§ 12-3-12. Cross-connections not permitted.

A.

All plumbing installed within the Village of Hoffman Estates Public Water Supply, shall be installed in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890. That, if in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code or in the judgment of the Director of Public Works, or Director of Code Enforcement, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water supply system, notice will be given to the water customer to install such an approved device immediately. The water customer shall, at his own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner in accordance with the Illinois Plumbing Code and all applicable local regulations, and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved devices upon installation and as required by the Illinois Plumbing Code.

B.

That no person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the Village of Hoffman Estates or distribution system of said municipality, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Director of Public Works and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

C.

That it shall be the duty of the Director of Public Works to cause surveys and investigations to be made of industrial and other properties served by the public water supply to determine whether actual or potential hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated at least every two years, or as often as the Director of Public Works shall deem necessary. Records of such surveys shall be maintained and available for review for a period of at least five years.

D.

That if ordered by the Director of Public Works, any owner of property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the Village of Hoffman Estates shall procure the services of a licensed cross-connection control device inspector/licensed plumber for the purpose of verifying the presence or absence of cross-connections, and that the Director of Public Works or his authorized agent shall have the right to request entry at any reasonable time any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the Village of Hoffman Estates for the purpose of verifying information submitted by the customer regarding the required cross-connection control inspection. Upon request, the owner, lessees or occupants of any property so serviced shall furnish to the Director of Public Works any information which he may request regarding the piping system or systems or water use on such property. The refusal of such information, when demanded, shall, within the discretion of the Director of Public Works, be deemed evidence of the presence of connections as provided in this article.

E.

That the Director of Public Works of the Village of Hoffman Estates Public Water Supply is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of the provisions of this Section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as he may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such property shall not be restored until such conditions have been eliminated or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this Section, and until a reconnection fee is paid to the Village of Hoffman Estates. Immediate disconnection with verbal notice can be effected when the Director of Public Works is assured that imminent danger of harmful contamination of the public water supply system exists. Such action shall be followed by written notification of the cause of disconnection. Immediate disconnection without notice to any party can be effected to prevent actual or anticipated contamination or pollution of the public water supply, provided that, in the reasonable opinion of the Director of Public Works or the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, such action is required to prevent actual or potential contamination or pollution of the public water supply. Neither the Village, the Director of Public Works, or its agents or assigns shall be liable to any customer for any injury, damages or lost revenues which may result from termination of said customer's water supply in accordance with the terms of this Section, whether or not said termination was with or without notice.

F.

That the consumer responsible for backsiphoned material or contamination through backflow, if contamination of the potable water supply occurs through an illegal cross-connection or an improperly installed, maintained or repaired device, or a device which has been bypassed, must bear the cost of clean-up of the potable water supply system, and shall be totally liable for all claims that may result from such incidents.

G.

A property owner must complete a cross-connection survey as prepared by the Director of Public Works within 30 calendar days from the date of the U.S. postmark. Such property owner is responsible for the proper completion of the survey. If there is no response to the survey request, a second notice shall be sent via U.S. certified mail. Failure to respond with a properly completed survey within 30 calendar days of receipt shall result in such property owner being served with a disconnection notice.

H.

Every installed backflow prevention device shall be tested annually to ensure proper function. The property owner is responsible for the proper completion of the annual testing. If the Village has not received the report by the anniversary date for such testing, the Village shall send a notice to the current water user and property owner. If the Village does not receive the test report within 30 calendar days of the first notice, the Village shall send the second notice via U.S. certified mail. Failure to respond to second notice with a properly completed test report shall result in such property owner being served with a disconnection notice.

I.

Compliance with all recommendations made by the State Certified Cross Connection Device Inspector (CCCDI) is required, such as correction of deficiencies, replacement of fouled device or the removal of cross-connection and installation of backflow prevention devices. The property owner is responsible for the proper completion of the corrections recommended by the CCCDI. In case of disagreement between the property owner and the CCCDI, the property owner shall report the disagreement in writing to the Director of Public Works together with the report by the CCCDI. The Director of Public Works shall order an independent CCCDI to conduct an independent inspection, at the owner's expense. After a review of all reports, the Director shall make a decision based upon the report by the independent inspector. Failure to comply with the recommendation by the CCCDI or the decision by the Director of Public Works shall constitute a violation and shall result in immediate disconnection of water service to the property.

J.

For every water user account established as a non-residential user, a cross connection prevention program fee to cover inspections and administrative costs will be charged as established in Section 12-4-2.

(Ord. No. 3299-2001, § 1, 5-7-01; Ord. No. 3619-2004, § 1, 4-19-04; Ord. No. 4589-2017, § 4, 5-15-17 )