Pace Manual Chapter 8

[Baudilio Eliason]

Educationand training are key elements of any cross-connection control program. In order to help those involved in cross-connection control in their efforts, the USC Foundation has developed several training tools.

Chapter 3, titled Hydraulics, is completely new to the Manual. This chapter covers an introduction to hydraulics, detailing pressures, flow and general characteristics of water in various pressure conditions.

Chapter 4, titled Elements of a Program, lays out the desired elements of a cross- connection control program: Authority, Backflow Preventers, Certified Tester and Specialists, Defensible and Detailed Records and Education and Training.

The chapter then discusses policies and procedures to help the cross-connection control administrator in the day-to-day operations of a cross-connection control program.

Chapters 6 and 7 include information on facilities and equipment to help the Specialist prepare for site surveys.

Chapter 8 contains samples and forms. This gives the Specialist examples of letters and forms that may be used in the cross-connection control program. Most of these samples and forms are available to download digitally with purchase of the Manual.

Chapter 9 covers the field test procedures. There are some changes to these procedures. As with the Ninth Edition, each step of the field test procedure is illustrated. Additionally, complete illustrated RP procedures are included for a five needle valve gauge, a three needle valve gauge and a two needle valve gauge. The double check valve assembly, pressure vacuum breaker and spill resistant vacuum breaker include the five needle valve gauge format only. However, for those steps, where there is a difference in the procedure when a different style gauge is used, an inset is included showing how both the two needle valve gauge and the three needle valve gauge are to be attached.

The instructional video demonstrates the field test procedures according to the Manual of Cross-Connection Control, Tenth Edition. Plus, with over two and a half hours of live action and computer animation sequences it is the most comprehensive instructional video the USC Foundation has ever released.

The new instructional video has been produced from the ground-up. The video has been entirely shot in high definition and new computer animation sequences have been created to help testers better understand the inner workings of the assemblies. New narration with alternating male and female voices helps keep the pace lively and fresh.

The new instructional video depicts the field test procedures and troubleshooting scenarios for the reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP), double check valve backflow prevention assembly (DC), pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVB) and for the first time ever the spill-resistant pressure vacuum breaker assembly (SVB).

In addition, the new instructional video includes the complete field test procedures and troubleshooting scenarios for the RP using a 5, 2 and 3-needle valve field test kit. In the procedures for the DC, PVB and SVB the 5-needle valve test kit is used, but where an action on a 5-needle field test kit differs on a 2 and 3-needle valve field test kit, an inset depicts the step using a 2 and 3-needle valve field test kit.

Furthermore, the new instructional video includes subtitles in English and Spanish in order to make the instructional video accessible to a wider audience.

With a new menu structure in place, testers will be able to jump around between different field tests and troubleshooting scenarios at their own pace. For those testers who own a copy of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control, Tenth Edition, the new instructional video is an ideal companion.

The Foundation encourages all users to access the USC List online first, since the electronic copy of the List includes the latest additions. Users may access the List online via the Foundation website in Excel format, PDF format and using the mobile app.

The video explains how backflow can occur and how cross-connections can be controlled with various types of backflow prevention assemblies. It also discusses some of the aspects of an effective cross-connection control program. The 15-minute video is ideal as an introduction to cross-connection control for agency employees, city councils, students or the water consumer who may not understand the necessity for backflow protection on their premises.

Graphics of each of the acceptable means of backflow prevention (the air-gap, the reduced pressure principle backflow assembly, the double check valve assembly, the pressure vacuum breaker assembly, and the atmospheric vacuum breaker assembly) are shown rendered in 3-D for greater detail. The proper applications of each of the backflow preventers are shown as related to the hydraulic condition of the installation and the degree of hazard.

The USC Glass Tap Water Bottle encourages every one to try tap water with its list of tap water facts in printed on the bottle. Constructed from single wall glass this elegant bottle includes an acrylic stopper that provides a leak free seal while maintaining an eye catching appearance.

Text on bottle reads:

Tap Water is more stringently regulated than bottled water.

Tap Water is tested more frequently than bottled water.

Tap Water is tested by certified analysts (not required for bottled water).

Tap Water is not delivered in plastic bottles that may release chemicals over time that may contaminate the water.

Tap Water sources are published and water quality reports issued annually (not required for bottled water).

For more information about the differences between tap water and bottled water, just google it.

The site is secure.

The ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) presents the agency's preferred laboratory procedures for microbiological analyses of foods and cosmetics. AOAC International published previous editions of this manual in a loose-leaf notebook format, and, more recently, on CD-ROM. This online BAM is now available to the public. Some changes have been made to methods since the previous version. A listing of chapters updated since the last hard-copy version (Edition 8, Revision A /1998) can be found in About the Bacteriological Analytical Manual. The members of the BAM Council are listed below. In addition recent changes for most Chapters are documented in a brief Revision History at the beginning of the Method. There is also e-mail contact information for each Chapter. Chapter numbers have been retained from the previous version. However, for this Table of Contents, chapters have been grouped by category. Please send comments to Karen Jinneman.

Detection of Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium from Fresh Produce: Isolation and Identification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Microscopic Analysis.

Note: An updated Method, Chapter 19B: Detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Fresh Produce using real-time PCR, is available below.

DISCLAIMER: The following Methods and Appendices have been archived. They are included for reference purposes only. For additional information, contact BAM Council Chair: Karen Jinneman

To test for an organism or microbial toxin not covered by the BAM, or to analyze a sample that may require special handling or processing, the user is referred to the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International; Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, Recommended Procedures for the Examination of Seawater and Shellfish, and Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods of the American Public Health Association; also, Standard Methods for Water Analysis of the Environmental Protection Agency. FDA works closely with AOAC International, APHA, EPA, the International Dairy Federation (IDF/FIL), and, by way of participation in Codex Alimentarius, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). However, not all methods appearing in the BAM have been collaboratively evaluated by one or more of these organizations.

Innovations in methods for the microbiological analysis of food continue to appear at a rapid pace. Edition 8 (1995) of the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM-8) contained numerous refinements of procedures and updates of references from the 1992 edition. The list of commercially available test kits and the discussion of rapid methods in Appendix 1 were thoroughly revised. Three chapters were added: the use of reverse transcription (RT) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect and quantify contamination of shellfish with hepatitis A virus (Chapter 26); new procedures for the alkaline phosphatase test to determine whether dairy foods were prepared with pasteurized milk (Chapter 27); and the use of PCR to detect toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in foods (Chapter 28). For this printing (BAM - 8A), the following has been revised or added: Campylobacter (Chapter 7), Yeast and Molds (Chapter 18), Cyclospora [Chapter 19 (Parasites)] and Staphylococcus enterotoxins (Chapter13). In addition, there are updated tables in Appendix 1 on Rapid Methods and revised and corrected tables in Appendix 2 on MPN. Appendix 3 reflects changes in media and corrects errors in the 8th Edition. A table summarizing changes from BAM-8 to BAM-8A is included.

The methods described in Chapters 1 to 28 are those preferred by FDA for the microbiological analysis of foods, drinks, and cosmetics as well as for their containers, contact materials, and the production environment. This is not necessarily the case for the rapid methods listed in Appendix 1: this appendix is a listing of different kits that are commercially available. These methods have not necessarily been evaluated by FDA, and listing of a method in this appendix does not constitute a recommendation.

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