§ 28-153. Requirements.

Cross connections are prohibited unless appropriate backflow protection is provided to prevent backflow through the cross connection into the public water system. Appropriate backflow protection for various applications is described in "Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control": American Water Works Association (AWWA) Manual M14, Third Edition 2004 and as subsequently amended in Rule 62-555.330 Florida Administrative Code (FAC) and the requirements as follows:

(a)

An approved backflow prevention assembly or means, appropriate to the degree of hazard, shall be installed on each service connection to a customer's water system as close as practical to the city water meter at or near the property line and in all cases before the first branch line leading off the service line, wherever the following conditions exist:

(1)

For premises using an auxiliary water [supply].

(2)

For premises on which any industrial fluids or any other objectionable substances may be stored or handled that may create an actual or potential hazard to the public water supply or utility system.

(3)

For premises having internal cross connections, intricate plumbing or piping arrangements.

(4)

For premises where entry to all portions of the premises is not readily accessible or practical for inspection purposes.

(5)

For premises in which backpressure may be generated in the customer's system.

(6)

All dedicated irrigation services.

(7)

All dedicated fire services.

(8)

All properties and businesses identified in the City of Fort Lauderdale's cross connection control plan by business tax codes as defined in section 15-57 and F.A.C. 62-555.360.2.

(9)

Temporary connections.

(b)

The type of backflow prevention assembly or means required under subsection (a) above, shall be determined by the degree of hazard that may exist, the facility type, business operation, customer category or business tax code as follows:

Category of customer	Minimum backflow protection to be provided at or for the service connection from the city to the customer
Beverage processing/bottling plant, including any brewery	Double check valve assembly (DC) if the plant presents a non-health hazard (low hazard) Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) if the plant presents a health hazard (high hazard)
Cannery, packing house, rendering plant, or any facility where fruit, vegetable, or animal matter is processed, restaurants, or food service facility	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Car wash	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Chemical plant or facility using water in the manufacturing, processing, compounding, or treatment of chemicals, including any facility where a chemical that does not meet the requirements in paragraph 62-555.320(3)(a), F.A.C., is used as an additive to the water	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Dairy, creamery, ice cream plant, cold-storage plant, or ice manufacturing plant	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP). A double check valve assembly (DC) may be provided if it was installed before 5-5-14; and if such a double check valve assembly (DC) is replaced on or after 5-5-14, it may be replaced with another double check valve assembly (DC)
Dye plant	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Film laboratory or processing facility or film manufacturing plant, excluding any small, noncommercial darkroom facility	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Hospital; medical research center; sanitarium; autopsy facility; medical, dental, or veterinary clinic where surgery is performed; or plasma center	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Laboratory, excluding any laboratory at an elementary, middle, or high school	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Laundry (commercial), excluding any self-service laundry or laundromat	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Marine repair facility, marine cargo handling facility, or boat moorage	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Metal manufacturing, cleaning, processing, or fabricating facility using water in any of its operation or processes, including any aircraft or automotive manufacturing or repair facility	Double check (DC) if the facility presents a non-health hazard (low hazard) Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP) if the facility presents a health hazard (high hazard)
Mortuary	Reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly (RP)
Premises where oil or gas is produced, developed, processed, blended, stored, refined, or transmitted in a pipeline or where oil or gas tanks are repaired or tested, excluding any premises where there is only a fuel dispensing facility	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Premises where there is an auxiliary or reclaimed water system	At or for a residential service connection: Dual check valve (DuC) At or for a non-residential service connection:  • Double check valve assembly (DC) if the auxiliary or reclaimed water is a low hazard 2,3 ; or  • Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) if the auxiliary or reclaimed water is a high hazard 2,3
Premises where there is a cooling tower	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Premises where there is an irrigation system that is using potable water and that:   I. Is connected directly to the public water system distribution system via a dedicated irrigation service connection	I. At or for a residential or non-residential dedicated irrigation service connection: Pressure vacuum breaker assembly (PVB) if backpressure cannot develop in the downstream piping, or reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) if backpressure could develop in the downstream piping
II. Is connected internally to the customer's plumbing system	II. None
Premises where there is a wet-pipe sprinkler, or wet standpipe, fire protection system that is using potable water and that:   I. Is connected directly to the public water system distribution system via a dedicated fire service connection	I.A. At or for a residential dedicated fire service connection: Dual check valve (DuC) if the fire protection system contains no chemical additives and is not connected to an auxiliary water system; or reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) or RPDA if the fire protection system contains chemical additives or is connected to an auxiliary water system   I.B. At or for a non-residential dedicated fire service connection : Double check valve assembly (DC) or DCDA if the fire protection system contains no chemical additives and is not connected to an auxiliary water system; or reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) or reduced pressure principle detector backflow-prevention assembly (RPDA) if the fire protection system contains chemical additives or is connected to an auxiliary water system
II. Is connected internally to the customer's plumbing system	II. None
Radioactive material processing or handling facility or nuclear reactor	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Paper products plant using a wet process	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Plating facility, including any aircraft or automotive manufacturing plant	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Restricted-access facility	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Steam boiler plant	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Tall building—i.e., a building with four or more floors at or above ground level	Double check valve assembly (DC) if the customer has no potable water distribution lines connected to the suction side of a booster pump; or reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) if the customer has one or more potable water distribution lines connected to the suction side of a booster pump
Wastewater treatment plant or wastewater pumping station	Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP)
Customer supplied with potable water via a temporary or permanent service connection from a fire hydrant	Double check valve assembly (DC) if the hazard present is a non-health hazard (low hazard) Reduced pressure principle backflow-prevention assembly (RP) or air gap (AG) if the hazard present is a health hazard (high hazard)

