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�B Page 1 �.��o��- To th� Han�orabl� Nla�o� and �� Eou!ttcil �rorri tti�Gi I�� ; . er May 12, 2008 SUBJECT Redwood City Cross ConnecEion Control Program Ordinance RECOMMfNDATlON Introduce Ordinance Adding Chapter 38, Article Vi to the Redwood City Code - the Cross Connection Control Ordinance BACKGROUND The City of Redwood City has responsibility for protecting the public drinking water supply from contaminatian occurring through backflow. Bacicflaw is dei5r�eci as the undesirable reversal of fEow in a drinking water distribution system as a result of cross connection. A cross connection is a connection or potentiai connection between any part of a drinking water system and any other environment containing other substances in a manner that, under any circumstances, would a11ow such substances to ente�- the �nnk;n� water system. C�ther substances. may be gases, liquids or solids sucF� as chemicals, waste products, steam, auxiliary water systems (inciuding, but not limi#ed to, the use of groundwater wells, indus#ria! fluids and recycled water), or any matter that may change the color, add odor, or in any way change the guality of the drinking wa#er system. Protecting the public water supply can only be achieved by implementing an effective cross connection contro[ program. The Ci#y's existing Cross Connection Control Program is administered through the County of San Mateo at a cost of $42,000 annually {FY 2007-Q8). The County has administered the program for Redwonci City far the last 16+ years by ensuring that backflow prevention assemblies that are instatled at a customers meter and 1 or within a customer's water system, which protect both the City water distribution system and the customer water system from backflow, are tested and maintained annually. The County notifies backflow prevention assembly ownefs (i.e., property owners / water customer- users) when their annual tests are due via a direct mailing. The County maintains a list of backflow prevention assembly testers who have been authorized and certified by the County to perform these tests and makes this list available to assembly owners. Lastly, #he County routinely perfarms site inspections to de#ermine the degree of hazard of a site and the level af backflow protection required to pro#ect the City water dis#ribution system and the customer water system from cantarninatian #hrough backflow. There are five distinct levels af protection that backflaw prevention assemblies offer; the type ofi assembly and level of protection required is determined by the degree of hazard at a site. The term "degree of hazard" is derived fram an evaluation of the potential risk to the pubiic health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the drinking water system. As a water supplier, ensuring a safe drinking water supp{y and public hea{th is fundamentafly tF�e most importan# objective. To that end, staff has determined that the