A. Required: Backflow prevention devices shall be installed at the service connection or within any premises where, in the judgment of the maintenance supervisor, the nature and extent of activities, or the materials stored on the premises, would present an immediate and dangerous hazard to health and/or be deleterious to the quality of the water should a cross-connection occur, even though such cross-connection does not exist at the time the backflow prevention devices shall be installed under circumstances, including but not limited to, the following:
1. Premises having an auxiliary water supply, unless the quality of the auxiliary supply is in compliance with Title 1, Section 8 of Idaho Regulations for Public Drinking Water Systems, and is acceptable to the maintenance supervisor;
2. Premises having internal cross-connections that are not correctable, or intricate plumbing arrangements which make it impracticable to ascertain whether or not cross connections exist;
3. Premises where entry is restricted so that inspections for cross-connections cannot be made with sufficient frequency or at sufficiently short notice to assure that cross connections do not exist;
4. Premises having a repeated history of cross-connections being established or re-established;
5. Premises on which a substance is handled under pressure so as to permit entry into the municipal water system or where a cross-connection could reasonably be expected to occur. This shall include the handling of process waters and cooling waters;
6. Premises where materials of a toxic or hazardous nature are handled in such a way that if back siphonage should occur, a serious health hazard might result;
7. The following types of facilities will fall into one of the categories where a backflow prevention device is required to protect the municipal water system. A backflow prevention device shall be installed at these facilities unless the maintenance supervisor and health officer determine that no hazard exists:
Chemical plants using a water process.
Food or beverage processing plants.
Hospitals, mortuaries, clinics.
Laboratories.
Metal plating industries.
Petroleum processing or storage plants.
Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors.
Wastewater treatment plants.
Others as specified by the health officer.
8. Other premises where backflow prevention devices are reasonably required to protect the municipal water system.
9. Under circumstances set forth in this section, the maintenance supervisor shall have the right to require a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device or a property air gap separation to be installed at the property line, and to require of the property owner a signed legal letter of release to the city and the maintenance supervisor for any responsibility of the quality of water on the property.
B. Type dependent on degree of hazard. The type of protective device required shall depend on the degree of hazard which exists:
1. An air gap separation and/or a reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed where the municipal water system may be contaminated with sewage, industrial waste of a toxic nature, or other contaminant which could cause a health or system hazard.
2. In the case of a substance which may be objectionable but not hazardous to health, a double check valve assembly, air gap separation, or reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device shall be installed.
3. Where lawn sprinkling systems are installed a pressure vacuum breaker, double check valve assembly, reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device, or an air gap separation shall be installed where there are valves downstream of such device.
4. An atmospheric vacuum breaker may only be used where there are no valves or shutoffs of any kind downstream of the device.
5. The degrees of hazard for specific installations may be determined by referencing AWWA Pacific Northwest Section Cross Connection Control Manual, the Uniform Plumbing Code, the AWWA Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control (M14), the USC Foundation Manual of Cross Connection Control, and other cross connection control references deemed acceptable to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
C. Approval required. Any Protective devices required by this section shall be a model approved by the maintenance supervisor. Backflow prevention devices will be approved if they have successfully passed the performance tests of the University of Southern California Engineering Center, or other technical centers approved by the purveyor. These devices shall be furnished and installed by and at the expense of the customer. Installation shall be according to the minimum standards and requirements of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard C-510 or C-511; Idaho Standards for Public Works Construction (ISPWC); Uniform Plumbing Code; University of Southern California Engineering Center; American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); American Association of Sanitary Engineers (ASSE); and the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
D. Installation Location.
1. Backflow prevention devices required by this section shall be installed at the meter, at the property line of the premises, or at a location designated by the maintenance supervisor. The device shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing.
2. Installation of a backflow device: Permit required. Backflow prevention devices required by this ordinance shall be installed under a permit issued by the supervision of and with the approval of the maintenance supervisor.
E. Testable Assembly/Device Inspections:
1. Backflow prevention devices installed pursuant to this section shall be inspected, tested and deemed fully operable upon installation, then annually, or more often if necessary, in accordance with IDAPA Section 58.01.08.552.06.c. Inspections, tests, and maintenance shall be at the customer's expense. Whenever the devices are found to be defective, they shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the customer's expense, according to the minimum standards set forth in Section C above.
2. Charges for permits, inspections, tests, and maintenance as required by this section are to be established by resolution of the city council. Inspections, tests, repairs, and records thereof shall be accomplished under the maintenance supervisor's supervision by certified testers.
F. Underground Sprinklers: Backflow device required. No underground sprinkling device interconnected with the city's potable water supply system shall be installed without adequate backflow prevention devices at the point from which the water for irrigation is taken from the municipal water system, or at a location designated by the maintenance supervisor.
G. Failure to cooperate: Termination of water service. Failure of the customer to cooperate in the installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of backflow prevention devices required by this section and Title I, Section 8, of Idaho Regulations for Public Drinking Water Systems shall be grounds for the termination of water service to the premises, or in the alternative, the installation of an air gap separation at the customer's expense. (Ord. 595, 2012; Ord. 661, 2020)