Risks and rules can surprise homeowners with sprinklers "Most people probably think of a sprinkler system as a benign thing, an easy way to keep the lawn and garden watered -- and a mostly one-time expense that will pay dividends. But the city's water department sees it as a potentially high-level hazard, requiring a permit and annual inspections that can be a big surprise, especially to homeowners who are inheriting an irrigation system along with a new house. As gardeners get their systems turned back on for spring, here are some things they need to know about staying within the law and maintaining a healthy water supply to their homes -- and their neighbors'. ...What does the city government require for operation of a sprinkler system? A permit must be obtained for the system when it is installed. At that point, the city has a record of the sprinkler system. Then, every year, the backflow preventer on the system must be checked by a registered inspector who reports the inspection to the city. Every five years, along with the inspection, the backflow valve must be rebuilt, because its parts start to deteriorate. ...If a backflow preventer is not installed or isn't working properly and there is a loss of water pressure, anything that is in the pipes and anything that is pooled around a sprinkler head -- including bacteria-infested soil and pesticides -- can be sucked backward into the water supply. It's similar to drinking out of a straw: As long as you're sucking on the straw (applying pressure), the liquid goes into your mouth. When you let up on the pressure -- stop sucking -- the liquid goes backward into the cup. The contaminants can travel farther than the house that has the sprinkler system -- they can affect neighboring houses as well. Among common causes of a loss in water pressure are waterline breaks and fire. ...How many people comply with the backflow inspections? About 60 percent. The city usually is not able to contact all of those who do not comply each year. It concentrates on one ZIP code at a time." The Wichita Eagle, March 28, 2006

Reuse Water - the Other Side of the Water Saving Story " It is obviously essential that potable water supplies be conserved, and reusing treated effluent, grey water and stormwater will reduce reliance on unreliable rainfall. However, this promotion means policies and guidelines must be developed quickly and community awareness raised on both the benefits and responsibilities of reuse systems. Concerns have been raised that, as developments occur, the community and the building industry may not have adequate knowledge of the dangers associated with reuse systems, given that incidents permitting the contamination of potable supplies through cross connections have occurred both here and overseas. It needs to be ensured that those responsible have specified appropriate backflow protection and design and inspection guidelines that will provide the safest systems available. ...as these examples show, there is still a lack of awareness as to the health risks these systems pose and any plumbing regulations applicable. ...Many cross-connections are not reported, and those involving recycled water are more likely to be so because of the similar physical and chemical appearance to potable water - unlike chemical processes that can be immediately noticeable. ...2002 Potable water line to building directly connected to reuse water irrigation line. Building occupied for three days before discovery. No illnesses reported. CAUSE: Inadequate mapping, pipe identification, facility oversight. Compliance Order issued. ...2001 New residence dual plumbed for front/backyard irrigation, had service lines switched during construction. Homeowner reported illness - outcome unknown. CAUSE: Miscommunication by various field personnel; reuse water system supplied with potable water during two month period of occupancy before discovery; contractor failed to correctly mark lines." Ecolibrium, July 2003

State failing to ensure suppliers test your water "Regulators overwhelmed by 7,000 systems; violators face little threat... Kristi Killian, mother of a 5-year-old girl and pregnant with a baby boy, keeps a strict rule in her Alexander County mobile home: No one drinks tap water. ...Supplied by a tiny and troubled utility, water in their Cedar Woods neighborhood is laced with arsenic at levels the state deemed unacceptable beginning in 2002. Repeatedly, state regulators have ordered the owner, pharmacist Alden King, to develop plans to clean it up. They have threatened him with fines. King missed state deadlines but never paid a cent. The water he pumps to close to 40 households remains contaminated. "It's poison," said Marley, who has lived for 19 years in Cedar Woods, a mix of new and old manufactured homes in a rural stretch near Hickory, about 170 miles west of Raleigh. "I would have expected someone to step in and fix this." Most people don't give water a second thought. They bathe in it, cook with it, give it to their children to drink. They trust their government to make sure their water is safe. ...A News & Observer investigation shows that the state agency responsible for making sure drinking water is safe isn't getting the job done. The Public Water Supply Section, with 98 employees, has been overwhelmed trying to monitor safety tests required of nearly 7,000 public water systems. Those tests include checks for contaminants such as arsenic at Cedar Woods. Systems must also test for bacteria that can sicken or kill, but thousands of small systems don't obey laws requiring them to test their water and clean up contamination. The state has been unable to force compliance." The News & Observer, March 27, 2006

