(A) Utility.
(1) On new installations, the utility will provide on-site evaluation and/or inspection of plans in order to determine the type of backflow prevention device, if any, that will be required, will issue permits, and perform inspection and testing.
(2) For premises existing prior to the start of this program, the utility will perform evaluations and inspections of plans and/or premises and inform the owner by letter of any corrective action deemed necessary, the method of achieving the correction, and the time allowed for the correction to be made, ordinarily, 90 days. This time limit will be shortened depending upon the degree of hazard involved and the history of the device(s) in question.
(3) The utility will not allow any cross-connection to remain unless an approved backflow prevention device for which a permit has been issued and which will be regularly tested to ensure satisfactory operation protects it.
(4) The utility shall inform the owner by letter of any failure to comply, within ten working days of the first inspection. The utility will allow an additional 15 days for the correction. In the event the owner fails to comply with necessary correction by the time of the second re-inspection, the utility will inform the owner by letter that the water service to the owner’s premises will be terminated within a period not to exceed five days. In the event that the owner informs the utility of extenuating circumstances as to why the correction has not been made, a time extension may be granted by the utility but in no case will exceed an additional 30 days.
(5) If the utility determines at any time that a serious threat to the public health exists, the water service will be terminated immediately.
(6) The utility shall have on file a list of private contractors who are certified backflow device testers. The owner of the building or property will pay all charges for these tests.
(7) Upon adoption of this subchapter, the utility will begin initial premises inspections to determine the nature of existing or potential hazards. Initial focus will be on high hazard industries and commercial premises.
(B) Owner.
(1) The owner shall be responsible for the elimination or isolation of all cross- connections on his or her premises.
(2) The owner, after having been informed by a letter from the utility, shall at his or her expense, install, maintain, and test, or have tested, any and all backflow prevention device on his or her premises.
(3) The owner shall correct any malfunctions of the backflow prevention device which is revealed by periodic testing.
(4) The owner shall inform the utility of any proposed or modified cross-connections and any existing cross-connections of which the owner is aware but has not been found by the utility.
(5) The owner shall not install a bypass around any backflow prevention device unless there is a backflow prevention device of the same type on the bypass. Owners shall not tamper with backflow devices.
(6) The owner shall install backflow prevention device in a manner approved by the utility.
(7) The owner shall only install backflow prevention devices approved by the Division.
(8) Any owner having an auxiliary water supply must have a backflow prevention device. This would be considered a high hazard.
(9) In the event the owner installs plumbing to provide potable water for domestic purposes which is on the utility’s side of the backflow prevention device, such plumbing must have its own backflow prevention device installed.
(10) If the use has been determined to be low hazard, inspections will be at least annually; if the use has been determined to be high hazard, the owner will be subject to biannual inspections.
(Prior Code, § 51.78) (Ord. 98-229, passed 12-10-1998)