Buckeye City Code 17-4-3: backflow assemblies, yearly tests, 10-day repairs and shutoff

Subsection A sets the trigger: backflow prevention is required at every user service connection when the city determines that conditions inside the user's water system could contaminate the public supply. The city "may refuse service unless backflow prevention measures as required by the city are installed."

Subsection D(1) then widens it. All existing, new or replacement service connections, "with the exception of single-family residential units, shall be fitted with backflow prevention assemblies." The assemblies are installed and continuously maintained at the customer's expense.

The rest, in short:

• Which assembly (F). The assembly goes on the consumer side, adjacent to the meter, before the first branch line. The type required "regardless of the degree of hazard" is an approved reduced pressure principle assembly, other than for a single-family residence or approved fire protection. Air gap is also accepted for contamination, plumbing and auxiliary-supply conditions.
• Permit (F(3)). Installation permits come from the building safety department before installation, and "A separate permit shall be obtained for each assembly or methods to be installed, including replacement."
• Inspection (F(4)). The person doing the work notifies the water resources department in writing that the work is ready, not less than 24 hours before inspection.
• Yearly test (E). Assemblies required to be tested or inspected at least annually are tested by the property owner or consumer at least once in each calendar year. A person currently certified as a general tester by the American Backflow Prevention Association does the inspection.
• Failed test (E(5)). The tester notifies the consumer and the city in writing. The consumer, other than a single-family residence, makes repairs "within ten (10) days," at the consumer's expense, then has the assembly retested and gives the results to the department within a reasonable time not to exceed ten days.
• Shutoff (C). Water service is terminated, following notice by the city, if an unprotected cross-connection exists, or if a required assembly has not been installed, is not working properly, or has been altered, removed or bypassed.

• Backflow. Defined in B as the reversal of flow of water or a mixture of water and other liquids, gases or other substances into municipal distribution pipes or the potable supply.
• Approved backflow prevention assembly. An assembly of the size and type approved by the water resources department, manufactured to the standards the section names and meeting the University of Southern California's laboratory and field performance specifications.
• Uniform Plumbing Code. The section defines "cross-connection" by reference to the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the city, and D(2) says an assembly does not reduce any other requirement of the currently adopted Uniform Plumbing Code. Buckeye's 15-2-4 adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code. The backflow section itself still names the UPC, so read those references as meaning the city's currently adopted plumbing code. That is a reading, not text.

Every Buckeye water connection except single-family residential units, and any connection the city finds could be contaminated from inside the customer's system. The repair clock in E(5) and the monthly fee in G also exclude single-family homes.

It does not cover a single-family home with no cross-connection hazard the city has flagged, because D(1) carves single-family units out of the blanket rule. Subsection A still lets the city require protection at any connection where it determines a risk.

A restaurant tenant. The service connection gets an RPP assembly next to the meter. The building safety permit comes first, and the department inspects after 24 hours' written notice.

A failed yearly test. The tester notifies the consumer and the city in writing. The clock to repair is ten days, not the next test cycle.

The edge case. A single-family home with an auxiliary water supply, such as a private well. D(1) exempts single-family units from the blanket rule, but F(1)(c) speaks of "any premises" with an auxiliary water supply and says the city system "shall be protected" by an air gap or an RPP assembly. Read literally, that reaches the single-family home too, so raise it with the department before assuming the exemption covers you.

1. 1Ask the city whether your connection has an assembly on record, and when its annual recertification test is due. The city keeps records on each assembly's certification status and notifies the owner in writing when one is due (E(4)).
2. 2Hire a tester who is currently certified as a general tester by the American Backflow Prevention Association (E).
3. 3Test in the same calendar year every year, and keep the record on the department's approved forms; the city keeps a copy on file (E(5)(b)).
4. 4If an assembly fails, have it repaired inside ten days and retested, then send the results to the water resources department.
5. 5For a new or replacement assembly, get the building safety permit first. The Buckeye Development User Fee Schedule effective May 21, 2026 lists "Backflow Preventer, Commercial" at 109 under Utility Permit Fees. The same schedule also has "Backflow Device" lines under Water Construction Permits in its Engineering section (80 up to and including 3 inches, 150 for greater than 3 inches), so confirm which line fits your job.

HQ Plumbing & Air tests, repairs and replaces domestic backflow assemblies. Fire-line assemblies are outside what we do.

• Myth: a passed test means you are done for the year. The section also requires the records and the city's copy.
• Myth: the repair window is generous. For non-single-family customers it is ten days.
• Myth: bypassing the assembly during repairs is fine. Subsection H allows no bypass except in a fire emergency, and says parallel assemblies are required wherever uninterrupted supply is needed.
• Myth: the city must warn you before every inspection. E says the city gives a minimum of three business days' notice of an inspection unless there is an emergency or a threat to public health, in which case no advance notice is provided.

The text above comes from Buckeye City Code 17-4-3 and 15-2-4 on Municode and the city's Development User Fee Schedule, read on 2026-10-04. This page explains them, and the official text governs.