(a) Backflow prevention assemblies required by these regulations shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the Water Services Superintendent, or his/her designee, and at the expense of the water consumer. Any backflow prevention assembly required by 943.07 (b) and (c), shall be installed at a location and in a manner approved by the Director of the Ohio EPA as required by the Ohio Revised Code Section 6109.13.
(b) Wherever an actual or potential cross-connection exists, an approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on the service line to the consumer's water system on the consumer's side of the meter, as dose to the meter as is practical (often immediately inside the building ), and prior to any other branch line leading off the main service line. The assembly shall be installed at the consumer's expense within ninety days from the date of notification that the assembly is required, unless an agreement is reached between the consumer and the Water Services Superintendent for an extension. Should the hazard be deemed high enough, these time periods may be shortened in order to protect the integrity of the public water system. Failure, refusal, or inability on the part of the consumer to install said assembly shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until said assembly has been properly installed.
(c) Pits or vaults shall be of water-tight construction, be located so as to prevent flooding, and shall be kept free of standing water using a sump and pump or a suitable drain. The sump or drain shall not be connected to a sanitary sewer so as to prevent flooding of the pit from reverse flow. An access ladder and adequate lighting shall be provided to permit maintenance, inspection, and testing of the backflow device. Pits or vaults may not contain a reduced pressure principle backflow device. A reduced pressure principle backflow device must be installed above ground level or floor level, whichever is higher.
(d) On any premises where it has been deemed necessary to install a backflow prevention assembly, it shall be the consumer's responsibility to have inspections, tests, and overhauls made on such assembly. All assemblies, including air gap separations, reduced pressure principle assemblies, double check valve assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers, and interchangeable connections shall be inspected upon installation, and at least every twelve months thereafter. In cases where, in the judgment of the Water Services Superintendent or the Plumbing Inspector, the hazard is deemed great enough, inspections and tests may be required more frequently.
(e) Inspections of backflow prevention assemblies shall be made at the expense of the consumer, and shall be performed by the Water Services Superintendent, or his authorized representative. All tests and overhauls shall be made at the expense of the water consumer and shall be performed by a Department of Commerce certified tester/installer, approved by the Water Services Superintendent on an annual basis.
(f) Any backflow prevention assembly found to be defective shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced by a Department of Commerce certified tester/installer at the expense of the water consumer without delay.
(g) The water consumer shall be responsible to maintain a complete record of each backflow preventer on the premises from purchase to date of retirement. These records shall be submitted to the Sandusky Customer Accounting office on an annual basis, along with a ten dollar ($10) fee for all residential and commercial reports.
(h) Backflow prevention assemblies shall not be bypassed, made inoperative, removed, or in any way made ineffective without specific authorization by the Water Services Superintendent.
(Ord. 17-169. Passed 9-11-17.)