BACKFLOW INFORMATION:
MARCH 31, 2005
BPW
PROVIDES SAFE DRINKING WATER INFORMATION
The Board of Public Works (BPW) has been sending letters out to its residential water customers since late last year to verify the customers are in compliance with water backflow regulations. So far, 439 letters have been sent out and approximately 44% of the customers have returned the required form. BPW is very appreciative of these customers who have responded. Thank you! The letters have generated many questions. Backflow is caused by low system pressure or pressure generated in customers’ equipment. If proper protection is not in place, contaminants could be sucked or pushed into your plumbing system or into the public water system.
The
most common residential violations are: 1) water softeners that do not have a
proper air gap on the drain line and 2) boilers that need to have a dual-check
valve installed. Boilers, where
chemicals are added, need increased protection above a dual-check valve.
If a dual-check valve has been installed on the service line, there is no
need for the water softener drain line air gap to satisfy regulations.
Since
1990, all new or replaced residential water services in Auburn have been
required to have dual-check valves installed between the meter and the
customers’ plumbing. If your
water service line ever needs to be replaced, you will be required to install a
dual-check valve.
BPW
has a dual-check valve and a water softener air gap on display in the office so
customers can determine if they have one of these devices currently installed or
if they need to install the device.
For
many situations, the customer may wish to install the water softener drain air
gap themselves. If a dual-check
valve is necessary, the majority of customers choose to have an Auburn licensed
plumber perform the installation.
State Law requires Auburn to
have water backflow regulations in effect that meet State requirements and to
enforce the regulations. “The
bottom line is we can’t assure your water is safe unless we have customer
cooperation”, said Ken Swanson - BPW’s Water/Wastewater Manager and
Auburn’s Municipal Plumbing Inspector.
“We need everyone to get into compliance to continue our tradition of
supplying high quality water,” concluded Swanson.
PRESS RELEASE: ISSUED JANUARY 28, 2003
BPW
UPDATES CUSTOMERS ON WATER BACK FLOW PREVENTION
The Board of Public Works (BPW) is in the process of sending letters
to its customers who are overdue in having backflow prevention devices tested. State
law and the Auburn Municipal Code require all reduced pressure principle and double check
valve devices to be tested at least once per year and the results reported to BPW.
State law requires BPW to maintain the test records for five years. There are
no residential customers involved except for some apartment buildings.
Some customers
routinely have their devices tested every year. BPW would like to take this
opportunity to thank those customers. BPW would like to ask all customers that have
these devices to get them on an annual schedule for testing and report the results to us
if they aren’t already doing this. American Lawn Care and Bohl Plumbing and
Heating are local businesses with employees having the required certification.
State law requires
your BPW to maintain a continuing, on-going, effective backflow prevention program.
As part of this program, all restaurants were inspected last year and told of any
required changes. Compliance letters will soon be sent to the restaurants.
Backflow occurs
when something connected to the water system in a home or business is sucked or pushed
into the water system. This could happen during low pressure and contaminate the
water system on your premises or all of Auburn’s water. We can all help keep
Auburn’s water safe by working together to prevent backflow.
If any one would
like their home or business surveyed at no cost for possible backflow conditions, please
call BPW at 274-4981.
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