§ 48-139. Assembly testing and testers.

(a)

The director, or his designed representative, shall administer an inspection program to ensure that backflow prevention devices are properly maintained and operated within the city's water system. The director, in administering the inspection program, shall take into account the complexity and operating characteristics of the assembly and the protection afforded the potable water system by the assembly. Reduced pressure and double-check backflow prevention assemblies installed pursuant to the city's plumbing code are subject to inspection and testing by the water department.

(b)

The director will inspect and test, or cause to be inspected and tested, all assemblies in each of the following circumstances:

(1)

Immediately after installation;

(2)

Whenever the assembly is moved;

(3)

A minimum of once a year for all assemblies for high hazard uses;

(4)

Any premises that has a RP assemble as premises isolation without high hazard point-of-use protection must be tested annually; and

(5)

Immediately after repair.

(c)

Assemblies may be required to be tested more frequently than specified in subsection (b) of this section, if the director deems the same necessary, in order to safeguard the public health and safety of the residents of the city, or to protect the city's potable water supply.

(d)

All assembly testing shall be performed by a certified and registered backflow prevention assembly tester, in accordance with state approved test procedures.

(e)

It is the responsibility and expense of the property owner and the person in control of the premises to have all assemblies tested in accordance with this article. A person who owns, operates, or manages premises in which required backflow prevention assemblies are installed shall maintain at their expense such assemblies in proper working order at all times, including repair as required. All maintenance and repair of assemblies shall be done in accordance with all applicable provisions of this article. It shall be the duty of the director, or his designed representative, to see that these tests are made in a timely manner. The user shall notify the director in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that the director or his representative may witness the tests, if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the user when they are found to be defective. The user shall submit the original records of tests, repairs and overhauls to the director or his representative, and these test records shall be kept by the director for a period of not less than three years. If assemblies that service a particular line, including fire hydrants, etc., require extended repair time, the owner shall notify the director or the city's fire department for those lines serving fire suppression systems. The user shall maintain backflow prevention assemblies in a manner that allows them to be tested by a method that has been approved by the director. A person commits an offense under the provision of this article, if the person owns or is in control of any premises and knowingly fails or refuses to have the backflow prevention assemblies installed on the premises inspected, tested, maintained or repaired as ordered, as required by this article. The city shall not be liable for damage to any assembly that occurs during testing, including, without limitation, any damage that occurs during testing when such damage results from metal fatigue or deteriorated metal when such damage occurs under standard testing procedures.

(Code 1994, § 11.308A; Ord. No. 569, § 1, 3-10-2014)