Chapter 13.05 WATER

Subject to any valid existing contractual obligations of the town the council shall have the immediate control and management of all things pertaining to the town water works system and shall provide for the performance of all acts that may be necessary for the productive, efficient and economical management and protection of said water works and shall have the power to prescribe such other and further rates, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary. [Code 1983 § 11-1-1.]

13.05.020 Receipts and deposits.

The clerk shall keep a correct account of all receipts, make out all bills for water rents and materials furnished to consumers, collect the same and deposit the proceeds so collected to the credit of the town and in accordance with the direction of the council. [Code 1983 § 11-1-2.]

Article II. Application for Service and Discontinuance of Service

13.05.030 Application for water application.

Application for the use of water shall be made in person, at the Town Hall, to the clerk by the owner or agent of the property to be benefitted, designating the location of the property and stating the purpose for which the water may be required. [Code 1983 § 11-2-1.]

13.05.040 Grounds for rejection of application.

The town may reject any application for water service for any good and sufficient reasons including the following: service not available under a standard rate, service which involves excessive service expense, service which may affect the supply to other consumers, service when the applicant is delinquent in payment of bills incurred for services previously supplied at any location. [Code 1983 § 11-2-2.]

13.05.050 Violation of application provisions.

For violation of any of the provisions relating to application for service, the town shall, at the expiration of seven days after mailing written notice to the last known address of the consumer, at its option, remove the meter and discontinue service. Where the meter is thereafter reinstalled, the consumer shall first pay to the town a reinstallation charge of $5.00. [Code 1983 § 11-2-3.]

Article III. Deposit

13.05.060 Deposit required.

Except as may be required by any validly existing contractual obligations of the town, a deposit shall be charged for water service before said service commences to all applicants who apply for water service after the effective date of this code. The amount of the deposit shall be $100.00 or an amount equal to twice the estimated amount of the monthly bill, whichever is greater. Deposits shall be non-interest-bearing and shall be refunded to the consumer upon discontinuance of service and payment of charges; provided, that the charges may be deducted from the deposit before the refund is made. The council may, by resolution, provide for higher deposits for different refund arrangements for classes of water users upon the finding that providing water service to such classes of users involves special and greater than average risk to the town for nonpayment for water services provided. [Ord. 2018-01 § 1; Ord. 27, 1985. Code 1983 § 11-3-1.]

13.05.070 Payment responsibility.

The individual in whose name the deposit is made shall be responsible for payment of all bills incurred in connection with the service furnished. [Code 1983 § 11-3-2.]

Article IV. Discontinuance of Service

13.05.080 Notice required.

Any person who desires to discontinue the use of water shall file written notice with the clerk at least three days in advance of intended termination of service. Responsibility for water consumed extends to the time of departure or to the time specified for departure, whichever occurs last. [Code 1983 § 11-4-1.]

13.05.090 Service may be discontinued under certain conditions.

The town may discontinue water service under any of the following conditions:

A. To prevent fraud or abuse.

B. Disregard of town rules pertaining to water service.

C. Emergency repairs.

D. Insufficient supply caused by factors outside the control of the town.

E. Legal process.

F. Direction of public authorities.

G. Local emergency requiring emergency measures.

H. Tampering with meter by the consumer. [Code 1983 § 11-4-2.]

Article V. Rates and Bills

13.05.100 Water rates.

Water rates shall be established by a resolution of the town council.

Service for a time period less than a month shall be charged at the minimum monthly rate. [Ord. 2018-01 § 1. Code 1983 § 11-5-1.]

13.05.105 Minimum rate.

Service for a time period less than a month shall be charged at a minimum monthly user fee plus the appropriate user charge. [Code 1983 § 11-5-2.]

13.05.110 Water bills.

Water meters shall be read on the twentieth day of each month, as nearly as possible, and a separate bill shall be rendered for each meter and mailed on the first day of each succeeding month. All water bills shall be due on or before the tenth day of the month following the reading of the meter. Bills shall become delinquent after 10 days following the billing date. The town reserves the right to vary the dates or length of billing period, temporarily or permanently, if necessary or desirable. [Code 1983 § 11-5-3.]

