(A) The city shall attempt to inform the water account customer and the property owner by letter at the addresses provided to the city's utility department of any failure to comply with the conditions of this chapter or a permit issued hereunder. The city will allow an additional 15 days for the correction after the final notice is sent. In the event the customer fails to comply with the necessary correction within this time frame, the city may terminate the customer’s water service until corrective action is taken or until the necessary approved backflow preventer is installed, repaired, replaced or tested.
As an alternative to termination of service due to failure to take required corrective action for the specified backflow preventers, the city will include with the final notice of the required corrective action for the backflow preventer, a Backflow Preventer Installation, Repair, Replacement or Testing, Waiver and Hold Harmless Agreement for the property owner. The agreement will allow the city to contract with an outside plumbing contractor to install, repair, replace or test the backflow preventer. The property owner may either complete and submit the agreement or be subject to termination of service.
Upon receipt of the completed and properly executed agreement, the city will solicit a quotation to install, repair, replace or test the required backflow preventer from a qualified plumbing or fire sprinkler contractor, depending on the class of the service, and the installation, repair, replacement or test will be completed.
Where the property owner is also the water account customer, a charge will be placed on the water bill for the contractor's costs of testing, repair, replacement or installation of the backflow preventer and permit fees, if applicable. In the case of a new installation, repair or replacement, the costs will be distributed over a 12 month period payable in monthly installments and will include an administrative fee of 15% of the contractor's fee. In addition, the full amount due will be placed on the water account and on the monthly water bill until paid in full, with credit shown for any payment made. When the owner needs only a backflow test, the entire fee will be placed on the next water bill and will include an administrative fee of 10% of the contractor's fee and be payable within 30 days. Upon failure to timely remit any payment due, the full remaining amount due may be placed as a lien on the property and filed in the public records of Broward County.
When the property owner who has entered into an agreement is not the water account customer, the fee will be filed as a lien against the property in the public records of Broward County if not paid in full within 30 days of installation, repair, replacement or testing.
(B) Delivery of potable or reclaimed water to any customer may be discontinued by the Director if any approved backflow preventer required by this chapter has been removed, tampered with or bypassed. Service shall not be resumed until conditions at the customer's premises have been corrected to the satisfaction of the Director. It is the responsibility of the owner of the approved backflow preventer to repair or replace the device or assembly and bear all costs. If the approved backflow preventer is not repaired within five working days from the day the approved backflow preventer was determined to be defective or malfunctioning, the city may turn off the potable water supply until the approved backflow preventer has been repaired or replaced.
(C) If the city determines at any time that a serious threat to the public health exists, the appropriate service will be terminated immediately.
(D) In addition to the above procedures, the Director may cite to the County Court any customer for violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 2002-65, passed 9-10-02; Am. Ord. 2005-62, passed 6-28-05; Am. Ord. 2011-59, passed 7-12-11; Am. Ord. 2013-06, passed 10-23-12)