TOWN OF PAYSON WATER DEPARTMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTION PROGRAM CUSTOMER INFORMATION PACKAGE
TOWN OF PAYSON Backflw Preventin Prgram Develpers, Cntractrs and Paysn Residents: An apprved backflw preventin assembly may be required n yur water service line(s) t prtect the public water system frm the pssibility f cntaminatin. The assemblies, required by State and lcal regulatins are nt needed n mst single family residential water services, but are required fr mst industrial, cmmercial, irrigatin and fire sprinkler service cnnectins. This infrmatin package is designed t explain the Twn f Paysn s Backflw Preventin Prgram and prvide yu with infrmatin yu will need t install and test yur backflw preventin assemblies. Inside yu will find the fllwing infrmatin: Crss Cnnectins Can Create Health Hazards: General backflw preventin infrmatin. Prgram: Outlines custmer and Paysn Water Department s respnsibilities fr backflw preventin. Installatin & Testing: Lists steps necessary fr installatin and testing. Freeze Prtectin: A list f manufacturers wh prduce heating devices and lcking enclsures t safeguard yur assemblies. Clsed Water System Infrmatin: an explanatin f ht water heater leak, rupture r explsin hazard Test Prcedures: general infrmatin abut selecting a certified tester Fire: Special infrmatin relating t fire services and systems. Standard Details and Apprved Assemblies: Paysn Water Department Standard Details fr assembly installatin and infrmatin n currently apprved assemblies. Testers: A directry f Paysn Water Department apprved Certified Backflw Testers. This list is presented in randm rder. Yu may want t verify current registratin f the cntractr with the Paysn Water Department befre wrk is perfrmed. If yu have any questins abut the Backflw Preventin Prgram, please call (928) 472-5103.
Crss Cnnectins Can Create Health Hazards The Twn f Paysn Water Department is cmmitted t the delivery f safe and healthful water that we all expect t find thrughut ur cmmunity. Thrugh a carefully managed prcess we treat and test the water supply s that it is always clean and safe t drink befre it is delivered t ur hmes, schls, medical facilities and businesses. Drinking water systems may becme cntaminated in the distributin system thrugh uncntrlled crss cnnectins. A crss cnnectin means any actual r ptential physical cnnectin between a public water system r the cnsumer s water system and any surce f nn-ptable liquid, slid r gas that culd cntaminate the ptable water supply by backflw. Backflw is the flw f water (r ther slid, liquid, r gas frm any surce) back int the ptable water system. Backflw may be due t either backsiphnage r backpressure. Backsiphnage is backflw caused by a negative pressure (vacuum r partial vacuum) in the supply piping. This ccurs when system pressure is reduced belw atmspheric pressure. The effect is similar t sipping water thrugh a straw. Backpressure is backflw caused by pressure in the custmer s plumbing being greater than the pressure in the water supply piping. The high pressure in the custmer s plumbing may be frm a bster pump, heating biler, etc. Crss cnnectins are pssible in all plumbing systems. It is imprtant that each crss cnnectin be identified and evaluated as t the type f backflw prtectin required t prtect the drinking water supply. Sme plumbing fixtures have built-in backflw prtectin in the frm f a physical air gap. Hwever, mst crss cnnectins will need t be cntrlled thrugh the installatin f an apprved mechanical backflw preventin device r assembly. Sme cmmn crss cnnectins fund in plumbing and water systems include: 1. Wash basins and service sinks. 2. Outside spigts. 3. Irrigatin sprinkler systems. 4. Auxiliary water supplies/private wells. 5. Labratry and aspiratr equipment. 6. Pht develping equipment. 7. Prcessing tanks. 8. Bilers. 9. Water recirculatin systems. 10. Swimming pls. 11. Slar heat systems. 12. Fire sprinkler systems. Plumbing cdes and State drinking water regulatins require crss cnnectins t be cntrlled by apprved methds (physical air gap) r apprved mechanical backflw preventin devices r assemblies. The varius types f mechanical backflw preventers include: reduced pressure backflw assembly (RPBA), reduced pressure detectr assembly (RPDA), duble check valve assembly (DCVA), duble check detectr assembly (DCDA), pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVBA), spill resistant vacuum breaker assembly (SVBA) and atmspheric vacuum breaker (AVB). Fr a backflw preventer t prvide prper prtectin, it must be apprved fr backflw prtectin, designed fr the degree f hazard and backflw it is cntrlling, installed crrectly, tested annually by a State-certified tester, and repaired as necessary. Sme states require mandatry backflw prtectin n certain facilities where high risk, health hazard crss cnnectins are nrmally fund. The Twn f Paysn Water Department s backflw preventin prgram has been established t infrm custmers when a backflw assembly device is necessary and t supply infrmatin fr prper installatin and annual testing f the devices. If yu have any questins r need additinal infrmatin, yu may cntact us at (928) 472-5103.
