A. The test compliance date shall be established by the Utility.

B. The Utility shall notify the customer at least forty-five (45) days before the compliance date for each backflow prevention assembly.

C. The customer shall test each backflow prevention assembly at least once a year. Test intervals for any backflow prevention assembly may not exceed the compliance date established by the Utility. If an inactive water service is reactivated, the backflow prevention assembly associated with that service shall be tested if more than twelve (12) months has passed since the last test.

D. Compliance testing shall occur no more than forty-five (45) days prior to the test compliance date.

E. The customer may request in writing a change of the test compliance date for any assembly. No compliance date may be changed to be more than twelve (12) months after the most recent test.

F. If any testing reveals the assembly to be defective or that it is in improper operating condition, the customer shall perform any necessary repairs, including replacement of the assembly, which will return the assembly to proper operating condition. If an assembly is replaced, relocated or repaired, a new test shall be performed on such assembly and submitted to the Utility.

G. Each assembly shall also be tested after installation, relocation, repair, and at least annually thereafter. An assembly shall not be placed in service unless it has been tested and is functioning as designed.

H. At least fifteen (15) days before the compliance date, if the Utility has not received the required annual test information or the backflow method/device does not meet applicable codes, the Utility shall provide a second notice in writing by certified mail. The Utility must receive the required annual test report by the compliance date. It will be the customer’s responsibility to contact the Utility if the repair or replacement of an assembly cannot be completed by the compliance date. For commercial services with a backflow prevention assembly under repair or replacement, the Utility must receive a failed test form by the compliance date, describing the failure and corrective action.

I. All irrigation services with a noncompliant backflow prevention assembly shall be disconnected by five p.m. (5:00) on the day following the compliance date.

J. For commercial services with a noncompliant backflow prevention assembly, the water service may not be disconnected, but the Utility will perform the required test(s) at the customer’s expense. A hand-delivered notice will be given to the customer to alert the customer that the Utility will be on site within four (4) days to complete the test(s), and that it will be necessary to turn off the water service during the test(s). Customers who are in noncompliance will be subject to a fine as described in Section 15-23-16 – Penalties, in addition to all testing costs. The billing calculations and fees are listed in Section 15-23-15 – Fees.

K. The annual testing shall be performed by an individual certified to conduct such testing. The certification shall be approved by ADEQ. A list of certified testers registered with the Utility shall be maintained by the Utility and shall be available upon request.

L. Test procedures shall be performed as required by the ADEQ as set forth in Chapter Nine of the Manual for Cross-Connection Control, Ninth Edition, or later editions. The tester shall provide a copy of the test report to the customer and to the Utility, and shall maintain a copy for their records.

M. For all reduced pressure backflow prevention assemblies (RPA or RPDA), the Utility requires a minimum differential of 3.0 PSI between the number one check valve and the relief valve opening point.

N. The customer shall maintain records, on forms approved by the Utility, of the results of all tests and all servicing, repairs, or replacements of the backflow prevention assembly. A copy of the records shall be provided to the Utility within five (5) days after completion of the activity for which the record is made.

O. Fire systems shall not be out of service for more than eight (8) consecutive hours due to testing, maintenance or repairs. The Fire Department shall be notified immediately of any changes in fire service status.

P. The Utility may test any backflow prevention assembly at any time.

Q. The Utility will notify the tester and/or the customer for corrections of incomplete and/or erroneous test forms. Information on submitted test forms can only be changed or modified by the tester who has signed the form and is responsible for that test.

R. Test equipment shall be maintained and calibrated annually by an agency approved by the Utility as required by the Cross-Connection Control Manual. A copy of the annual equipment calibration certificates shall be submitted to the Utility to maintain equipment registration. Test equipment for backflow prevention assemblies in the Utility’s service area shall be registered with and approved by the Utility. Test equipment used on anything other than potable water backflow prevention assemblies shall not be used to test such assemblies and shall be identified as nonpotable test equipment.

S. Testers shall register with the Utility if they are conducting backflow assembly testing in the Utility’s service area. Testers shall submit a current copy of their certification or recertification upon registration. Testers, upon renewal of tester certification, shall be certified on all backflow prevention assemblies that may be used for service protection. The Utility registration issued to a backflow prevention assembly tester for testing backflow prevention assemblies in the Utility’s service area may be revoked or suspended upon certification expiration or for improper testing, maintenance, reporting or other improper or unethical practices. ((O)07-21, 03/21/2007)