§ 2-31-307. Testing, service, and reporting requirements.

(a)

Testing frequency schedules.

(1)

All backflow prevention assemblies shall comply with the following requirements:

a.

Be tested at least once every year;

b.

Be tested only by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician;

c.

Be tested utilizing procedures approved by the AWWA or its equivalent and the FCCC;

d.

Be tested with test equipment approved by the AWWA or its equivalent;

e.

Be tagged at the time of testing with a tag that contains the name of the qualifying company, the license number or certificate number of the approved backflow prevention assembly technician, the month of the test, and the year of expiration; and

f.

Be reported to the department no later than fifteen (15) days following the test.

(2)

No backflow prevention assembly shall be tagged before being tested.

(3)

The department may require a more frequent test schedule for backflow prevention assemblies serving facilities classified in accordance with this article as high hazard or that frequently fail regularly scheduled tests, as necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

(4)

If an inactive water service is reactivated and more than one year has passed since the last test, the service connection associated with such service shall not be activated until the backflow prevention assembly has been tested and approved.

(b)

Repairs and replacements.

(1)

Backflow prevention assemblies.

a.

Backflow prevention assemblies that fail a required test shall be reported to the department immediately. Required repairs shall be performed by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician as specified in this article.

b.

Any backflow prevention assembly that is unable to be repaired shall be replaced immediately. At the completion of the repairs or replacement, the backflow prevention assembly shall be tested and tagged by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician as required by this article.

(2)

Until such repairs or replacements are completed, the service connection shall be deactivated if deemed necessary by the department to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

(c)

Testing equipment and methods.

(1)

Test equipment. Approved backflow prevention assembly technicians shall test backflow prevention assemblies using equipment recommended by such assembly's manufacturer and approved by the department.

(2)

Test methods. Only AWWA and FCCC methods shall be used when testing backflow prevention assemblies.

(3)

Calibration. Approved backflow prevention assembly technicians shall have their testing instruments certified for accuracy at least once every year or as often as the equipment manufacturer recommends, whichever is more frequent. The approved technician shall forward a copy of the instrument's calibration report to the department. The department shall deem unacceptable testing reports prepared by approved technicians if such annual calibration reports are not received by the department. Calibration reports shall only be accepted from sources approved by the department. The department shall approve testing sources based on manufacturer and industry standards.

(d)

Reporting. Facility owners are directly responsible for all reports and reporting procedures regarding backflow prevention assemblies protecting the county's water system. The facility owner may designate an agent to act on behalf of the facility owner, but in no way does such action alleviate the facility owner's responsibility.

(1)

Reporting scheduled tests and repairs. Reports for initial certification tests, scheduled tests, repairs, and replacements of a facility's backflow prevention assembly must be completed by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician as required by this article. Such reports shall be forwarded to the department by the approved technician electronically through the department's website. The approved technician shall transmit the completed reports to the department as specified in this article no later than fifteen (15) days following the test, repair, or replacement of the backflow prevention assembly.

(2)

Reporting of nonscheduled repairs or replacements. Any backflow prevention assembly which has been damaged, is discharging abnormally, or fails any test shall be reported immediately by the facility owner as follows:

a.

Notify the department. If the department's offices are closed, notify the after-hours on-call personnel.

b.

Contact an approved backflow prevention assembly technician from the approved list for immediate repairs.

(e)

Qualifications of approved backflow prevention assembly technicians.

(1)

Backflow prevention assemblies on potable water lines shall be installed, tested, maintained, repaired, replaced, and relocated by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician on the approved list who holds a valid license as a plumbing contractor or who works under the direct supervision of a plumbing contractor.

(2)

Backflow prevention assemblies on fire system lines shall be installed, tested, maintained, repaired, replaced, and relocated by an approved backflow prevention assembly technician on the approved list who holds a valid minimum certificate as a fire protection system contractor V.

(Ord. No. 13-35, § 8, 10-22-13)