BACKFLOW PREVENTION PROGRAM Custmer Respnsibilities Installatin f Apprved Backflw Assembly Maintenance, Repair and Annual Testing f Assembly Paysn Water Department Respnsibilities Prtectin f Water System Enfrcement f Laws, Ordinances and Cdes Maintenance f Backflw Preventin Prgram Inspectins and Surveys f Custmer Water Systems Maintain Inventry and Service Recrds f All Backflw Preventin Assemblies
INSTALLATION & TESTING INSTALLATION OF A BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: STEP 1) Inspectins Required: Install required assemblies and call the Backflw Preventin Staff at (928) 472-5103,t schedule an inspectin. a) Inspectin by the Paysn Water Department fr crrect installatin by custmer f the required backflw device (Use Attached Twn f Paysn Standard Details). b) Inspectin fr adequate clearance frm bstructins t permit prper testing. * The Twn f Paysn will specify what types f assemblies are needed t prtect each service cnnectin during the plan review prcess. Specific lcatins f installed assemblies must be reprted t the Water Department fr testing and recrdkeeping purpses. Assemblies must be installed as clse t the service cnnectin (dwnstream side f the water meter) as practical, unless an alternate installatin lcatin has been apprved by the Paysn Water Department. (Twn f Paysn cde,chapter 50, Sectin 50.31.) [State f Arizna Administrative Cde - Title 18, R18-4-115] STEP 2) Testing Requirements: a) After the installatin inspectin and apprval, each backflw preventin assembly must be tested by a certified cntractr prir t active use (refer t attached list f backflw preventin assembly general testers). Water service will be discntinued if backflw assemblies are nt prperly tested prir t ccupancy! b) Submit test reprts t the Paysn Water Department after cmpletin f the tests (Use Attached Frm) at the fllwing address: Attentin: Backflw Preventin Prgram Twn f Paysn Water Department 303A Nrth Beeline Highway Paysn, Arizna 85541 c) Annual testing f each assembly is required. Reminder ntices will be sent by the Water Department. FREEZE PROTECTION FOR BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES
If a backflw preventin assembly is installed in a lcatin subject t freezing weather r damage, it must be prtected t prevent damage and t ensure prper peratin. Several manufacturers f enclsures designed t prtect assemblies frm freeze and theft damage are listed belw: 1) Bud s Plumbing (928) 474-4441 2) Central Arizna Supply (928) 474-3516 3) Backflw Preventin Device InnClsures 1-800-266-5411 4) Ht Bx frm Ht Bx-NFE, Inc. 1-800-736-0238 4) G & C Enclsures 1-888-753-6565 Facility wners may install assemblies inside the building with apprval frm the Backflw Preventin Sectin f the Paysn Water Department at (928) 472-5103.
CLOSED WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION WARNING - HOT WATER HEATER LEAK, RUPTURE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD! Nrmally, cld water flws int yur facility frm yur water service line and fills yur ht water heater. Then, as the water is heated, it expands and flws back ut thrugh the pipe twards the water meter. As lng as the flw f the expanded water is nt blcked, the water pressure in the service line remains nrmal. Hwever, when a backflw preventer is installed, the ht expanded water can n lnger escape ut thrugh the water meter. In this case, the nly way t prevent excessive heat and pressure frm building up in the service line is t install a temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve n the water heater and an expansin tank t the water system (1991 Unifrm Plumbing Cde- Sectin 1007). Other frms f added prtectin include tilet tank relief valves and in-line relief valves. The T&P relief valve shuld be checked regularly t ensure that it is functining prperly. This test shuld be perfrmed n an annual basis when the backflw preventin assembly is tested. If yu have any questins, please cntact the Backflw Preventin Office at (928) 472-5103.
TOWN OF PAYSON BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TEST PROCEDURES Selecting A Certified General Tester A list f certified testers recgnized by the Twn f Paysn has been attached t assist yu in selecting a qualified cntractr t test yur assemblies. These cntractrs have submitted cpies f Twn f Paysn Business Licenses, general tester certificates, and test equipment calibratin recrds that are filed at the Paysn Water Department. Althugh every effrt is made by Twn staff t update this list n a regular basis, it may nt include recent changes. Therefre, ask the cntractr abut their current registratin with the Paysn Water Department befre wrk is perfrmed. Yu are respnsible fr selecting a qualified cntractr and fr submitting the test results fr yur assemblies n time t the Twn f Paysn Water Department. Prices charged fr installatin, testing and/r repair f assemblies culd vary widely between cntractrs. S, fr yur wn prtectin, carefully check service csts and qualificatins befre emplying a cntractr fr yur assemblies. Generally, testing csts range frm apprximately $40-90 fr each assembly. If needed, repairs are usually prvided at an additinal cst. Test Reprt Frms Fr every assembly that is tested, the riginal reprt frm must be returned t this ffice at the address listed belw: Twn f Paysn Water Department Backflw Preventin Department 303A Nrth Beeline Highway Paysn, Arizna 85541 (928) 472-5103 Reprts that are incmplete, illegible r incrrect will nt be accepted. New Assembly Installatins All new backflw preventin assemblies used fr service prtectin must be installed at the service cnnectin (generally, immediately dwnstream f the water meter) r near the prperty line and in all cases befre the first branch leading ff the service line. A certified tester must test all new assemblies befre the Twn will issue any final inspectin apprvals. Return the riginal test reprt t this ffice at the address listed abve. The pink cpy is fr the custmer and the yellw cpy is fr the certified tester.
FIRE SERVICES AND SYSTEMS Class 1 and 2 fire systems are nt currently required t have any backflw preventin equipment at the service cnnectin ther than the equipment that is required fr thse systems under the state fire cde standards. Class 3 fires systems may be cnverted t Class 1 r 2 systems by remving the tank. Hwever, yu must have the apprval f the fire authrity. Cntact yur fire authrity prir t making any changes t yur existing fire system. If the system cannt be mdified, a backflw assembly will be required. Class 4 and 5 must cmply with backflw requirements. Class 5 includes thse fire systems that use antifreeze r ther additives (RPDA required). Class 6 fire systems require an n-site review t determine backflw requirements.