Anderson Municipal Code Ch. 13.44 Customer Responsibilities

A. The customer shall, at his own risk and expense, furnish, install and keep in good and safe condition all equipment required for receiving, controlling, applying and utilizing water. The city is not responsible for loss or damage caused by the improper installation of water equipment, or the negligence, want of proper care or wrongful act of the customer or of his tenant, agent, employee, contractor, licensee or permittee in installing, maintaining, using, operating or interfering with the equipment.

B. The customer is responsible for determining the pressure operation limits of his fixtures and equipment and shall properly protect the fixtures and equipment from any variance of water delivery pressures, including periods when no water is available.

(Prior code § 23A.101)

The owner of premises to be served shall install a control valve on the house piping between the water meter and the first fixture outlet on the premises. When an old premises to which a service connection was previously installed is altered, the owner shall install a control valve if one is not provided. The customer shall not operate the curb stop in the meter box.

(Prior code § 23A.102)

The owner of the premises to be served shall install a suitable check valve on the house lead pipe as close to the meter location as practical. When old premises to which a service connection was previously installed are altered, the owner shall install a check valve if a check valve is not already provided. Single check valves are for the purpose of preventing the draining of the customer's piping and plumbing in case water has to be shut off temporarily and shall not be considered adequate if a backflow protection device is required.

(Prior code § 23A.103)

Each water heater shall be equipped with a suitable pressure relief valve of a type and nature required by the Uniform Plumbing and Building Codes.

(Prior code § 23A.104)

When a connection is made between a service line of the water department and plumbing on premises where:

A. Steam is generated in boilers other than water heaters designed for domestic use;

B. The premises are also supplied with water from a well, spring, reservoir or other unapproved source;

C. Liquids other than water are carried under pressure through pipes;

D. Other special circumstances create the danger of pollution to the Anderson water department or a portion of the water department, an approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed at the customer's expense.

The backflow prevention assemblies' type and installation shall comply with the city construction standards and the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook. Backflow prevention assemblies must be approved by the University of Southern California Testing Laboratory and comply with the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook. The more stringent rules shall apply when there is a conflict between the city construction standards, the University of Southern California Testing Laboratory approved list, and the Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook. The city shall not turn the water on until the installation is made and the backflow prevention assembly has been inspected and approved per Section 13.44.070.

(Prior code § 23A.105 (part))

(Ord. No. 863, § 1, 11-5-2024)

Where any of the conditions listed in Section 13.44.050 exist on premises where water service is provided by the City of Anderson and an approved backflow prevention assembly, required by this section and Section 13.44.050, does not exist or is defective, the city may discontinue water service and shall not restore it until the correct installation is made or the defective backflow preventer assembly is corrected to the satisfaction of the city. The City of Anderson shall issue the property owner a notice to correct at least thirty days before the proposed termination of service. The property owner shall make the necessary repairs, replacement, or installation within thirty days of issuance of the notice to correct and have the required backflow prevention assembly inspected for compliance. If the city water department determines that the threat to the potable water supply is so immediate that a delay in terminating water service may threaten public health and safety, the City of Anderson Water Department may terminate water service without prior written notice. The installation, inspection, repair, or correction of a defective backflow prevention assembly is at the customer's expense.

(Prior code § 23A.105 (part))

(Ord. No. 863, § 1, 11-5-2024)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 863, § 1, adopted Nov. 5, 2024, amended the title of § 13.44.060 to read as herein set out. The former § 13.44.060 title pertained to backflow prevention devices—failure to install—city action.

"Inspector" means either a city employee permitted to inspect backflow prevention assemblies or a backflow prevention assembly tester certified by either the American Backflow Prevention Association or the American Water Works Association, operating under a valid business license from the City of Anderson. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested immediately after they are installed, relocated, or repaired and at least once annually by a certified inspector. The City of Anderson Water Department shall notify the property owner in advance when the inspections are to be undertaken or required. Each backflow prevention assembly shall be inspected at least once annually by a city-approved backflow assembly tester. The property owner shall be responsible for any costs of the inspections, including testing, repairs, or replacement of the backflow prevention assembly. Records of inspection, tests, repairs, and replacements shall be submitted to the City of Anderson Water Department via the city's Backflow Prevention Assembly Test Report form obtained from the City of Anderson Water Department. If a backflow prevention assembly inspection meets the required standards established by this chapter, the city will send the customer a notice of compliance.

(Prior code § 23A.106)

(Ord. No. 863, § 1, 11-5-2024)

Authorized employees of the water department may at all reasonable times enter or leave a customer's premises for any purpose connected with service to the customer.

(Prior code § 23A.121)

Editor's note— Right of entry provisions are subject to Chapter 1.12 of this Code.