(A) Installation and testing requirements.
(1) The purpose of this section is to require that when a cross-connection to the city public water system has been identified, all water flowing from the public water system into that private water system, must flow through an approved backflow prevention assembly. Furthermore, each backflow prevention assembly must be properly located, installed, tested, and maintained per the city requirements so that the backflow prevention assembly is effective in protecting the public water system from any possible contamination or pollution.
(2) The installation or replacement of a backflow prevention assembly for domestic water, irrigation, commercial and industrial use shall only be performed by a licensed plumber, utility contractor or homeowner. The installation or replacement of a backflow prevention assembly on a dedicated fire sprinkler service shall only be performed by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor. All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested and repaired by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester authorized by the city.
(3) For premises existing prior to the start of this program, the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC and Building Official will perform evaluations and inspections of plans and/or premises and inform the owner by letter of any corrective action deemed necessary.
(4) All new and change of use construction plans and specifications which will receive service from the city public water system shall be made available to the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC for review, approval, and to determine the degree of hazard, and any required backflow prevention assembly to be installed.
(5) All facilities zoned commercial or industrial that have existing water services with the city and requesting certificate of occupancy from the City or County Planning and Zoning offices, whether for new construction or change of use, shall be inspected for compliance of backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Any facility not having backflow protection or changing the degree of hazard shall be brought into compliance before the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC may release the certificate of occupancy.
(6) The Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC will determine if a water service customer must install a backflow prevention assembly, and provide the water service customer with a letter of notification and list of approved licensed plumbers. Any unapproved backflow prevention assembly must be replaced, with an approved backflow prevention assembly, within a time period set by the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC.
(a) The following time periods shall be set forth for the installation of the specified backflow prevention assemblies:
1. For new construction, no water meter will be installed by the City until the proper backflow prevention assembly is installed, tested, and approved; and
2. For a change of use/change of ownership, no water service will be activated by the city until the proper backflow prevention assembly is installed, tested and approved.
(b) The existing facility evaluation compliance schedule is as follows:
Health hazard | 60 days |
Non-health hazard | 90 days |
(c) The testing and repair compliance schedule is as follows:
Failure to repair or replace failed a backflow prevention assembly | 14 days |
Failure to test backflow prevention assembly by anniversary date | 30 days |
(d) If an imminent hazard or an unreasonable threat of contamination or pollution to the city’s public water system is detected, the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC may require the installation of the required backflow prevention assembly immediately, or within a shorter time period than specified above. If installation is not completed within the specified time period, or if contamination is presently occurring, water service may be immediately disconnected in order to protect the potable water system and public health.
(7) All backflow prevention assemblies must be installed and maintained on the water service customer’s premises as part of the water service customer’s private water system at or near the service connection and before the service line is connected to any other pipes except as authorized by the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC.
(8) If it has been determined that a backflow prevention assembly cannot be installed at the meter service, due to Zoning or DOT Right-of-Way, an approved backflow prevention assembly must be installed before any branch of plumbing that is installed between the service meter and the service backflow prevention assembly.
(9) Any branch of plumbing installed on the private water system that may be subject to a greater hazard than the supply line, (example: irrigation systems or pump systems, and the like) shall be protected with the appropriate backflow prevention device, as determined by the Backflow/Cross- Connection ORC.
(10) Approved backflow prevention assemblies: Meets American Society of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE) standard and carries ASSE seal or is on the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USC FCCHR) approval list. Must also meet the NC State Plumbing Code. Also see the current revision of the city’s Backflow Assemblies Specification sheets.
(11) Any water service customer installing any backflow prevention assembly must provide the following information to the Backflow Administrator:
(a) Owner’s name and address;
(b) Service address where assembly is installed;
(c) Description of assembly’s location;
(d) Date of installation;
(e) Size of assembly;
(f) Type of assembly;
(g) Manufacturer;
(h) Model number;
(i) Serial number; and
(j) Test results/reports.
(12) [Reserved].
