§ 24-343.1 Backflow prevention device reporting.
AC § 24-343.1
a. For purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Backflow" shall mean a flow condition, induced by a differential in pressure, that causes the flow of water or other liquids and/or gases into the distribution of pipes of a city water main, private water main, or to an internal water main from any source other than its intended source.
(2)"Backsiphonage" shall mean the backflow of contaminated or polluted water, or water of questionable quality from a plumbing fixture or other source, into a city water main, private water main, or to an internal water main due to a temporary negative or sub-atmospheric pressure within the public water supply system.
(3)"Backflow prevention device" shall mean an approved air gap, reduced pressure zone device or double check valve assembly used to contain potential contamination within a facility.
(4)"Cross connection" shall mean a physical connection or arrangement between two separate piping systems where one system contains potable water and the other contains steam, gas, a chemical, or water of questionable safety, and there may be a flow from one system to the other.
(5)"Hazardous facility" shall mean a facility in which substances may be present that may endanger the health of other water users if introduced into the public water system, including but not limited to, laboratories, sewage treatment plants, chemical plants, hospitals and mortuaries. b. When the department or the owner or operator of a building or structure has determined that there is a cross connection and no backflow prevention device, or a defective or unapproved device, such that there is a possibility of backflow or backsiphonage from such building or structure into a city water main, private water main, or to an internal water main, the owner or operator of such building or structure shall be under a duty to correct such potential or actual backflow or backsiphonage and provide the proper documentation to certify to the department that a backflow prevention device has been installed and where appropriate, that a backflow prevention device has been replaced. Where removal of a cross-connection or installation or replacement of a backflow prevention device has been performed as part of a project for which a licensed professional engineer or registered architect has submitted plans that have been approved by the department, such licensed professional engineer or registered architect shall inspect and submit to the department a certification that the cross-connection has been removed or a backflow prevention device installed or replaced in conformity with plans approved by the department or the department of buildings. c. The department shall send out a mailing to or shall otherwise notify owners or operators of facilities identified by the department as potentially requiring backflow prevention devices informing them of the potential need for such a device and of the process for installation of backflow prevention devices under the auspices of the cross connection control program. The materials contained in such mailing shall be translated into such languages provided for in section 8-1002* of this code. * Editor's note: Repealed. For current provisions, see Title 21, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1. d. On or before February 15, 2020, and on or before every February 15 thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the council setting forth the following information: 1. The number of all facilities that the department estimates requires the installation of one or more backflow prevention devices; 2. The number of such facilities that the department has determined to be hazardous facilities; 3. The number of all facilities in which backflow prevention devices were installed in the preceding calendar year; 4. The number of hazardous facilities in which backflow prevention devices were installed in the preceding calendar year; 5. The number of annual backflow prevention device test reports filed with the department in the preceding calendar year; 6. The number of violations issued in the preceding calendar year for failure to install a backflow prevention device; and 7. The number of violations issued in the preceding calendar year for failure to file an annual backflow prevention device test report with the department. (Am. L.L. 2019/058, 3/31/2019, eff. 3/31/2019) Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 2009/076.
