§ 13.36

All consumers shall comply with the regulations of the California State Water Resources Control Board pursuant to the Cross-Connection Control Management Plan. (Prior code 7633; Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96; Ord. 10-25, 6/24/2025)

• A. Unprotected cross-connections with the public water supply are prohibited.

• B. Whenever backflow protection has been found necessary, the City will require the water user to install an approved backflow prevention device by and at his or her expense for continued services or before a new service will be granted.

• C. Wherever backflow protection has been found necessary on a water supply line entering a water user's premises, then any and all water supply lines from the City's mains entering such premises, buildings, or structures shall be protected by an approved backflow prevention device. The type of device to be installed will be in accordance with the requirements of this title.

• (Ord. 19-96)

• A. Each service connection from the City water system for supplying water to premises having an auxiliary water supply shall be protected against backflow of water from the premises into the public water system unless the auxiliary water supply is accepted as an additional source by the City and is approved by the public health agency having jurisdiction.

• B. Each service connection from the City water system for supplying water to any premises on which any substance is handled in such a fashion as may allow its entry into the water system shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the public system. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the City water system which have been subjected to deterioration in sanitary quality.

• C. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed on the service connection to any premises having: (1) internal cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected and controlled to the satisfaction of the state or local health department and the City; or (2) intricate plumbing and piping arrangements or where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible for inspection purposes, making it impracticable or impossible to ascertain whether or not cross-connections exist.

• D. Each service connection from the City water system for supplying water to any premises where the structure serviced is three or more stories above ground level shall be protected against backflow of the water from the premises into the public system.

• (Prior code 7633.1; Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

The type of protection that shall be provided to prevent backflow into the approved water supply

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.36.040

§ 13.36.060

shall be commensurate with the degree of hazard that exists on the consumer's premises. The type of protective device that may be required (listing in an increasing level of protection) includes: double check valve assembly (DC), reduced pressure principle backflow prevention device (RP), and an air-gap separation (AG). The minimum type of backflow protection required to protect the approved water supply at the consumer's water connection shall be evaluated on a case by case basis and the appropriate backflow protection shall be determined by the City or health agency.

(Ord. 19-96)

Two or more services supplying water from different street mains to the same building, structure or premises, through which an interstreet main flow may occur, shall have an approved backflow protection device on each water service to be located adjacent to and on the property side of the respective meters.

(Ord. 13-84; Ord. 19-96)

• A. Approved Backflow Devices.

  1. Only backflow prevention devices which have been approved by the City shall be acceptable for installation by a water user connected to the City's water system.

  2. The City will provide, upon request, to any affected consumer a list of approved backflow prevention devices.

• B. Backflow Prevention Device Installation. Backflow prevention devices shall be installed pursuant to the Cross-Connection Control Management Plan of the California State Water Resources Control Board. Location of the devices should be as close as practical to the user's connection. The City shall have the final authority in determining the required location of a backflow prevention device.

• C. Backflow Prevention Device Testing and Maintenance.

  1. The owners of any premises on which, or on account of which, backflow prevention devices are installed, shall have the devices tested by a person who has demonstrated their competency in testing of these devices to the City. Backflow prevention devices must be tested at least annually and immediately after installation, relocation or repair. The City may require a more frequent testing schedule if it is determined to be necessary. No device shall be placed back in service unless it is functioning as required. A report in a form acceptable to the City shall be filed with the City each time a device is tested, relocated or repaired. These devices shall be serviced, overhauled, or replaced whenever they are found to be defective and all costs of testing, repair, and maintenance shall be borne by the water consumer.

  2. The City shall supply affected consumers with a list of persons acceptable to the City to test backflow prevention devices. The City will notify affected consumers by mail when annual testing of a device is needed and also supply users with the necessary forms which must be filled out each time a device is tested or repaired.

• D. Backflow Prevention Device Removal. Approval must be obtained from the City before a

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City of Orange, CA § 13.36.060

ORANGE CODE

§ 13.36.070

backflow prevention device is removed, relocated, or replaced.

1. Removal. The use of a device may be discontinued and the device removed from service upon presentation of sufficient evidence to the City to verify that a hazard no longer exists or is not likely to be created in the future;

2. Relocation. A device may be relocated following confirmation by the City that the relocation will continue to provide the required protection and satisfy all installation requirements. A retest will be required following the relocation of the device;

3. Repair. A device may be removed for repair, provided the water use is either discontinued until repair is completed and the device is returned to service, or the service connection is equipped with other backflow protection approved by the City. A retest will be required following the repair of the device; and

4. Replacement. A device may be removed and replaced provided the water use is discontinued until the replacement device is installed. All replacement devices must be approved by the City and must be commensurate with the degree of hazard involved.

• (Ord. 19-96; Ord. 10-25, 6/24/2025)

• A. Water System Survey.

  1. The City shall review all requests for new services to determine if backflow protection is needed. Plans and specifications must be submitted to the City upon request for review of possible cross-connection hazards as a condition of service for new service connections. If it is determined that a backflow prevention device is necessary to protect the public water system, the required device must be installed before service will be granted.

  2. The City may require an on-premises inspection to evaluate cross-connection hazards. The City will either verbally or in writing, request an inspection appointment to each affected water user. Any consumer which cannot or will not allow an on-premises inspection of their piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention device the City considers necessary.

  3. The City may, at its discretion, require a reinspection for cross-connection hazards of any premises to which it serves water. The City will either verbally or in writing request an inspection appointment to each affected water user. Any consumer which cannot or will not allow an on-premises inspection of their piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention device the City considers necessary.

• B. Consumer Notification—Damaged, Missing or Improperly Installed Backflow Prevention Assemblies.

  1. In the event that a backflow prevention assembly is missing (or stolen), installed incorrectly, illegally modified, or tampered with, the City shall implement the following actions:

     • a. The City will notify the consumer of the survey findings, listing corrective action to be taken if required. A period of 60 days will be given to complete all

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.36.070

§ 13.36.070

corrective action required including installation of backflow prevention devices.

• b. A second notice will be sent to each consumer which does not take the required corrective action prescribed in the first notice within the 60-day period. The second notice will give the consumer a two-week period to take the required corrective action. If no action is taken within the two-week period the City may terminate water service to the affected consumer until the required corrective actions are taken.

• C. Consumer Notification—Testing and Maintenance.

  1. The City will notify each affected consumer, mailed on the last week of the previous month, when it is time for the backflow prevention device installed on their service connection to be tested. This written notice (first letter) shall give the consumer 30 days to have the device tested and supply the consumer with the necessary form to be completed and resubmitted to the City.

2. After the 30-day expiration, there will be a 10-calendar-day grace period prior to a second notice (second letter) sent to each consumer which does not have their backflow prevention device tested as prescribed in the first letter. The second notice will give the consumer 15 days to have the device tested and supply the consumer with the necessary form to be completed and resubmitted to the City.

   3. After the 15-day expiration, there will be a 10-calendar-day grace period prior to a third notice (final notice) sent to each consumer which does not have their backflow prevention device tested as prescribed in the second letter. The final notice will give the consumer five days to have the device tested and supply the consumer with the necessary form to be completed and resubmitted to the City. If no action is taken after the final notice, the City may terminate water service to the affected consumer until the subject device is tested.

• (Ord. 19-96; Ord. 10-25, 6/24/2025)

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City of Orange, CA

PUBLIC UTILITIES

§ 13.40.010

§ 13.40.030

CHAPTER 13.40 WELLS