18.07.050 Procedure of abatement of unlawful cross-connection and installation of backflow prevention assemblies.
Cross-connections declared in BMC 18.07.020 to be unlawful, whether presently existing or hereinafter installed, and/or services requiring backflow prevention assemblies, and/or unlawful use or operation of a private water supply system served by the city’s water supply system, shall be subject to abatement in accordance with the following procedure:
A. In the event that the public works director determines that an unlawful cross-connection exists, the public works director or the director’s designee shall provide written notice to the property owner or, alternatively, a copy of such written notice shall be posted on the premises served.
B. The notice shall provide that the unlawful cross-connection shall be corrected within 30 days of the date such notice is mailed or posted on the premises.
C. In the event such unlawful cross-connection is not abated within the prescribed time, water service to said premises may be shut off immediately or, if the public works director or the director’s designee determines that service should not be interrupted, the city may hire a contractor to abate the unlawful cross-connection as required by the city, including the installation of a backflow prevention device. In such event, the city shall bill the property owner for all cost incurred. The city shall provide written notice to the property owner after 10 days in default; subsequent to the 10 days the city shall have the right to lien the real property and commence foreclosure proceedings pursuant to BMC 18.06.340 to collect such amount.
D. In the event of an unlawful cross-connection, the public works director or the director’s designee may terminate the service from the city water supply system to the premises without prior notice; provided, however, that notice shall be posted on the premises in the manner heretofore described at the time said service is terminated; provided further, that the purveyor shall notify the Washington State Department of Health when a water service has been shut off pursuant to this section.
E. Any new service with unlawful cross-connections shall be refused water service by the city until such time as the prospective service customer has installed a backflow prevention assembly as required by the city.
F. Fee for initial installation would require the owner to obtain a plumbing permit at a base cost established by resolution of the city. (Ord. 2090 § 1 (Exh. A), 2012; Ord. 1634 § 1, 1996).