City Code Section
- Water through a fire service may be used only for fire protection and suppression, and requires periodic system testing at the premises being served. It is unlawful to use a fire protection service for domestic supply, maintenance, irrigation or any other purpose.
- A fire service 2 inches or larger that supplies only a fire system must be equipped with a detector metering device that is part of the backflow prevention assembly. This assembly must be installed and maintained by the property owner. A service that supplies water for multiple needs, such as for domestic use and for fire suppression, must be fully metered and must comply with the requirements of Section 21.12.030.
- Backflow protection that complies with Section 21.12.320 is required on all fire services.
- To avoid unauthorized use of a fire system, the Portland Water Bureau requires the property owner to install an approved full-flow meter under the following conditions:
- A. The existing detector metering device registers use of water for purposes other than to extinguish a fire or to test the system or
- B. Connections have been added where only a detector-metered backflow assembly exists.
- When full-flow metering is required because of unauthorized use, the Portland Water Bureau will charge the property owner for installing the meter and/or the meter vault and will assess a System Development Charge based on the size of the service. The Portland Water Bureau policy for additional charges for unauthorized use of water from a fire protection system is established in Section 21.16.200.