Protection against polluted water.
Columbus City Codes § 1113.01
in effect1113.01 - Protection against polluted water.
(A) If, in the opinion of the administrator of the Division of Water or designees, an approved backflow prevention device is necessary for the safety of the public water system, the administrator of the Division of Water will give notice to the water consumer to install such an approved device immediately. The water consumer shall, at the water consumer's own expense, install an approved device at a location and in a manner approved by the administrator of the Division of Water and shall have inspections and tests made of such approved device as required by the administrator of the Division of Water.
(B) No person, firm or corporation shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any connection whereby a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the City of Columbus, Ohio may enter the supply or distribution system of said municipality.
(C) The Division of Water shall make surveys and investigations of industrial and other properties served by the public water supply where actual or potential hazards to the public water system may exist. Such surveys and investigations shall be made a matter of public record and shall be repeated as often as the administrator of the Division of Water shall deem necessary.
(D) The administrator of the Division of Water or a duly authorized representative shall have the right to enter any property served by a connection to the city's water supply for the purpose of inspecting the piping system or systems thereof. On request, the owner, lessees or occupants of any property so served shall furnish to the administrator of the Division of Water any information, which the administrator may deem necessary, regarding the piping system or systems or water use on such property. The refusal of such information or entry, when requested, shall, within the discretion of the administrator of the Division of Water, be deemed evidence of the presence of improper connections.
(E) The administrator of the Division of Water shall be authorized to discontinue, after due notice to the occupants thereof, the water service to any property where any connection in violation of the provisions of this section is known to exist, and to take such other precautionary measures as the administrators may deem necessary to eliminate any danger to the city's water supply distribution system. Water service to such property shall not be restored until any such dangerous conditions have been eliminated or corrected in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(F) The Director of Columbus Water & Power shall have the authority as may be necessary in the interest of public safety, health, and general welfare to promulgate rules and regulations, to interpret and implement the provisions of this section and to secure the intent therefor.
(Ord. 478-92; Ord. 422-06 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 0139-2011, § 1, 3-7-2011; Ord. No. 2398-2012, § 7, 12-3-2012; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021; Ord. No. 1882-2026, § 1, 6-29-2026)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT11WASEELCO_CH1113OFPEWASU_1113.01PRAGPOWAFetched: 10/27/2026