§ 228-25. Requirements.

A. 

Water Division.

(1) 

On new installations, the Division will provide on-site evaluation and/or inspection of plans in order to determine the type of backflow preventer, if any, that will be required and will notify the owner of plan approval requirements by the appropriate reviewing authority.

(2) 

For premises existing prior to the start of this program, the Division will perform surveys of the premises and reviews of as-built plans and issue a cross-connection violation form to the owner detailing any corrective action required, the method of achieving the correction and the time allowed for the correction to be made. The time period allowed shall depend upon the degree of hazard involved (higher health hazard – minimum time).

(3) 

The Division will not allow any cross-connection to remain unless it is protected by an approved backflow preventer for which a permit has been issued and which will be regularly tested to ensure satisfactory operation.

(4) 

If the Division determines at any time that a serious threat to the public health exists, the water service will be terminated immediately.

B. 

Owner responsibility.

(1) 

The owner shall be responsible for the elimination or protection of all cross-connections on his/her premises.

(2) 

The owner shall be responsible for applying for and obtaining all necessary approvals and permits for the maintenance of cross-connections and installation of backflow prevention devices and applying annually for the renewal of each permit.

(3) 

The owner shall have any device that fails an inspection or test repaired immediately by a licensed plumber.

(4) 

The owner shall inform the Division of any proposed or modified cross-connection and also of any existing cross-connections of which the owner is aware but which have not been found by the Division.

(5) 

The owner shall not install bypass around any backflow preventer unless there is a backflow preventer of the same type on the bypass. Owners who cannot shut down operation for testing of the device(s) must supply additional devices necessary to allow testing to take place.

(6) 

The owner shall install backflow preventers in a manner approved by the Department and by the Division.

(7) 

The owner shall install only reduced-pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies approved by the Department.

(8) 

The owner shall be responsible for the payment of all fees for permits, device testings, retestings in the case that the device fails to operate correctly and second reinspections for noncompliance with Division or Department requirements.

C. 

Testing.

(1) 

Reduced-pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies shall be tested and inspected at least semiannually by the Division's certified tester, at the expense of the owner.

(2) 

Reduced-pressure backflow preventers and double check valve assemblies must be tested annually by the owner, independent of the semiannual test by the public water supplier, and said test must be conducted by a Department-certified tester.

(3) 

Any backflow preventer which fails during a periodic test must be repaired or replaced immediately by a licensed plumber. When repairs are necessary, upon completion of the repair, the device will be retested at the owner's expense to ensure proper operation. High hazard situations will not be allowed to continue unprotected if the backflow preventer fails the test and cannot be repaired immediately. In other situations, a compliance date of not more than 14 days after the test date will be established. The owner is responsible for spare parts, repair tools or a replacement device. Parallel installation of two devices is an effective means of the owner ensuring that uninterrupted water service remains during testings or repair of devices and is strongly recommended when the owner desires such continuity.