13.05.120 Incorrect bill.

Any consumer may present a claim to the town if he believes that he may have received an incorrect water bill. Such claim shall be presented in person at the Town Hall before such bill becomes delinquent; provided, that the consumer may make a claim following payment of his bill and his payment shall not prejudice his claim. Such claim shall not exempt the consumer from delinquency penalties if he fails to pay his bill on time. [Code 1983 § 11-5-4.]

13.05.130 Turn-offs and turn-ons.

A charge of $3.00 shall be made for each turn-off and each turn-on of water services for reasons other than change of occupancy. [Code 1983 § 11-5-5.]

13.05.140 Unoccupied units liable.

The above minimum charges for additional residential units shall apply regardless of whether the residential unit is occupied or unoccupied. [Code 1983 § 11-5-6.]

13.05.150 Commencement of charges.

The town shall commence service charges for a consumer when the water meter is installed and the connection is made, regardless of whether water is used or not. [Code 1983 § 11-5-7.]

Article VI. Meters

13.05.160 Meters to be used.

All water sold by the town shall be metered by meters which shall be owned and kept in repair by the town. [Code 1983 § 11-6-1.]

13.05.170 Suitable placement.

The town may install a water meter on the property line or on the consumer’s property in such location as deemed necessary and which is conveniently accessible by a meter reader. [Code 1983 § 11-6-2.]

13.05.180 Single meter.

Water pipes and equipment belonging to the consumer shall be so arranged to permit the placing of a single water meter for that property convenient to the town. If the water pipes and equipment belonging to the consumer are not arranged to permit such placement of a meter and additional meters are required, each such additional meter shall be considered as an additional account and shall be so billed. [Code 1983 § 11-6-3.]

13.05.190 Grouping of meters.

When two or more meters are installed on the same premises for different consumers, they shall be closely grouped and each meter shall be clearly marked as to the consumer to which it belongs. [Code 1983 § 11-6-4.]

13.05.200 Water meter installation fee.

The fee for water meter installations shall be established by a resolution of the town council. [Ord. 2018-01 § 1. Code 1983 § 11-6-5.]

13.05.210 Water meter failure.

If a water meter fails to operate and a reading cannot be taken, a bill will be made by the town in an amount based on the average monthly billing of the previous three months. [Code 1983 § 11-6-6.]

13.05.220 Interference by animals.

In the event an animal kept on the premises interferes with meter reading by an employee of the town and the meter is not read, a billing may be made by the town in an amount based on the average monthly billing of the previous three months. [Code 1983 § 11-6-7.]

13.05.230 Special meter reading.

Any consumer may request and have the town perform a special reading of his water meter. [Ord. 2018-01 § 1. Code 1983 § 11-6-8.]

13.05.240 Meter tests.

Any consumer may, upon written application, have its meter tested for accuracy by the town. If the meter registers a divergence from accuracy greater than three percent, the indicated adjustment shall be made in the water service charges for a total period not longer than the then-current period and the monthly period immediately preceding. All defective meters or meters registering divergence from accuracy greater than three percent shall be replaced by the town immediately when detected. [Ord. 2018-01 § 1. Code 1983 § 11-6-9.]

Article VII. Consumer Responsibilities

13.05.250 Consumer water facilities.

The consumer shall have complete responsibility for the installation and maintenance of adequate water facilities on the premises and the town shall not in any way be responsible for the installation, maintenance, inspection, or damage of such facilities or damage caused by any defect in such facilities on the consumer’s premises. Such facilities shall be maintained by the consumers in full compliance with any and all rules and regulations of the town in addition to applicable state statutes. [Code 1983 § 11-7-1.]

13.05.260 Consumer negligence.

Any damage to the town water system or injury to town employees caused by the negligence of any consumer and which requires any repairs, replacements or damages, the cost of such shall be added to that consumer’s bill, and if such charges are not paid, water service may be discontinued. [Code 1983 § 11-7-2.]

13.05.270 Right-of-way.

Each consumer shall provide to the town such easement and right-of-way as is necessary to provide water service to that consumer. [Code 1983 § 11-7-3.]

13.05.290 Protection of town property.

The consumer shall guarantee proper protection for town property placed on his premises and shall permit access to it only to authorized representatives of the town. [Code 1983 § 11-7-5.]