 

⁽¹⁾  A DuC may be provided only if there is no known cross-connection between the plumbing system and the auxiliary or reclaimed water system on the customer's premises. Upon discovery of any cross-connection between the plumbing system and any reclaimed water system on the customer's premises, the cross-connection shall be eliminated. Upon discovery of any cross-connection between the plumbing system and any auxiliary water system other than a reclaimed water system on the customer's premises, the cross-connection shall be eliminated or backflow protection be provided at or for the service connection that is equal to that required at or for a non-residential service connection.

⁽²⁾  ;hg;Reclaimed water regulated under Part III of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C., is a low hazard unless it is stored with surface water in a pond that is part of a stormwater management system, in which case it is a high hazard; well water is a low hazard unless determined otherwise; industrial fluids and used water other than reclaimed water are high hazards unless determined otherwise; reclaimed water not regulated under Part III of Chapter 62-610, F.A.C., and surface water are high hazards.

⁽³⁾  ;hg;Upon discovery of any cross-connection between the plumbing system and any reclaimed water system on the customer's premises, the cross-connection shall be eliminated.

⁽⁴⁾  ;hg;A DC may be provided if both of the following conditions are met:

  a. The dedicated irrigation service connection initially was constructed before May 5, 2014.

  b. No chemicals are fed into the irrigation system.

⁽⁵⁾  Internal backflow protection may be required under the Florida Building Code or the predecessor state plumbing code, but such internal backflow protection is not inspected/tested and maintained the same as backflow protection provided at or for service connections.

⁽⁶⁾  Upon discovery of any cross-connection between the fire protection system and any reclaimed water system on the customer's premises, the cross-connection shall be eliminated.

⁽⁷⁾  An exception to the requirement for backflow protection at or for a residential or non-residential dedicated fire service connection to a wet-pipe sprinkler, or wet stand pipe, fire protection system. If both of the following conditions are met:

  • The fire protection system was installed and last altered before May 5, 2014; and

  • The fire protection system contains no chemical additives and is not connected to an auxiliary water system.

The type of any backflow prevention assembly required herein shall be subject to the approval of the director of public works.

(c)

All owners with premises requiring a backflow prevention assembly in accordance with this Code shall obtain a permit from the department of sustainable development (DSD) for the initial installation or relocation of the backflow prevention assembly and pay applicable fees.

(d)

Periodic certifications. All existing RPs, RPDAs, DCs, DCDAs, and PVBs, shall be inspected, tested, and certified upon installation, by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester. The tester shall complete a backflow prevention assembly field test report (available on line) and deliver the completed report to the director of public works. Backflow prevention assemblies for non-residential service connections shall be tested annually on a calendar basis thereafter and two (2) RPZs in series shall be tested biannually (every six (6) months). Residential service connections shall be tested biennially (i.e., every two (2) years on a calendar basis) or more frequently if deemed necessary by the city. All air gaps (AGs) shall be inspected annually.

(e)

All owners with premises requiring a backflow prevention assembly in accordance with this chapter shall:

(1)

Obtain recertification of the backflow prevention assembly from a backflow prevention assembly tester.

(2)

Provide a fully complete "backflow prevention assembly field test report" to the director of public works or third party vendor monitoring compliance that indicates the backflow prevention assembly has been tested and found to be operating in accordance with the industry's specifications as provided by the AWWA, ASSE, and USC-FCCCHR.

(3)

Pay a forty-five dollar ($45.00) backflow recertification administration fee to the city for each backflow prevention assembly at the same premises. The backflow recertification administrative fees shall be paid to the director of public works or third party vendor monitoring compliance.

(Ord. No. C-93-50, § 1, 7-20-93; Ord. No. C-15-17, § 4, 4-21-15 )