A. Purpose: The purpose of the backflow and cross connection ordinance is to protect the public drinking water supply of the city from the possibility of contamination or pollution by requiring compliance with the Utah State Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems and the Plumbing Code as adopted by the State of Utah, that require cross connection control protection of all public drinking water systems in the State of Utah. Compliance with these codes will be considered reasonable diligence for the prevention of contaminants or pollutants which could backflow into the public drinking water system. To promote the reasonable elimination or control of cross connection in the plumbing fixtures and industrial piping system(s) of the consumer, as required by the state and plumbing regulations to assure water system safety. To provide for the administration of a continuing program of backflow prevention which will systematically examine risk and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of the drinking water system.
B. Definitions: For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall be observed and applied, unless the context of the subject matter requires otherwise:
BACK PRESSURE: | The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances under pressure into the feeding distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any sources other than the intended source. |
BACK SIPHONAGE: | The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures or substances into the distribution pipes of a potable water supply system from any source, other than the intended source, caused by the reduction of pressure in the potable water supply system. |
BACKFLOW: | Reversal of the normal flow of water caused by either back pressure or back siphonage. |
BACKFLOW PREVENTER: | An assembly or device designed to prevent backflow. Specifications for backflow prevention assemblies are contained within the Utah State Rules for Public Water Systems and the International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted by the State of Utah. |
CONTAMINATION: | An impairment of the quality of the potable water supply by sewage, industrial fluids or waste liquids, compounds or other materials to a degree which creates an actual or potential hazard to the public health through poisoning or through the spread of disease. |
CROSS CONNECTION: | Any physical connection or arrangement of piping or fixtures which may allow non-potable water or industrial fluids or other material of questionable quality to come in contact with potable water inside a distribution system. This would include any temporary connections, such as swing connections, removable sections, four-way plug valves, spools, dummy sections of pipe, swivel or changeover devices or sliding multi-part tubes or other plumbing arrangements. |
C. Responsibility Of City: The water department shall be responsible for the protection of the drinking water distribution system from the foreseeable conditions leading to the possible contamination or pollution of the drinking water system due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants into the drinking water supply.
D. Protection Required: No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the city, or any other water utility, unless the water supply in the premises is protected as required herein.
E. Notification Of Public: Although failure of a consumer to be aware of these provisions shall be no defense to violation hereof, the water department shall use reasonable means to notify its consumers of the hazards of cross connection and the need for annual inspection of backflow prevention assemblies. Drinking water system surveys or inspections of the consumer's water distribution system shall be conducted by individuals deemed qualified by and representing the city. Survey records shall indicate compliance with state regulations. All such records will be maintained by the water department. The water department shall schedule and notify, in writing, all consumers of the need for the periodic system survey to ensure compliance with the existing applicable minimum health and safety standards.
F. New Construction: The city will review all plans for new construction to ensure that unprotected cross connections are not an integral part of the consumer's water system. All systems that are using culinary water to irrigate landscaping or agriculture or to be used where cross connections or backflow could enter the city's system, a backflow preventer, as approved by the current International Plumbing Code and this section will be installed to IBC rules and regulations. The assembly will be installed within six feet (6') of the city's water connection into the property and cannot be tied into before assembly. The owner shall provide the water superintendent with verification of a certified test of all the backflow prevention assemblies before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
G. Installation Required: Whenever the city or the water department deems a service connection water usage contributes a sufficient hazard to the water supply, installation of an approved backflow preventer shall be required on the lateral service line of the consumer's water system, at or near the property line, or immediately inside the building being served, but before the first branch line leading off the lateral service line in any event. The type of backflow preventer required shall depend upon the degree of hazard existing at the point of cross connection. All backflow preventers shall be tested within ten (10) working days of installation, relocation, or repair and annually thereafter.
H. Assessment; Access For Water Department: A consumer's system shall be open for assessment at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the water department in order to determine whether cross connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of this chapter, exist. In order to determine whether cross connections or other structural or sanitary hazards exist or if a backflow preventer has been installed in such manner as to create a safety hazard, the city or water department may inspect and access areas on a consumer's property above and beyond water meters, sealing areas, pits, paneled interior areas, or other locations where cross connections might exist. The consumer shall be responsible to provide a route of access across his property for inspection purposes that is free from litter, overgrowth, the threat of vicious animals, or other hindrance that may be detrimental to the safety of the inspector or obstructive to his ease of access.
I. Duty To Inspect Annually: It shall be the responsibility of the consumer at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified backflow tests made at least once per year at the consumer's expense. In those instances where the water department deems the hazard to be great, it may require certified surveys or inspections and tests at a more frequent interval.
J. Testing By Certified Backflow Technicians: All tests of backflow preventer assemblies shall be conducted by a certified backflow technician who will be responsible for the competence and accuracy of all tests and reports. Such technicians shall be responsible for the following:
1. Assure that acceptable testing equipment and procedures are used for the testing, repairing or overhauling of backflow prevention assemblies.
2. Make reports of such testing and/or repairs to the consumer and the water department on a form approved for such use by the water department, and submit report directly to the water department within thirty (30) days of test performed.
3. Include in all reports a list of any materials or replacement parts used.
4. Ensure that replacement parts are equal in quality to parts originally supplied by the manufacturer of the assembly being repaired.
5. Ensure that his/her license is current, the testing equipment being used is acceptable to the state and is in proper operating condition.
6. Be equipped with, and competent to use, all necessary tools, gauges and other equipment necessary to properly test and maintain backflow prevention assemblies.
7. Tag each backflow prevention assembly showing the serial number, date tested and by who, including the technician's license number.
K. Repair And Maintenance: The maintenance, including necessary repairs, of all backflow prevention assemblies and cross connection control devices required by this section shall be the responsibility of the consumer, and failure to adequately maintain any required equipment shall be a violation hereof. All installations and repairs of such equipment shall be effected by a certified journeyman plumber, properly licensed landscaper or other agent of the owner, provided he/she is a certified backflow technician as provided in subsection I of this section.
L. Records Maintenance: The water department shall keep reasonable records of cross connection hazards and the test reports of backflow assemblies, including those records required by the state and federal agencies.
M. Suspension Or Shut Off Of Water Service: The city or water department may suspend, discontinue or shut off water service to consumers on an emergency basis, as the city and/or water department deems reasonably necessary, in the event of a cross connection or suspected cross connection to prevent or limit contamination of the water supply or water system.
N. Violations:
1. Conditions Constituting Violations: Service of water to a consumer found to be in violation of this section shall be discontinued by the city or water department after written notice of the violation, and appropriate times suspended for voluntary compliance, and the due process entitlements otherwise extended by the city or water department before termination of water services. A violation exists if:
a. A backflow prevention assembly required by this section for control of cross connections is not installed, tested or maintained in accordance with this section, the Utah State Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems, and the International Plumbing Code as adopted by the State of Utah.
b. It is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed or bypassed.
c. An unprotected cross connection exists on the premises.
d. The periodic system inspection has not been conducted.
2. Failure To Correct: Where written notification of a deficiency is provided by the city or water department, in the event of a failure by the consumer to take the required corrective action within ten (10) days after the date of mailing such notice, the city or water department shall immediately discontinue service in accordance herewith. Water service will not be restored until all such conditions or defects are corrected. (Ord. 2012.03, 4-12-2012, eff. 4-12-2012; amd. 2014 Code; Ord. 2020.07, 3-12-2020; Ord. 2023.01, 1-4-2023; Ord. 2024.10, 6-20-2024)