13.05.300 Supplying water to others prohibited.

No occupant or owner of any building into which water is introduced will be allowed to supply water to other persons or families or for use on any other property. The town reserves the right to shut off the supply for abuses of water privileges. [Code 1983 § 11-7-6.]

13.05.310 Commercial use.

Any water service for commercial use shall not be included in a residential service account and shall have a separate meter and connection. [Code 1983 § 11-7-7.]

13.05.320 Sprinkling restrictions.

In case of water shortage or scarcity, the council may by resolution place any restrictions which it deems necessary upon the use of water for irrigation or sprinkling purpose. [Code 1983 § 11-7-8.]

13.05.330 Waste of water prohibited.

Consumers shall prevent unnecessary waste of water and keep all water outlets closed when not in actual use. All water outlets, including those used in conjunction with hydrants, urinals, water closets, bathtubs and other fixtures, must not be left running for any purpose other than the use for which they were intended. In addition to the penalty provided herein for code violations, the water supply may be turned off where any such waste occurs. [Code 1983 § 11-7-9.]

13.05.340 Inspections.

Whenever in the judgment of the clerk or council it is deemed necessary, the town may inspect the premises or buildings of any water consumer for the purpose of examining the condition of all pipes, motors, meters and water fixtures, or the manner in which the water is used. The town clerk shall be vigilant to protect and remedy all abuses, whether from waste or other improper use of water. [Code 1983 § 11-7-10.]

Article VIII. Liability

13.05.350 Interruption of service.

The town shall notify the consumer in advance of any anticipated interruption of service when such advance notice is possible. The town shall not be responsible for any interruption of water service caused by forces beyond its control. [Code 1983 § 11-8-1.]

13.05.360 Liability limited.

No liability shall attach to the town for any injury or damages that may result from turning on or shutting off the water in any main, service connection or pipe; or the restriction of use or discontinuance of any water service, or any failure of the water supply, regardless of any notice or lack of notice thereof. The town shall not be held liable, in any respect, for the condition, defects, failure, or use of any pipe, connection, fixture, or appurtenance, not belonging to the town, on any premises, or for loss or damage resulting therefrom. [Code 1983 § 11-8-2.]

Article IX. Extension Policy

13.05.370 Definition of developer.

A “developer” is any person engaged in the requesting and financing of a water main extension beyond the present town water mains. Such person may be either a subdivider or a legally constituted improvement district. [Code 1983 § 11-9-1.]

13.05.380 Size of main extensions.

No water main shall be installed which is smaller than the minimum pipe size dictated by good engineering practice, and in no case shall any water main be of a size for the diameter of the main extension, if deemed advisable, but only under the condition that the laid cost of the same extension if it were six-inch pipe. Upon the affirmative vote of at least four members of the council, a water main of smaller size may be installed. [Code 1983 § 11-9-2.]

13.05.390 Replacement or repair.

All persons who create, cause to be built, or build any water main extensions shall also pay for any and all replacements, including, but not limited to, paving, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, which become necessary as a direct or indirect result of the creation, building or construction of such water main extensions. [Code 1983 § 11-9-3.]

13.05.400 Costs of extension.

The developer causing an extension of water mains shall pay in full for the rights-of-way, the construction, and installation of the lines, pipes and mains, and all other features necessary for the extension. The council may authorize exceptions in the public interest when necessary. [Code 1983 § 11-9-4.]

13.05.410 Inspection and acceptance.

When completed and approved by the water superintendent, the council, if satisfied that the extension is in the public interest and suitable and conforms to the existing system in the town, may, by resolution, accept and approve the same and authorize the use thereof; provided, that the extension shall first be conveyed to the town free and clear of any and all encumbrances. [Code 1983 § 11-9-5.]

Article X. Regulations Part of Contract

13.05.420 Regulations part of contract – Consumer agreement, consent.

All regulations contained in this chapter shall be considered a part of the contract of every resident of the town taking water service from the town, and such residents taking water service shall be considered as having expressly consented to be bound thereby. Consumers outside the town limits may, upon application for water service, be required to sign a statement agreeing to the regulations set forth in this chapter. [Code 1983 Art. 11-10.]

