(A) General. Backflow prevention assemblies required by this chapter shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the water purveyor and shall be installed at the expense of the water consumer. All backflow protection devices shall be installed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and specifications, and shall not be modified in the field during installation or maintenance.
(B) Service lines. Backflow prevention assemblies installed on the service line to the consumer’s water system shall be located on the consumer’s side of the water meter, as close to the meter as is reasonably practical, and prior to any other connections on the service line. All service lines that have a bypass line shall have the same size BPA and the same level of backflow protection as the main line.
(C) Position. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be located so as to be readily accessible for maintenance and testing, protected from freezing. Reduced-pressure principle assemblies and pressure vacuum breakers must be installed in a horizontal position and in a location in which no portion of the assembly can become submerged under any circumstances.
(D) Function.
(1) Each BPA required by this chapter must be functioning properly when installed. Each customer must test, maintain and repair each BPA that is required to be on a service line. Tests that must be conducted on each BPA must be done by a certified tester approved by the city. A test of the BPA must be conducted if one of the following has occurred:
(a) Immediately after installation of each backflow prevention assembly;
(b) On an annual basis thereafter;
(c) Upon completion of a repair of each backflow prevention assembly;
(d) At any time that the city has reason to believe that a required backflow prevention assembly may not be operating properly; and
(e) At any time that the city has reason to believe that a customer’s service line has actual or potential to contaminate or pollute the public water supply.
(2) Each customer must maintain a complete, written record of every repair and test of each backflow prevention assembly that is located on the customer’s service line for a minimum of five years. A copy of each test and repair must be sent by the customer to the city address provided or be sent by the certified tester on behalf of the customer.
(E) Water service interruptions. If a customer does not wish for water services to be interrupted when a BPA is tested, repaired or replaced, a parallel installation of an approved BPA can be made in accordance with this chapter at the customers’ expense.
(F) Accessibility. Each BPA required by this chapter must be accessible to the city for inspections and/or verification of compliance.
(G) Approval. Each BPA required to be installed by this chapter must be approved by the city. A list of approved BPAs, located in § 54.07, will be maintained by the city. The installation of any BPA which is not approved by the Backflow ORC must be replaced with an approved BPA. Upon notification that a BPA is required to be installed, the customer will have the following time periods within which to install the correct BPA specified by the Backflow ORC.
Assembly | Number of Days |
Air-gap separation | 30 |
Double check valve assembly (3/4”-2”) | 60 |
Double check valve assembly (2-1/2”-larger) | 90 |
Other approved backflow prevention assembly | 45 |
Reduced-pressure principle assembly (3/4”- 2”) | 60 |
Reduce pressure principle assembly (2-1/2”- larger) | 90 |
(H) Backflow assembly installation. Backflow assemblies shall be installed:
(1) On the outlet side of the meter service. If outside location is not possible due to required compliance with other applicable codes, ordinances or regulations, the city may allow the assembly to be installed at a location approved by the Backflow ORC. The ORC reserves the right to require submission of supporting documentation and calculations including, but not limited to, those required for below grade installations;
(2) By a licensed plumber or licensed utility contractor who holds a certificate of completion from an approved State Cross-Connection School in testing and repair of backflow prevention assemblies;
(3) Such that no portion of the assembly can become submerged in a substance under any circumstance; and
(4) With adequate clearance on all sides of the assembly per manufacturer’s literature or other appropriate reference. Minimum clearances are as follows:
(a) Twelve inches from floor to lowest portion of device (with a maximum of 30 inches); and
(b) One times the width of the device and its components for clearance to any walls horizontally.
(I) Indoor installations. BPAs may be installed indoors only in the case of retrofits to existing buildings where outside above grade or below grade installation is not possible, or if applicable codes, ordinances or regulations. The design engineer must show that there are no other locations suitable for outdoor installation. Approval of indoor installation will be at the discretion of the ORC.
(J) Material specifications.
(1) All backflow assemblies shall have metal piping five-foot on the inlet side and five- foot on the discharge side of the assemblies. If dissimilar metals are used, then a dielectric union or other means will be required.
(2) BPAs must meet the University of Southern California approval list, and must conform to AWWA C506, and adhere to ANSI and ASTM standards. All BPAs must also meet ASSE standards and have the ASSE seal. All backflow devices shall be on U.S.C. or State Plumbing Code lists for approved testable backflow prevention devices. A list of recommended BPAs can be found in § 54.07. All BPAs installed on fire lines shall be approved by NFPA and the City Fire Chief and Cross-Connection ORC.
(3) All internal parts must be replaceable in line. All BPAs must have four resilient seated test cocks, having one-quarter turn ball valves with slotted or lever type operators. These test cocks shall be located in the following order:
(a) First test cock: before first shut-off valve;
(b) Second test cock: between first shut-off valve and first check valve;
(c) Third test cock: between the first and second check valve; and
(d) Fourth test cock: between the second check valve and second shut-off valve.
(4) BPAs smaller than two inches must have bronze or stainless steel bodies and bonnets and must be equipped with full port shut-off valves, of line size, having one-quarter turn lever type bronze or steel ball valves.
(5) All three-inch to ten-inch BPAs shall have contained check valves modules. The bodies and bonnets must be made of one of the following; fusion bonded epoxy-coated cast iron, ductile iron or steel, made of bronze or stainless steel. They must be equipped with manufactured approved resilient seated gate, wedge or ball valves with non-rising stems. The valves must have a manual hand wheel for operation.
(6) Fire line services shall utilize a reduced pressure principal detector assembly and tamper switch alarms on the main isolation valves. The BPA owner is responsible for any conduit and wiring necessary to operate the tamper switch alarms.
(7) If a customer does not wish for water service to be interrupted when a BPA is tested, repaired or replaced, a parallel installation shall be made using an approved assembly. The parallel line and BPA shall be the same size and type.
(K) Review and approval.
(1) For new projects, BPAs must be shown and detailed on the design drawings to be approved by the city prior to installation. Clearances around the assembly must be clearly marked, as must all drains. The drawings shall include a note stating “there shall be no taps, piping branches, unapproved bypass piping, hydrants, Fire Department connection points or other water-using appurtenances connected to the supply line between any water meter and its backflow preventer, as required by the city.”
(2) All BPA installations shall be above ground and have hot boxes installed. Below grade installations will only be allowed in special circumstances, as approved by the Backflow ORC. If the BPAs are allowed, then calculation must be performed by an engineer and submitted demonstrating that the vault and drain pipe are adequately sized such that the BPA will not come in contact with any liquid under each of the following conditions:
(a) Zero pressure on the inlet side (i.e., main break), resulting in full BPA operation; and
(b) Fully submerged drain outlet structure (including storm catch basins, ditches, ponds and the like).
(Ord. 07-14-03B, passed 8-8-2022)