Installation and testing of backflow-prevention assemblies.
Charlotte City Code § 23-173
in effectSec. 23-173. - Installation and testing of backflow-prevention assemblies.
(a) All backflow-prevention assemblies must be installed and maintained on the customer's premises as part of the customer's water system at or near the service connection and before the service line from the service connection is connected to any other pipe except as otherwise expressly provided. The purpose of this section is to require that all water flowing from the public water system into a private water system must flow through an approved backflow-prevention assembly and that each backflow-prevention assembly be properly located, installed, maintained and tested so that the backflow-prevention assembly is effective in protecting the public water system from any possible contamination or pollution.
(b) Each backflow-prevention assembly required by this article must be installed in accordance with this article, the manufacturer's installation instructions and such additional instructions as may be provided by CMU. Reduced-pressure principle assemblies and pressure vacuum breakers must be installed in a horizontal position and in a location in which no portion of the assembly can become submerged under any circumstances.
(c) Each backflow-prevention assembly required by this article must be functioning properly when installed. Each customer must test, maintain and repair each required backflow-prevention assembly which is part of the customer's private water system. Such test as may be prescribed by CMU must be conducted by a certified tester on each backflow-prevention assembly required by this article at each of the following times:
(1) Immediately after the installation of each backflow-prevention assembly;
(2) On an annual basis thereafter;
(3) Upon completing the repair of each backflow-prevention assembly; and
(4) At any time that CMU has reason to believe that a required backflow-prevention assembly may not be operating properly.
Each customer must maintain a complete, written record of every repair and test of a required backflow-prevention assembly which is part of such customer's private water system for at least seven years. A copy of the record for each test or repair must be sent to CMU by such customer within 30 days after the completion of each test or repair. Such records must be maintained on forms approved by CMU.
(d) Within ten days after the installation of each required backflow-prevention assembly in a customer's private water system, the customer must provide such information on the installation and testing of such assembly as CMU may require. Such information must be provided on a form approved by CMU.
(e) If a customer does not wish for water service to be interrupted when a backflow-prevention assembly is tested, repaired or replaced, a parallel installation of an approved backflow-prevention assembly must be made in accordance with this article.
(f) Each backflow-prevention assembly required by this article must be accessible to CMU.
(g) Each backflow-prevention assembly required to be installed by this article must be approved by CMU. A list of approved backflow-prevention assemblies must be maintained by CMU. The installation of any backflow-prevention assembly which is not approved must be replaced with an approved backflow-prevention assembly.
(h) Upon a determination that a backflow-prevention assembly is required to be installed in a customer's private water system, the customer will be notified of the approved backflow-prevention assembly which is required and will have the following time periods within which to install the specified backflow-prevention assembly:
Assembly | Number of Days
Air-gap separation | 30
Reduced-pressure principle assembly (¾″—2″) | 30
Double-checkvalve assembly (¾″—2″) | 30
Reduced-pressure principle assembly (2½″ and larger) | 60
Double-checkvalve assembly (2½″ and larger) | 60
Other approved backflow-prevention assembly | 30
Notwithstanding this section, the director may require the installation of the required backflow-prevention assembly immediately or within a shorter time period than specified in order to protect the public water system from an existing hazard, an imminent hazard or from any other condition posing an unreasonable threat of contamination or pollution to the public water system.
(i) An air-gap separation need not be installed at or near the service connection in all cases but must be installed at a location approved by CMU in addition to any other backflow-prevention assembly required by this article.
(j) Upon a determination by CMU that the installation of a backflow-prevention assembly at or near the service connection would create a substantial hardship upon a customer, CMU may approve the installation of one or more backflow-prevention assemblies at such location as will provide substantially equivalent protection for the public water system.
(k) If repairs are needed to any required backflow-prevention assembly which is part of a customer's private water system, the customer must complete such repairs as soon as possible after learning of the need for such repairs and in any event within ten days for a private water system which is considered a high hazard and 20 days for any other private water system unless an extension of time is approved by CMU.
(l) It is unlawful for any person to submit any record to CMU which is false or incomplete in any material respect. It is unlawful for any person to fail to submit to CMU any record which such person is required by this article to submit to CMU.
(Code 1985, § 23-102; Ord. No. 2264, § 5, 3-24-2003)
Source: City of Charlotte, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/charlotte/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23WASEINWADIRE_ARTVBAPRCRCOCO_S23-173INTEBAEVASFetched: 10/27/2026