(A) The purpose of this section is to require that all water flowing from the public water system, must flow through an approved backflow prevention assembly and that each backflow prevention assembly be properly located, installed, maintained and tested so that the backflow prevention assembly is effective in protecting the public water system from any possible contamination or pollution.
(B) The installation or replacement of a backflow prevention assembly for domestic water use shall only be performed by a licensed plumber or utility contractor. The installation or repair of a backflow prevention assembly on a dedicated fire sprinkler service shall be performed by a licensed fire sprinkler contractor or utility contractor. All backflow prevention assemblies may be tested by a certified backflow technician authorized by the City of Oxford. Repairs to a backflow prevention assembly on a dedicated fire sprinkler system may only be performed by a fire sprinkler contractor.
(C) All new construction plans and specifications which will directly affect the city water system, and/or required by the North Carolina Building Code, the North Carolina Division of Health Services (NCDEHNR), and city or county planning and zoning offices, shall be made available to the City of Oxford Public Works Department for review, approval and to determine the degree of hazard.
(D) All existing facilities zoned commercial or industrial and have existing water services with the Regional Water Resources and requesting certificate of occupancy from the city or county planning and zoning offices, shall be inspected for compliance of backflow and cross-connection control prevention. Any facility not having backflow protection or changing the degree of hazard shall be brought into compliance before the Public Works Department may release certificate of occupancy.
(E) All backflow prevention assemblies must be installed and maintained on the customer's premises as part of the 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 water purveyor.
(F) If it has been determined that a backflow prevention assembly cannot be installed at the meter service, due to zoning or DOT rights-of-way, an approved backflow assembly must be installed on any branch of plumbing installed between the service meter and the service backflow assembly.
(G) Any branch of plumbing installed on the private water system that may be of a greater hazard than the supply line, (example: chemical induced irrigation or fire systems, pump systems, etc.) shall be protected with a reduced pressure zone assembly.
(H) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed in accordance with the backflow and cross-connection manual furnished by the City of Oxford and/or the manufacturer's instructions, whichever is most restrictive.
(I) All double check valve assemblies, two-inch or larger, must be installed in a watertight drainable pit wherever below ground installation is necessary in accordance with detailed specifications provided in the backflow and cross-connection control manual. If drain cannot be provided, the assembly must be installed above ground.
(J) Double check valve assemblies may be installed in a vertical position with prior approval from the Public Works Department provided the flow of water is in an upward direction.
(K) Reduce pressure principle assemblies must be installed in a horizontal position and in a location in which no portion of the assembly can become submerged in any substance under any circumstances (pit installations are prohibited).
(L) Each backflow prevention assembly that is required must function properly at the time of installment. Each customer will be required to test, maintain and repair each assembly required which is a part of the customer's private water system. A certified backflow prevention technician may only conduct such test. Testing shall be done immediately following installation of any backflow prevention assembly and on an annual or semi-annual basis depending on the degree of hazard.
(M) If repair is found necessary on an assembly, it must be re-tested following any repair. A complete duplicate copy of any testing and/or repair shall be sent to the City of Oxford within 30 days of completion of test or repair. Each customer must maintain a complete copy of any test or repair for no less than five years. All test and repair records must be maintained on forms approved by the Public Works Department of the City of Oxford.
(N) All rubber components must be replaced every five years or as often as needed.
(O) Any customer installing a reduced pressure zone (RPZ) or double check valve assembly (DCVA) must provide the following information to the Public Works Department within ten days after installation:
(1) Service address where the assembly is located;
(2) Owner;
(3) Description of assembly's location;
(4) Date of installation;
(5) Type of assembly;
(6) Manufacturer;
(7) Model Number;
(8) Serial Number; and
(9) Test results/reports.
(P) The Public Works Department must approve each backflow assembly required by this article. A list of approved assemblies can be obtained through the Backflow Administrator; any unapproved backflow assembly must be replaced, within a time set by the Administrator, with an approved backflow assembly.
Health Hazard | 60 Days |
Non-health Hazard | 90 Days |
(Q) If it has been determined that a customer must install a backflow prevention assembly, the Public Works Department will provide the customer with a letter of notification and list of approved backflow assemblies. The following time periods shall be set forth for the installation of the specified assemblies.
(R) If an imminent hazard or unreasonable threat of contamination or pollution to the public water system is detected, the Public Works Department may require the installation of the required backflow assembly immediately or within a shorter time period than specified in subsection (O) of this section.
(S) If a customer does not wish for water service to be interrupted when a backflow assembly is tested, repaired, or replaced, a parallel installation must be made using an approved assembly of the same degree of hazard. The parallel line may be of the same size or smaller.
(Ord. 18-08-16, passed 8-14-18)