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7.A. - Page 1 <br /> RE PO RT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the Cit Mana er <br /> January 14, 2013 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> An Ordinance Amending Section 13.1 of Chapter 13 and Article VII of Chapter 38 <br /> Relating to the City's Cross-Connection Control Program <br /> A Resolution adopting a Residential Amnesty Program for compliance with the City's <br /> Cross-Connection Control Program <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> Waive First Reading and Introduce an Ordinance Amending Section 13.1 of Chapter 13 <br /> and Article VII, Chapter 38 of the Redwood City Code Relating to the City's Cross- <br /> Connection Control Program. <br /> Defer adoption of resolution until second reading of ordinance so that the resolution and <br /> the ordinance become effective simultaneously. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> As a public water supplier, Redwood City is responsible for protecting the public water <br /> supply. An important aspect of protecting the water supply is preventing cross- <br /> connections. A cross-connection is a connection or potential connection between the <br /> City's water system and any other system or environment that may contain a harmful or <br /> objectionable substance that could possibly enter the drinking water system. Prevention <br /> of a cross-connection occurs by requiring customers with auxiliary water supplies to <br /> install and regularly test a device that prevents backflow, which is the undesirable <br /> reverse flow of non-drinking water into a drinking water system. Backflows occur when <br /> there is a pressure differential that may arise for various reasons such as demands on <br /> the system due to fire-fighting, main-flushing, or activities on the private property having <br /> an auxiliary water source. <br /> A backflow or "backflow prevention assembly" serves to protect the public water system <br /> from hazards like actual or potential contaminants that may enter the public water <br /> system. Hazards include among other things auxiliary water sources that may introduce <br /> unacceptable bacteriological or chemical elements, industrial fluids, internal cross <br /> connections that cannot be corrected or controlled, and plumbing and piping <br /> arrangements. <br /> There are different types of backflow devices and the appropriate one is generally <br /> determined by the level of hazard or degree of potential risk to potable water system <br /> Page 1 of 6 <br />