Any backflow prevention assembly required by this chapter shall be of a model or construction approved by the Superintendent of Water or his or her authorized representative and shall comply with the following:
(a) A double check valve assembly or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly shall appear on the current "list of approved backflow prevention assemblies" of the OEPA. A current list is available at the Superintendent of Water, or his or her authorized representative.
(b) To be approved by Superintendent of Water or his or her authorized representative:
(1) An air gap separation shall be at least twice the diameter of the supply pipe, measured vertically above the top rim of the vessel, but in no case less than one inch.
(2) An interchangeable connection shall be a four-way valve of the lubricated plug type that operates through a mechanism which unseats the plug, turns it 90 degrees and reseats the plug. Four-way valves shall not be used as stop valves but must have separate stop valves on each pipe connected to the valve. The tell-tale port on the four-way valve shall have no piping connected and the threads or flange on this port shall be destroyed so that a connection cannot be made. Any interchangeable connection shall have an approved backflow prevention assembly on each line.
(c) Existing backflow prevention assemblies approved by the Superintendent of Water, or his or her authorized representative or the OEPA at the time of installation and properly maintained shall, except for inspection and maintenance requirements, be excluded from the requirement of divisions (a), (b), and (c) of this section providing the Superintendent of Water, or his or her authorized representative are assured that they will satisfactorily protect the city potable water system. Whenever the existing assembly is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or when the Superintendent of Water or his or her authorized representative finds that the maintenance of the assembly constitutes a hazard to health, the assembly shall be replaced by a backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of these regulations.
(Ord. 19-09, passed 3-14-2019)