(a) The compliance date shall be set by Tucson Water.
(b) Tucson Water shall notify the customer at least forty-five (45) days before the compliance date for each backflow prevention assembly and/or reclaimed water site inspection.
(c) The customer shall test each backflow prevention assembly at least once a year. Test intervals for any backflow prevention assembly may not exceed twelve (12) months. If an inactive water service is reactivated, the backflow prevention assembly associated with that service shall be tested if more than twelve (12) months have passed since the last test.
(d) For compliance testing or inspection the customer shall not test any backflow prevention assembly or inspect any reclaimed water site more than forty-five (45) days prior to the compliance date.
(e) The customer may request in writing a change of the compliance date for any backflow prevention assembly and/or reclaimed water site. No annual compliance date may be changed to be more than twelve (12) months after the most recent test or inspection. No five (5) year compliance date may be changed to be more than sixty (60) months after the most recent inspection.
(f) If any testing reveals the assembly to be defective or is in improper operating condition, the customer shall perform any necessary repairs, including replacement of the assembly, which will return the assembly to proper operating condition. If an assembly is replaced, relocated or repaired, a new test shall be performed on such assembly and submitted to Tucson Water.
(g) If by the compliance date Tucson Water has not received the required backflow prevention assembly test and/or reclaimed water site inspection results, Tucson Water shall provide a four (4) day notice in writing to the site that Tucson Water will discontinue potable/reclaimed water service if the required backflow prevention assembly test and/or reclaimed water site inspection results are not received by the date specified in the four (4) day notice. Tucson Water shall assess a fee when the four (4) day notice is delivered. If the test and/or inspection results are not received by Tucson Water by the date specified in the four (4) day notice Tucson Water shall discontinue water service and add a compliance fee to the customer's water bill.
(h) If Tucson Water determines at any time between compliance dates that a backflow method is not operating correctly or does not meet applicable codes or that a reclaimed water site does not comply with regulations, Tucson Water shall provide a courtesy notice in writing to the customer and/or site specifying the date by which the backflow method must meet applicable codes and be operating properly or the reclaimed water site must be in compliance. If by the date specified in the courtesy notice the backflow method or reclaimed water site does not meet applicable codes and regulations, Tucson Water will provide a four (4) day notice to the site specifying the date by which the backflow method or reclaimed water site must meet applicable codes/regulations. Tucson Water shall add a fee to the customer's water bill when the four (4) day notice is delivered. If by the date specified in the four (4) day notice the backflow method or reclaimed water site does not meet applicable codes/regulations, Tucson Water shall discontinue water service and add a compliance fee to the customer's water bill.
(i) If Tucson Water or a customer learns or discovers during any interim period between tests/inspections that an assembly is defective or is in improper operating condition or that the reclaimed water site is noncompliant, the customer shall perform any necessary repairs including replacement of the assembly, which will return the assembly or reclaimed water site to proper operating/compliant condition.
(j) The backflow prevention assembly testing shall be performed by an individual certified to conduct such testing by the California-Nevada Section of the AWWA, the Arizona State Environmental Technical Training Center or other certifying authority approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. A list of certified testers registered with Tucson Water shall be maintained by Tucson Water and shall be available upon request to all persons required to install or maintain a backflow prevention assembly.
(k) Test procedures shall be performed as required by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality as set forth in chapter nine of the Manual for Cross-Connection Control. The tester shall provide test/inspection results to the customer and to Tucson Water, and shall maintain a copy of the results for their records.
(l) The customer shall maintain records, of all test/inspection results and of all servicing, repairs, and replacements of the backflow prevention assembly. Test and/or inspection results shall be submitted electronically to Tucson Water within five (5) days after completion of the activity for which the record is made.
(m) Fire systems shall not be out of service for more than eight (8) consecutive hours due to testing, maintenance or repairs. The fire department shall be notified immediately of any changes in fire service status.
(n) Tucson Water may test any backflow prevention assembly or inspect any reclaimed water site at any time.
(o) Test equipment shall be maintained and calibrated annually by an agency approved by Tucson Water as required by the cross connection manual. A copy of the annual equipment calibration certificates shall be submitted to Tucson Water to maintain equipment registration and certification. Test equipment for testing backflow prevention assemblies in Tucson Water's service area shall be registered with and approved by Tucson Water. Test equipment used on anything other than potable water backflow prevention assemblies shall not be used to test such assemblies and shall be identified as non-potable test equipment.
(p) Backflow prevention assembly/reclaimed water site testers shall register with Tucson Water if they are conducting backflow prevention assembly testing/reclaimed water site inspections in Tucson Water's service area. Testers shall submit a current copy of their certification or recertification upon registration. A Tucson Water registration issued to a backflow prevention assembly/reclaimed water site tester may be revoked or suspended upon certification expiration or for improper testing, maintenance, inspections, reporting or other improper practices.
(Ord. No. 9976, § 2, 5-24-04; Ord. No. 10563, §§ 2, 3, 7-8-08; Ord. No. 10867, § 1, 12-21-10)