recycled water system
separation has been compromised;
A material reason to believe that the system has been
compromised may be based on, but is not limited to,
evidence gathered: (a) during a visual inspection, or
(b) as a result of an inspection performed following
complaints of water quality or flow conditions consistent with
a compromised system
(e) a cross-connection test following remediation of a
discovered cross-connection.

25. Annual Visual System Inspection.
A visual inspection shall be conducted annually by the Authority
Having Jurisdiction or other authorities having jurisdiction.
(i) Recycled water & potable water meters are checked to
verify that no modifications were made, and that no cross-
connections are visible.
(ii) Check all pumps & equipment, room signs, and exposed
piping.
(iii) Check all valves ensure that valve lock seals are still in place
and intact.
All valve control door signs shall be checked to verify that no
signs have been removed.
(iv) If the visual inspection indicates that the recycled water
plumbing has been modified, a Cross-Connection Test is
required.

26. “Cross-Connection Test” 1st half
Potable water is activated and pressurized. Recycled
water is shut down and completely depressurized.
Potable remains pressurized while the recycled water
system is depressurized.
Time period the recycled water system is to remain
depressurized is case-by-case, taking into account the
size and complexity of the potable and recycled water
distribution systems, (typically at least one hour).
All fixtures, potable & recycled, are checked for flow.
Flow from any recycled outlet indicates a cross-
connection. No flow from a potable outlet indicates it
is connected to the recycled water system.

27. “Cross-Connection Test” 2nd half
Potable water is completely depressurized. Recycled
water is activated and pressurized. (For the initial test,
a temporary connection to potable is required to test
the recycled plumbing. At the conclusion, the
temporary connection is disconnected.
Recycled remains pressurized while the potable is
depressurized.
Time period is case-by-case, (typ. at least 1 hour).
All fixtures, potable & recycled, are checked for flow.
Flow from any potable outlet indicates a cross-
connection. No flow from a recycled outlet indicates it
is connected to the potable water system.

28. Cross-Connection Discovered
(i) Shut down recycled water piping at the meter, and the
recycled water riser shall be drained.
(ii) Shut down potable water to the building at the meter.
(iii) The cross-connection shall be uncovered and disconnected.
(iv) The building shall be retested.
(v) Potable water system is chlorinated with 50 ppm 24 hours.
(vi) The potable water system is flushed after 24 hours, and a
standard bacteriological test shall be performed.
If test results are acceptable, the potable water system may
be permitted to be recharged.
Notify water agency, CDPH, County DEH, RWQCB.

29. Authority Having Jurisdiction
Test shall be conducted in the presence of the Authority
Having Jurisdiction or other authorities having jurisdiction to
determine whether a cross-connection occurred.
Authority Having Jurisdiction = CDPH
Alternate inspection and testing requirements may be
allowed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction for residential,
institutional or industrial buildings where shutting off the
water is not practical.
With CDPH approval -
The recycled water purveyor or other designated appointee
may substitute for the Authority Having Jurisdiction in the
above mentioned inspection and tests.
CDPH may delegate to the County DEH.

30. County of San Diego
Recycled Water Plan Check and Inspection
Manual
Specific details of the two methods can be
found in this manual.
Good reference

31. DHS Oversight Options
Public Notification if cross connection occurs
Require Preparation of Plans/Reports
Preferred Approaches
 Technical Assistance
 Guidance/Education
 Stress the Importance of Public Perception and
Education – What do customers want in the water
they drink???

32. The End
Questions?