(a) An approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system for all in ground sprinkler systems and where any potential source of backflow contamination exists. The Service Director or designee will give notice to the water consumer to install such an approved device. The water consumer shall, at his or her own expense, install such an approved device at a location and in a manner approved by the Service Director, or designee and shall have the inspections and tests made, at his or her own expense, of such approved device as required by the Service Director or designee.
(b) No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply, other than the regular public water supply of the City, may enter the supply or distribution system of the City, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the Service Director or designee and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).
(c) It shall be the duty of the Service Director or designee to cause surveys and investigations to be made of industrial and other properties served by the public water supply where actual or potential hazards to the public water supply may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated as often as the Service Director or designee shall deem necessary.
(d) (1) The Service Director or designee shall have the right to enter at any reasonable time any property served by a connection to the public water supply or distribution system of the City for the purpose of inspecting the piping system or systems thereof. On demand, the owner, lessee or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the Service Director or designee any information which he or she may request regarding the piping system or systems or water use on such property. The refusal of such information, when demanded, shall, within the discretion of the Service Director or designee, be deemed evidence of the presence of improper connections as provided in this section.
(2) The Service Director or designee is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue, after reasonable notice to the occupant thereof, the water service to any property where any connection in violation of the provisions of this section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as he or she may deem necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water supply distribution mains. Water service to such property shall not be restored until such conditions shall have been eliminated or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(e) In ground sprinkler system, backflow preventers, shall be listed and approved by the Service Director or designee. Atmospheric pressure type vacuum break is an approved device, however, it must be testable, i.e. have test ports. A reduced pressure type backflow preventer is also acceptable. All backflow preventers must be tested every year by a person certified by either the Operator Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO) or the Department of Commerce to perform such tests. Failure to test as required will result in shut off of water to the sprinkler system or user if they are not separate. Reinstatement of water service will be subject to a turn on fee. Owners or users of such systems will be notified by mail each year in April regarding the required inspection and are expected to provide a test report to the Sheffield Lake Water Department from a state certified tester by June 1st. Should no reply regarding this matter be received by the Sheffield Lake Water Department by June 15th a letter will be mailed indicating the report was not received and that if not received by the first work day after June 30th, water service to the sprinkler or home will be terminated.
(f) Immediately upon connection of an inground lawn sprinkling system to the public water supply, the required backflow prevention device must be in place and tested and approved for operation by a certified backflow prevention person. Such person shall have either an OTCO or Department of Commerce certification. Failure to provide such test and certification of same within ten (10) days of activation of the system may result in a $500.00 fine and possible loss of water service. It is the property owner’s responsibility to assure that such certification is received by the required time. No pump shall be connected to an inground sprinkler system either to increase pressure or to purge the sprinkler system. If a pump or air compressor is used to purge the system, the backflow preventer must be removed and the sprinkler line shut off.
Continued noncompliance with this regulation subjects the offender to an immediate fine of $500.00 and termination of water service or loss of backflow testing certification, as determined by the Service Director.
(g) The Sheffield Lake Water Department shall supply and maintain as a matter of public records, expected standards, guidance and definitions of cross connection control including: Where Backflow is Required, Type of Protection Required, Backflow Prevention Devices, Installation, Inspection and Maintenance, Testing Falsification and water powered sump pumps.
(h) Any person, firm, corporation or other entity that violates any provision or Section of this section or any portion of any Section of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (Ord. 14-18. Passed 4-10-18.)