Does every Surprise commercial connection need a backflow device?

Subsection (a) is the one that settles most questions: "An approved backflow device shall be installed on all commercial and industrial connections to the city owned public drinking water systems." No list, no size threshold. If the connection is commercial or industrial, a device goes on it.

The rest of the section widens the net and sets the clock:

• (b), the city's judgment: a device is required on any service where "in the judgment of the city" it is necessary to protect the city's water system.
• (c), 45 days: if the city requires a device, the water customer must have an approved device installed, tested, and documented to the city "within 45 days of being informed of the requirement," unless the city determines a more timely response is required.
• (d), premises that get one: auxiliary water supply the city has not approved; a business in a residential zone that the city finds, on inspection or plan review, needs one; handling of any substance that may create a hazard; internal cross-connections the city judges not correctable; premises where a full cross-connection survey is impossible or impractical; and premises with a repeated history of cross-connections.
• (e), named facilities: the list "but not limited to" includes industrial users, hospitals, mortuaries, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, food or beverage processing plants, chemical plants, car washes and water trucks.

For the premises in (d), Section 58-261 ties the type to the hazard. Where the supply may be contaminated with something that could cause a health hazard, the choice is an air gap or a reduced pressure principle assembly. Where the hazard is pollution "not dangerous to health," a double check valve assembly is also allowed.

• Backflow device: the city's Cross-Connection page calls it "any effective approved assembly used to prevent backflow into a potable water system."
• Cross-connection: the same page says it is "any unprotected actual or potential connection between the consumer water system and city's potable water system."
• Commercial and industrial connection: the section does not define either word. The ordinary reading is any non-residential service. Treat that as a reading, not a definition from the code.

Every commercial and industrial connection, whether you own the building or lease the space. Homes are not covered by (a). A home needs a device only if the city's judgment under (b) or one of the (d) conditions applies. Separately, 58-263 says a booster pump on a service line "to/or within any premise" must have a reduced pressure principle assembly on its suction side, home or business.

A new restaurant in a strip center. The space has a commercial water connection, so (a) applies without the owner having to match anything on the (e) list. Which assembly type the city expects is a question for Water Resource Management before anything is ordered.

A tenant takes over a dental office. The previous tenant's device may already be on the line. The question to ask the landlord is who has the last test report, because 58-255 says devices are inspected and tested "upon installation, annually or as requested by the city."

The edge case: a home business. A bakery run from a house in a residential zone is not a commercial connection under (a). Under (d)(2) the city decides, on inspection or plan review, whether the site needs a device. If it does, the 45-day clock in (c) starts when the customer is informed, and the same subsection lets the city require a faster response, so read the notice for its own date before counting 45.

1. 1Find out whether a device already exists on your service line and when it was last tested. Ask the property owner for the last test report.
2. 2If the city has sent a notice, write down the date you were informed and count 45 days from it, unless the notice gives a shorter deadline.
3. 3Choose a tester from the city's Recognized Certified Backflow Testers list, which is posted on the Backflow Assembly Testers page.
4. 4Have the device installed, tested and documented to the city within the deadline. Questions go to Water Resource Management at backflow@surpriseaz.gov or 623-222-6000.
5. 5Put the next annual test on the calendar the day the first one passes.
6. 6If the building is new, ask the city when the meter will be set. The city's owner page says a device must be tested within 48 hours after the city sets the meter.

• Assuming restaurants are exempt because they are not on the list. The list says "but not limited to," and (a) covers all commercial connections anyway.
• Treating 45 days as a promise. It is the default, and the city can require faster action.
• Thinking one test ends it. Section 58-255 calls for testing at installation, annually or as the city requests.
• Assuming the assembly type is a free choice. For the premises in (d), Section 58-261 ties the type to the degree of hazard, so a lower-protection assembly is not always an option.

Section 58-265 lets the city "deny, discontinue, or disconnect water service after reasonable notice" where a required device is not installed, tested, maintained or repaired as required, has been bypassed or removed, or an unprotected cross-connection exists. A reconnection fee may be required, and the customer responsible for a backflow situation bears the cost of corrective action.

The rule is Surprise Municipal Code Sec. 58-260 on Municode, with 58-261 and 58-265 alongside it. HQ tests and repairs domestic backflow assemblies for commercial customers. This is an explanation, and the code text governs.