AgdaPkt 2012-09-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1.F. - Page 1 RE PO RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Cit Mana er September 10, 2012 SUBJECT Cross Connection Control Program Requirements RECOMMENDATION a. Approve by motion a Customer Assistance Program Policy which provides an amnesty period from Cross Connection Control Program requirements and waives certain fees for a period of one year. b. Direct staff to amend the City's existing Cross Connection Control Program Ordinance to include cost recovery and civil penalty provisions, and require compliance with Cross Connection Control Program Provisions when a change in property ownership occurs. BACKGROUND Redwood City is the steward of its public drinking water system and therefore has an obligation to all water customers to prevent accidental cross-connections from occurring. The Redwood City Council adopted a Cross Connection Control Ordinance in 2008. The City took over this responsibility from the County Health Officer because as a water supplier, the City is in the best position to ensure a safe drinking water system. Among other things, the Cross Connection Control Ordinance requires customer-users to install and maintain backflow prevention assemblies. The intent of the ordinance is to comply with California Health and Safety Code Title 17, which seeks to protect public health by preventing water customers from contaminating drinking water by accidentally establishing a cross connection between a non-potable auxiliary water supply on their property, and the public drinking water system. State law on cross connection control was adopted in the 1980s. On September 16, 2011, a cross connection between a private irrigation well and the public drinking water supply accidentally occurred at a residence in Redwood City. The cross connection caused the City to issue a boil water advisory that affected over 200 parcels for more than 48 hours. The City corrected the cross connection and completed a Corrective Action Plan (Plan) mandated by the State of California Department of Public Health (DPH). As part of the Plan, DPH directed the City to focus on bringing remaining private irrigation wells within the City into compliance with the State Drinking Water Act and cross connection control regulations.