HomeMy WebLinkAboutUpdate on Backflow Protection Program.pdf1
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: John M. Alston, Water/Sewer Operations Superintendent
Debbie Arkell, Director of Public Services
Chuck Winn, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Update on Backflow Protection Program
MEETING DATE: April 5, 2010
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: FYI.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive report. Contact Staff if there are questions.
Backflow Specialist Dewey Sorensen at dsorensen@bozeman.net
Water Superintendent John Alston at jalston@bozeman.net
BACKGROUND: The Bozeman Water Division has been requiring backflow protection on
new water services since 1992, as required by the Uniform Plumbing Code. These assemblies
protect the City’s water supply system from the possibility of contamination or pollution by
isolating contaminants or pollutants within the customer’s internal distribution system, rather
than allowing them to backflow into the City’s water system. Section 13.12.322 of the Bozeman
Municipal Code (BMC) was adopted on July 30, 1999 which indicates that the Water
Superintendent may require the installation of backflow protection, and requires property owners
to keep backflow preventers that are installed in good working condition.
With the adoption of Section 13.12.322 BMC, the City started active backflow protection
installation and enforcement. On April 4, 2004, the City’s Design Standards and Specifications
Policy was formally amended to include the requirement that backflow protection be installed on
each fire and domestic service line, “as required by the Water Superintendent”. The only way to
ensure a backflow preventer is in good working condition is to test it, and the need for an
Ordinance to implement a testing program was identified in the adopted 2005 Water Facilities
Plan. The FY08 Water Operations budget included a new position for a Backflow Protection
specialist. In addition to ensuring proper backflow protection is installed, the Specialist’s duties
specifically indicated he would research and propose a backflow protection ordinance to require
installation and testing. The Backflow Protection Specialist was hired in June 2008.
In March and May 2009, a proposed Ordinance to amend the Bozeman Municipal Code to move
the water protective assembly section of the Code (13.12.322) to a new chapter that more clearly
outlined the required testing and installation of backflow preventers was discussed with the
Commission.
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The proposed Ordinance: 1) required an approved backflow preventer to be installed on each
water service line; 2) required that each backflow preventer must be tested annually by a
certified tester; and 3) clearly outlined when backflow preventers were required and identified
the types of backflow preventers that could be use for specific applications.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION/DIRECTION: At the March 2, 2009 hearing on the
Ordinance, the Commission expressed concern about implementing a mandatory program and
asked Staff to separate the installation and testing components, review the costs of testing,
consider in-house testing, and develop a program to promote the installation and testing of
backflow preventers through education, among other things.
On May 11, 2009, the Commission accepted Staff’s recommendation that the Ordinance be
tabled indefinitely due to the expense full implementation of the proposed installation, inspection
and testing program could cause business owners and residents in this time of economic
downturn. It was agreed at that meeting that Staff would continue to:
· Require the installation of backflow preventers via site plan and/or building permit
approval;
· Inventory which structures have or do not have proper backflow preventers;
· Continue to work with existing building owners who have a desire to install backflow
preventers; and
· Provide education on the importance of backflow prevention and testing.
APRIL 2010 UPDATE OF PROGRAM:
Public Education: To educate public and business owners about the health hazards of
unprotected cross-connections and how to protect public and private drinking water systems:
· A Backflow Protection web page with information about cross-connections and the
Division’s backflow program has been developed. The page is accessible at
http://www.bozeman.net/bozeman/water-sewer/backFlow.aspx.
· At no cost to the City, the Backflow Specialist is working with an MSU film student
intern to develop a short video about the importance of backflow protection. This video
will be placed on the City’s Backflow Protection web page and Channel 20, and will be
available for showing at community group meetings, such as Chamber of Commerce.
· A brochure has been developed and published with information about cross-connections.
The brochures are placed at City Hall, the Professional Building and the City Shops. A
copy will be provided to you at the meeting.
Residential (single-family through tri-plex): When a customer applies for a permit through the
City’s Building Department to build a new residential structure or for plumbing modifications,
backflow protection is required to be installed in the residence if it is not currently in place. The
device required for residential use is not a testable backflow device, so the residential property
owner has no future testing costs or requirements.
Commercial/Industrial. All commercial and industrial projects that apply for a building permit
for new construction and remodel, and all change-of-use permits that convert a previous use to a
use that would have a high potential for hazardous backflow, are required to install proper
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backflow protection as a condition of permit approval. This assembly is required to be tested by
a certified tester upon installation and it should be inspected annually thereafter.
The Uniform Plumbing Code and Section 13.12.322 BMC require the annual testing of backflow
preventers. As discussed with the Commission in May 2009, we are not enforcing testing at this
time, but we strongly encourage annual testing. Thus, annual testing is voluntary at this time.
Commercial/Industrial Inspections.
· Staff inspects existing facilities when a building permit or business license is applied for,
or when the water meter is changed out during the normal rotation process.
Ø If a plumbing modification is involved, appropriate backflow protection is
required to be installed.
Ø If no plumbing modification is involved, we verbally recommend protection for
internal cross-connections.
Ø If no plumbing modification is involved and no backflow protection is in place,
the customer is sent a letter requesting the installation and testing of appropriate
backflow protection.
Ø If a backflow preventer is already installed, the customer is sent a letter
requesting that the assembly be tested. This is not a mandate – only a request.
· Staff has developed a list of commercial/industrial properties, and as time allows,
conducts an inspection of their water service connection. The properties have been
prioritized, with businesses that have a higher hazard associated with cross-contamination
placed higher on the list. To date, 491 of 1,028 commercial properties have been
inspected. During the inspection, the facility is briefly surveyed to determine the level of
hazard. If internal hazards are identified, the customer is verbally advised of what needs
to be done for the safety of their internal drinking water system.
Ø If a facility has the proper backflow protection, the customer is sent a letter
requesting that the assembly be tested. This is not a mandate – only a request.
§ Should a customer not respond within 60 days, follow-up letters are sent.
§ If no response is received after 6-months, staff makes a courtesy call to the
company.
§ Seventy percent (70%) of the customers contacted to date have had their
assembly tested within 60 days.
Ø If a facility does not have the proper backflow protection, the customers is sent a
letter requesting that a proper backflow protection assembly be installed within
90 days and to send a copy of the installation test results to the Backflow
Specialist. Again, this is not a mandate unless a plumbing change is shown in the
permit application.
§ If no response is received after 90 days, follow-up letters are sent. If no
response is received after 6-months, staff makes a courtesy call to the
company.
§ Forty percent (40%) of the customers contacted have installed the proper
protection within 90 days.
Investigation of cross-connection incidents. Staff has investigated two cross-connection
incidents within the last seven months. One company has corrected the problem.
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Testing: The Backflow Protection Specialist is a certified tester. Staff is currently researching
the possibility of offering testing service for a fee. There are 24 private certified testers listed on
the Backflow Prevention web page, which is being taken into consideration before making a
decision. Should the decision be made for city staff to conduct testing, a Resolution to establish
the fee will be brought to the Commission for discussion and action.
FISCAL EFFECTS: This memorandum is an FYI update to the Commission, and requires no
additional funding.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Report compiled on: March 23, 2010
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