A. Water System Survey.

1. The city of Columbia Falls water department may review any request for new service to determine if backflow protection is needed. Plans and specifications must be submitted to the city of Columbia Falls water department upon request for review of possible cross-connection hazards as a condition of service for new service connections. If the city of Columbia Falls water department determines that a backflow prevention assembly is necessary to protect the public water system, the required assembly must be installed before service will be granted. In addition, where multiple water systems exist on the user’s premises, pipelines shall be identified by the user to clearly distinguish between the systems. This will be done in a manner acceptable to the city of Columbia Falls water department. Outlets of water systems shall be posted as deemed necessary to protect the potable water supply and the health of the public.

2. The city of Columbia Falls water department will conduct surveys of the customers’ premises in order to eliminate existing cross-connections. These surveys will be conducted on a priority basis, generally beginning with those identified as having the highest degree of hazard as outlined in Section 5 of the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research Manual of Cross-Connection Control, 9th Edition.

3. The city of Columbia Falls water department may, at its discretion, require an inspection or re-inspection for cross-connection hazards on any premise to which it serves water. Conditions that warrant re-inspection may include, but are not limited to: change of ownership, change of business/use, addition or replacement of equipment, a backflow incident, etc. Any water user who cannot or will not allow an on-premise inspection of his piping system shall be required to install the backflow prevention assembly the city of Columbia Falls water department considers necessary.

B. Customer Notification--Assembly Installation.

1. The city of Columbia Falls water department will notify the water user of the survey findings, listing any corrective actions to be taken. A period of sixty days will be given to complete all corrective actions required, including installation of backflow prevention assemblies.

2. A second notice will be sent to each water user who does not take the required corrective actions prescribed in the first notice within the sixty day period allowed. The second notice will give the water user a two week period to take the required corrective action. If no action is taken within the two week period, the city of Columbia Falls water department may terminate water service to the affected water user until the required corrective actions are taken and inspected by the city of Columbia Falls water department personnel.

C. Customer Notification--Testing and Maintenance. The city of Columbia Falls water department will notify each affected water user when it is time for the backflow prevention assembly installed on their service connection to be tested. This written notice shall give the water user thirty days to have the assembly tested. A second notice shall be sent to each user who does not have their backflow prevention assembly tested as prescribed in the first notice within the thirty day period allowed. The second notice will give the water user a two week period to have their backflow prevention assembly tested. If no action is taken within the two week period, the city of Columbia Falls water department may terminate water service to the affected water user until the backflow assembly is tested and/or repaired and the necessary forms are submitted to the city of Columbia Falls water department. (Ord. 624 § 1(part), 2000)