§ 13.05.050. Prohibited connections and requirements.

A.

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 Massachusetts state laws and regulations and this chapter. Service of water to any premises shall be discontinued by the city if a backflow prevention assembly required by this chapter and Massachusetts law is not installed, tested and maintained, or if it 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.

B.

The customer system should be open for inspection at all reasonable times to authorized representatives of the city to determine whether cross connections or other structural or sanitary hazards, including violations of this chapter, exist. When such a condition becomes known, the city 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 the department of environmental protection regulations and this chapter relating to cross connections.

C.

No person shall construct or install or contract with another person for the construction or installation of any air gap separation with tank and pump arrangement, reduced pressure backflow preventer, or double check value assembly required by the department of environmental protection or this chapter unless a design data sheet with plans showing the method of protection of the city public water supply has been approved by the city for the installation of such device.

D.

Prior to the installation of any pressure or atmospheric vacuum breaker, backflow preventer with intermediate atmospheric vent, or barometric loop, the plans and specifications for the plumbing work must receive a permit issued pursuant to 248 CMR 2.04(3) by the plumbing inspector. For these devices, a plumbing permit issued under 248 CMR. 2.04(3) shall constitute installation approval pursuant to these regulations.

E.

Any person owning or occupying any premises where a cross connection is present shall apply annually to the city for a permit for each reduced pressure backflow preventer and double check valve assembly installed on the premises. Applicants for the annual permit must be made on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection permit application form on or before January 1st of each year. Applications must be accompanied by the appropriate permit fee and the owner inspection and maintenance report form.

F.

The Department of Environmental Protection shall revoke any approval or permit for any installation or change in installation of any backflow prevention device which is found to be in noncompliance with 310 CMR 22.22.

G.

It shall be the duty of the customer-user at any premises where backflow prevention devices are installed to have certified inspections performed on reduced pressure backflow devices twice each year by the city, and double check valve assemblies shall have certified inspections performed once each year by the city. In those instances where the city deems the hazard to be great enough, the city may require certified inspections at more frequent intervals. These inspections and tests shall be at the expense of the customer and shall be performed by the city or its agents. These assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced by the customer, at the customer's expense, whenever such assemblies are found to be defective. Records of such tests, repairs or overhaul shall be kept and made available to the city.

(C.O.07-23 § 1 (part))