(a) Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and maintained by the customer, at the customer's expense and in compliance with the standards and specifications adopted by the city, at each service connection. The customer is responsible for notifying Tucson Water of any installation, repair, relocation or replacement. A backflow prevention assembly shall be installed as close as practicable to the service connection. Any backflow prevention method shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and Tucson Water's standard details for installation.
(b) The assembly shall have a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the service connection or service line at point of connection. Each service connection will require its own backflow prevention assembly.
(c) The assembly shall be in an accessible location approved by Tucson Water. The RPA, RPDA, DCVA, DCDA, PVB, and SVB shall be installed above ground and per Tucson Water standard details.
(d) When a customer desires a continuous water supply, two (2) backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed parallel to one another at the service connection to allow a continuous water supply during testing and maintenance of the backflow prevention assemblies. When backflow prevention assemblies are installed parallel to one another, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the assemblies shall be at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the service connection or service line piping at the point of installation, and the assemblies shall be of the same type, size, and manufacturer.
(e) For an AG installation all piping installed between the user's connection and the receiving tank shall be entirely visible unless otherwise approved in writing by Tucson Water.
(f) Backflow prevention assemblies shall not be installed in a meter box, pit or vault.
(g) A PVB or SVB assembly may be installed for use on a landscape water irrigation system if:
(1) The water use beyond the assembly is for irrigation purposes only;
(2) The PVB/SVB is installed in accordance with manufacturer's specifications;
(3) The irrigation system is designed and constructed to be incapable of inducing backpressure;
(4) Chemigation, the injection of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, is not used or provided for in the irrigation system; and
(5) No other source of water is available on the premises.
If these five criteria are not met, then an RP assembly is required.
(h) No person shall alter, modify, bypass or remove a backflow prevention method without the approval of Tucson Water.
(i) Installation of the backflow prevention assembly must be completed within the time specified in the notice to install or within forty-five (45) days of the water meter installation. A time extension may be granted by Tucson Water.
(j) If a customer fails to install a backflow prevention assembly pursuant to this article, Tucson Water shall discontinue water service and assess a compliance fee pursuant to this article.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)