Article XI. Cross-Connection Control

13.05.430 General policy.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this article is:

1. To protect the public potable water supply of the town of Taylor from the possibility of contamination or pollution by isolating within the customer’s private water distribution system(s) or the customer’s private water system(s) such contaminants or pollutants that could backflow into the public water system; and

2. To promote the elimination or control of existing cross-connections, actual or potential, between the customer’s in-plant potable water system(s) and nonpotable water systems, plumbing fixtures and industrial piping systems; and

3. To provide for the maintenance of a continuing program of cross-connection control that will systematically and effectively prevent the contamination or pollution of all potable water systems.

B. Responsibility. The water system operator shall be responsible for the protection of the public potable water distribution system from contamination or pollution due to the backflow of contaminants or pollutants through the water service connection. If, in the judgment of said water system operator an approved backflow prevention assembly is required (at the customer’s water service connection; or within the customer’s private water system) for the safety of the water system, the water system operator or his/her designated agent shall give notice in writing to said customer to install such an approved backflow prevention assembly(ies) at specific location(s) on his/her premises. The customer shall immediately install such approved assembly(ies) at his/her own expenses; and failure, refusal or inability on the part of the customer to install, have tested and maintain said assembly(ies) shall constitute grounds for discontinuing water service to the premises until such requirements have been satisfactorily met. [Ord. 44, 1995. Code 1983 § 11-11-1.]

13.05.440 Definitions.

“Approved” means accepted by the authority responsible as meeting an applicable specification stated or cited in this article or as suitable for the proposed use.

“Auxiliary water supply” means any water supply on or available to the premises other than the purveyor’s approved public water supply. These auxiliary waters may include water from another purveyor’s public potable water supply or any natural source(s), such as a well, spring, river, stream, harbor and so forth; used waters; or industrial fluids. These waters may be contaminated or polluted or they may be objectionable and constitute an unacceptable water source over which purveyor does not have sanitary control.

“Backflow” means the undesirable reversal of flow in a potable water distribution system as a result of a cross-connection.

“Backflow preventer” means an assembly or means designed to prevent backflow.

1. “Air gap” means the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying water or waste to a tank, plumbing fixture, receptor or other assembly and the flood level rim of the receptacle. These vertical, physical separations must be at least twice the diameter of the water supply outlet, never less that one inch (25 mm).

2. Reduced-Pressure Backflow Prevention Assembly. The approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly consists of two independently acting approved check valves together with a hydraulically operating, mechanically independent pressure differential relief valve located between two tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves as an assembly and equipped with properly located resilient-seated test cocks.

3. Double Check Valve Assembly. The approved double check valve assembly consists of two internally loaded check valves, either spring-loaded or internally weighted, installed as a unit between two tightly closing resilient-seated shutoff valves and fittings with properly located resilient-seated test cocks. This assembly shall only be used to protect against a nonhealth hazard (that is, a pollutant).

“Back pressure” means a pressure, higher than the supply pressure, caused by a pump, elevated tank, boiler or any other means that may cause backflow.

“Backsiphonage” means backflow caused by negative or reduced pressure in the supply piping.

“Contamination” means an impairment of a potable water supply by the introduction or admission of any foreign substance that degrades the quality and creates a health hazard.

“Cross-connection” means a connection or potential connection between any part of a potable water system and any other environment containing other substances in a manner that, under any circumstances, would allow such substance to enter the potable water system. Other substances may be gases, liquids or solids, such as chemicals, waste products, steam, water from other sources (potable or nonpotable), or any matter that may change the color or add odor to the water.

“Cross-connection control by containment” means the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly at the water service connection to any customer’s premises, where it is physically and economically infeasible to find and permanently eliminate or control all actual or potential cross-connections within the customer’s water system; or it shall mean the installation of an approved backflow prevention assembly on the service line leading to and supplying a portion of a customer’s water system where there are actual or potential cross-connections that cannot be effectively eliminated or controlled at the point of the cross-connection.

“Cross-connections, controlled” means a connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable water system with an approved backflow prevention assembly properly installed and maintained so that it will continuously afford the protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.

Hazard, Degree of. This term is derived from an evaluation of the potential risk to public health and the adverse effect of the hazard upon the potable water system.