(13) Each backflow prevention assembly that is required must function properly at time of installation. Each water service customer will be required to maintain, and repair each assembly required as part of their private water system. Testing shall be done immediately following installation of any backflow prevention assembly prior to receiving a CO (certificate of occupancy) and annually thereafter. The owner, at their own expense, shall have a certified backflow prevention assembly tester conduct the tests and forward the results to the city within ten business days.
(14) If an assembly needs to be repaired it must be re-tested immediately following any repairs. The owner at their own expense shall have a certified backflow prevention assembly tester conduct tests and forward the results to the city. A complete duplicate copy of any testing and/or repair shall be sent to the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC within ten business days of completion of test or repair. Each water service customer must maintain a complete copy of test or repair for no less than five years. All test and repair records must be maintained on forms approved by the Backflow/Cross- Connection ORC.
(15) All rubber components must be replaced every five years in every backflow prevention
assembly or as often as needed, according to manufacturer’s directions and components condition.
(16) Any existing backflow prevention assembly that was installed prior to the adoption of this division, which does offer the proper level of protection type for the hazard will need to be replaced. At that point the assembly shall be replaced, by the water customer, with the proper type of assembly for the current hazard classification.
(B) Installation location requirements.
(1) Backflow prevention assemblies must be located in a place where it is readily accessible for regular testing, maintenance, repair and inspection. Any customer’s water service that is critical and cannot be shut down for annual testing or maintenance shall install parallel backflow prevention assemblies in order to maintain the continuity of water flow for testing and repair; or in the case of the assembly failing. Bypass lines parallel to a backflow prevention assembly shall have an approved backflow prevention assembly that is equal to that on the main line.
(2) (a) No backflow preventer shall be installed in a manner by which it is subject to freezing. All above-ground backflow preventers shall be installed in an ASSE standard 1060 “freeze retardant” enclosure with a minimum R value of 8.0. All above-ground backflow preventers shall be installed with permanent piped electrical service to a thermostatically controlled heater or heat tape. Backflow for lawn irrigation systems may be installed with unions and an upstream shut off valve not subject to freezing. All underground piping must be installed a minimum of 12 inches below grade and must meet the requirements of underground water service piping.
(b) For reduced pressure zone assembly (RPZ), the following shall apply:
1. Above-ground outdoor installation is preferred and encouraged;
2. Below-ground and indoor installations are strongly discouraged and shall only be allowed in special cases as approved by the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC. The vault shall have positive drainage with adequate gravity drainage to atmosphere to accommodate for the maximum discharge of the relief valve(s) on the assembly(s) and must be in a location where no portion of assembly can become submerged at any time or under any circumstances or conditions;
3. Twelve inches minimum and a maximum of 36 inches clearance from vault floor and a minimum of 24 inches clearance from a wall or another fixture for the purpose of testing and repair;
4. No vertical installation unless USC FCCHR approvals allow otherwise;
5. Installation in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations;
6. Located where it is readily accessible for regular testing, maintenance, and inspection; and
7. Must be in a location where no portion of assembly can become submerged at any time under any circumstances or conditions.
(3) For double check valve assembly (DCVA), the following shall apply:
(a) Above-ground outdoor installation is preferred and encouraged;
(b) Below-ground installation is strongly discouraged, and shall only be allowed in special cases as approved by the Backflow/Cross-Connection ORC. The vault shall have positive drainage with adequate gravity drainage to atmosphere and must be in a location where no portion of assembly can become submerged at any time or under any circumstances or conditions;
(c) Twelve inches minimum and a maximum of 36 inches clearance from vault floor and a minimum of 24 inches clearance from a wall or another fixture for the purpose of testing and repair;
(d) Vertical or horizontal installation acceptable with USC FCCHR approvals;
(e) Installation in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations; and
(f) Located where it is readily accessible for regular testing, maintenance, and inspection.
(4) For air gaps (AG), the following shall apply:
(a) Above-ground installation only; and
(b) Must be in a location where no portion of assembly can become submerged at any time under any circumstances or conditions
(Ord. passed 6-19-18)