Ontario Municipal Code Art. 4 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Requirements

(a) It shall be the duty and the sole responsibility of the applicant, owner, or customer of any premises on which backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have inspections and testing made at least once a calendar year, or more often in those instances where successive inspections indicate repeated failure. All inspections and testing shall be performed by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester that meets all requirements set forth in the State Water Board’s Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook.

(b) Backflow prevention assemblies shall also be tested immediately after they are installed, relocated or repaired and shall not be placed in service unless they are functioning as designed.

(c) Whenever a backflow prevention assembly tester observes a backflow incident or an unprotected cross-connection at a backflow prevention assembly or prior to the applicant, owner, or customer’s premises, the backflow prevention assembly tester shall notify the City within twenty- four (24) hours. The City shall immediately discontinue water service to the premises and conduct an investigation. Water service shall not be restored until the City receives confirmation of a passing test.

(d) Premises with air-gap separations shall be visually inspected at least annually to determine compliance with this chapter by a person certified as backflow prevention assembly tester or certified cross-connection control specialist pursuant to the State Water Board’s Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook.

(e) From time to time, representatives of any health agency having jurisdiction and/or the City may conduct evaluations of any premises where water service is provided by the City. The purpose of such evaluations is to determine if any actual or potential cross-connections exist, if there are any unapproved uses, and to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Applicant, owner, or customer shall provide reasonable cooperation in facilitating such evaluations.

(a) The applicant, owner, or customer shall notify the City any time a backflow prevention assembly is repaired, replaced, or relocated.

(b) A backflow prevention assembly shall be repaired or replaced by, and at the sole expense of the applicant, owner, or customer whenever it is found to not function properly as designed. A backflow prevention assembly that fails a test or inspection pursuant to § 6-8.912 must be repaired or replaced within thirty (30) days of notification of the failure.

(c) Records of all tests and repairs shall be maintained by the applicant, owner, or customer and submitted to the City in accordance with § 6-8.918. The City may request records regarding any backflow prevention assemblies on the premises.

(d) A backflow prevention assembly may be removed for repair or replacement, provided that water service is discontinued until repair or replacement is completed and the assembly is returned to service, or the service connection is equipped with other backflow protection approved by the City. A retest shall be performed immediately following the repair or replacement of the assembly.

(e) A backflow prevention assembly may be relocated following confirmation by the City that the relocation will continue to provide the required protection and satisfy installation requirements. A retest shall be performed immediately following the relocation of the assembly before water service is restored.

Whenever an existing backflow prevention assembly is to be moved from its present location, or when it requires more than minimum maintenance, or when the City finds that the improper maintenance of the assembly constitutes a hazard to health, the assembly shall be replaced by the owner with a backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this chapter.