1. “Hazard, health” means a cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that could, if introduced into the potable water supply, cause death, illness, spread disease or have a high probability of causing such effects.

2. “Hazard, plumbing” means a plumbing-type cross-connection in a consumer’s potable water system that has not been properly protected by an approved air gap or an approved backflow prevention assembly.

3. “Hazard, nonhealth” means a cross-connection or potential cross-connection involving any substance that generally would not be a health hazard but would constitute a nuisance or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the potable water supply.

4. “Hazard, system” means an actual or potential threat of severe damage to the physical properties of the public potable water system or the consumer’s potable water system or of a pollution or contamination that would have a protracted effect on the quality of the potable water in the system.

“Industrial fluids system” means any system containing a fluid or solution that may be chemically, biologically or otherwise contaminated or polluted in a form of concentration, such as would constitute a health, system, pollution or plumbing hazard, if introduced into an approved water supply. This may include, but not be limited to: polluted or contaminated waters; all types of process waters and used waters originating from the public potable water system that may have deteriorated in sanitary quality; chemicals in fluid form; plating acids and alkalies; circulating cooling waters connected to an open cooling tower; and/or cooling towers that are chemically or biologically treated or stabilized with toxic substances; contaminated natural waters, such as wells, springs, streams, rivers, bays, harbors, seas, irrigation canals or systems, and so forth; oils, gases, glycerine, paraffins, caustic and acid solutions, and other liquid and gaseous fluids used in industrial or other purposes for firefighting purposes.

“Pollution” means the presence of any foreign substance in water that tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a nonhealth hazard or impair the usefulness of the water.

“Service connection” means the terminal end of a service connection from the public potable water system, that is, where the water purveyor loses jurisdiction and sanitary control over the water at its point of delivery to the customer’s water system. If a meter is installed at the end of the service connection, then the “service connection” shall mean the downstream end of the meter. There should be no unprotected takeoffs from the service line ahead of any meter or backflow prevention assembly located at the point of delivery to the customer’s water system. Service connection shall also include water service connections from the public potable water system.

“Water commissioner” or “health official” means the water system operator in charge of the water department of the town of Taylor who is invested with the authority and responsibility for the implementation of an effective cross-connection control program and for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.

“Water, nonpotable” means water that is not safe for human consumption or that is of questionable quality.

“Water, potable” means water that is safe for human consumption as described by the public health authority having jurisdiction.

“Water, used” means any water supplied by a water purveyor from a public potable water system to a consumer’s water system after it has passed through the point of delivery and is no longer under the sanitary control of the water purveyor. [Ord. 44, 1995. Code 1983 § 11-11-2.]

13.05.450 Requirements.

A. Water System.

1. The water system shall be considered as made up of two parts: the utility system and the customer system.

2. The utility system shall consist of the source facilities and the distribution system and shall include all those facilities of the water system under the complete control of the utility, up to the point where the customer’s system begins.

3. The source shall include all components of the facilities utilized in the production, treatment, storage and delivery of water to the distribution system.

4. The distribution system shall include the network of conduits used for the delivery of water from the source to the customer’s system.

5. The customer’s system shall include those parts of the facilities beyond the termination of the utility distribution system that are utilized in conveying utility-delivered domestic water to points of use.

B. Policy.

1. No water service connection to any premises shall be installed or maintained by the water purveyor unless the water supply is protected as required by state laws and regulations and this chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the water purveyor if a backflow prevention assembly required by this article is not installed, tested and maintained or if it is found that a backflow prevention assembly has been removed, bypassed or if an unprotected cross-connection exists on the premises. Service will not be restored until such conditions or defects are corrected.

2. The customer’s system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to an authorized representative of the Taylor municipal water department to determine whether cross-connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of these regulations, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the water system operator shall deny or immediately discontinue service to the premises by providing for a physical break in the service line until the customer has corrected the condition(s) in conformance with state and city statutes relating to plumbing and water supplies and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

3. An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on each service line to a customer’s water system at or near the property line or immediately inside the building being served; but in all cases, before the first branch line leading off the service line wherever the following conditions exist:

a. In the case of premises having an auxiliary water supply that is not or may not be of safe bacteriological or chemical quality and that is not acceptable as an additional source by the water system operator, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line, appropriate to the degree of hazard.

b. In the case of premises on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substances are handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly in the service line, appropriate to the degree of hazard. This shall include the handling of process waters and waters originating from the utility system that have been subject to deterioration in quality.

c. In the case of premises having (i) internal cross-connections that cannot be permanently corrected and controlled, or (ii) 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 dangerous cross-connections exist, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by installing an approved backflow prevention assembly on the service line.

4. The type of protective assembly required under subsections (B)(3)(a), (b) and (c) of this section shall depend upon the degree of hazard that exists as follows:

a. In the case of any premises where there is an auxiliary water supply as stated in subsection (B)(3)(a) of this section and it is not subject to any of the following rules, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.

b. In the case of any premises where there is water or substance that would be objectionable but not hazardous to health, if introduced into the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved double check valve assembly.

c. In the case of any premises where there is any material dangerous to health that is handled in such a fashion as to create an actual or potential hazard to the public water system, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly. Examples of premises where these conditions will exist include sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, chemical manufacturing plants, hospitals, mortuaries and plating plants.

d. In the case of any premises where there are “uncontrolled” cross-connections, either actual or potential, the public water system shall be protected by an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly at the service connection.

e. In the case of any premises where, because of security requirements or other prohibitions or restrictions, it is impossible or impractical to make a complete in-plant cross-connection survey, the public water system shall be protected against backflow from the premises by either an approved air-gap separation or an approved reduced-pressure principle backflow prevention assembly on each service to the premises.

f. In the case of any premises where, in the opinion of the water system operator, an undue health threat is posed because of the presence of extremely toxic substances, the water system operator may require an air-gap at the service connection to protect the public water system. This requirement will be at the discretion of the water system operator and is dependent on the degree of hazard.

5. Any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be a model and size approved by the water system operator. The term “approved backflow prevention assembly” shall mean an assembly that has been manufactured in full conformance with the standards established by the American Water Works Association titled:

a. AWWA C510-89 – Standard for Double Check Valve Backflow-Prevention Assembly; and

b. AWWA C511-89 – Standard for Reduced-Pressure Principle Backflow-Prevention Assembly;

and have met completely the laboratory and field performance specifications of the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California established by “Specification of Backflow-Prevention Assemblies,” Section 10 of the most current issue of the Manual of Cross-Connection Control.

Said AWWA and FCCHR standards and specifications have been adopted by the water system operator. Final approval shall be evidenced by a “certificate of approval” issued by an approved testing laboratory certifying full compliance with said AWWA standards and FCCHR specifications.

The following testing laboratory has been qualified by the water system operator to test and certify backflow preventers:

Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research

University of Southern California

University Park

Los Angeles, CA 90089

Testing laboratories, other than the laboratory listed above, will be added to an approved list as they are qualified by the water system operator.

Backflow preventers that may be subjected to back pressure or backsiphonage that have been fully tested and have been granted a certificate of approval by said qualified laboratory and are listed on the laboratory’s current list of approved backflow prevention assemblies may be used without further testing or qualification.

6. It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where backflow prevention assemblies are installed to have certified inspections and operational tests made at least once per year. In those instances where the water system operator deems the hazard to be great enough, certified inspections may be required at more frequent intervals. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the water user and shall be performed by a certified tester approved by the Taylor municipal water department. It shall be the duty of the water system operator to see that these tests are made in a timely manner. The customer-user shall notify the water system operator in advance when the tests are to be undertaken so that the customer-user may witness the tests if so desired. These assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the customer-user whenever said assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs and overhaul shall be kept and made available to the water system operator.

7. All presently installed backflow prevention assemblies that do not meet the requirements of this section but were approved assemblies for the purpose described herein at the time of installation and that have been properly maintained shall, except for the inspection and maintenance requirements under subsection (B)(6) of this section, be excluded from the requirements of these rules so long as the water system operator is assured that they will satisfactorily protect the utility system. Whenever the existing assembly is moved from the present location or requires more than minimum maintenance or constitutes a hazard to health, the unit shall be replaced by an approved backflow prevention assembly meeting the requirements of this section. [Ord. 44, 1995. Code 1983 § 11-11-3.]

State law reference. A.R.S. section 9-240(B)(6).