'Backflow' water-line attack feared "ACROSS THE COUNTRY, water utility officials are taking steps to prevent terrorists from reversing the flow of water into a home or business - which can be accomplished with a vacuum cleaner or bicycle pump - and using the resulting "backflow" to push poisons into a local water-distribution system. Such an attack would use utility pipes for the opposite of their intended purpose: Instead of carrying water out of a tap, the pipes would spread toxins to nearby homes or businesses. ..."There's no question that the distribution system is the most vulnerable spot we have," says John Sullivan, chief engineer for the Boston Water & Sewer Commission and president of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. "Our reservoirs are really well protected. Our water-treatment plants can be surrounded by cops and guards. But if there's an intentional attempt to create a backflow, there's no way to totally prevent it."" (We just found this 2001 Wall Street Journal article archived online, w/ some commentary [by others] following) Wall Street Journal, Dec. 28, 2001

Public Health Significance of Cross-Connections "Public health officials have long been aware of the impact that cross-connections play as a threat to the public health. Because plumbing defects are so frequent and the opportunity for contaminants to invade the public drinking water through cross-connections are so general, enteric illnesses cause by drinking water may occur at most any location and at any time." (In the 03-06-06 DRAFT revisions to South Nevada Health District's Public Accomodations Regulations, adopted from the EPA Cross-Connection Control Manual Appendix A)

SUMMARY OF BACKFLOW INCIDENTS (210 from 1923 to 1995 + 64 CARBONATOR BACKFLOW INCIDENTS) "Thousands of backflow incidences occur daily... All it takes for a backflow condition to occur is a drop in line pressure such as fire fighting, main line breaking, high usage or back pressure. Many incidences have been recorded with some fatalities and also sicknesses caused from these incidences. There are many backflow incidents which occur that are not reported. This is usually because they are of short duration and are not detected, the customer is not aware they should be reported, or it may not be known to whom they should be reported. Some backflow incidents are detected too late to conclusively determine the cause. Many backflow incident reports are not made public. Understandingly then, the incidents reported in this publication are only a very small number of the incidents that have occurred. ...The backflow incidents reported in this manual are provided to give the reader an appreciation of the potential for contamination of a potable water system. It was not the intent of this manual to provide an in-depth account of each incident. Each incident is a summary of information obtained from one or more sources. Source information was accepted as accurately reflecting the backflow incident."Pacific Northwest Section, American Water Works Association ...See the FULL descriptions of these incidents here

Examples of Backflow Incidents "There are numerous and well documented cases where cross-connections have been responsible for contaminating drinking water resulting in the spread of disease. ...Even in or near our own city (Lincoln), the right circumstances occurred resulting in cross-connections as evidenced by the following incidents. The first documented incident occurred in Huskerville, Nebraska, in 1952. ...The area, originally built as a military base hospital, was converted in 1946 to a housing area for married students attending the University of Nebraska. The area was approximately three blocks wide and five blocks long. A detailed study conducted by two research doctors within the Lincoln area revealed a very close spatial relationship between the distribution of polio cases and the location of flush valve water closets not provided with vacuum breakers. There was also a relationship between the outbreak and the occurrence of extreme fluctuations of pressure within the water mains in the area. A full report was published in the American Medical Association Journal regarding this tragedy, which left two dead and 18 persons permanently paralyzed with polio. Also within the past several years, we have experienced back siphonage conditions resulting in milk in our distribution mains near a local creamery and hot boiler water in our distribution system near a public high school. Both of these backflows were initiated by broken water mains." Lincoln Water System

World's Water Wells Are Drying Up! "Around the world, groundwater from deep wells is the main source of drinking water for over three billion people. In addition, a large proportion of the food supply in many poor countries is based on irrigation from wells. However, almost all of the world's wells have falling water levels, and declining yield, and already, many have run dry. These deep water wells cannot be replenished from rainfall. The source of the groundwater that supports these three billion people lies in the interior of the Earth. There is a continuing release of water from the interior towards the surface of the Earth, and we see that in the steam of volcanoes, and the water gushing from deep ocean vents. ...From early times, men dug wells by hand, and lifted water in buckets for their needs. Many civilizations were established where groundwater was available at oases or in shallow wells. The ancient Romans built aqueducts to bring springs of groundwater to their many cities around the shores of the Mediterranean." Executive Intelligence Review, March 10, 2006

Contractor admits role in scheme "A building (plumbing) contractor pleaded guilty yesterday to shelling out more than $200,000 in bribes to win business at the Springfield Housing Authority, giving prosecutors a key witness in the upcoming trial of former authority director Raymond B. Asselin and his family. At his arraignment in U.S. District Court, Nicholas M. Katsounakis of Southwick, owner of Manny's Plumbing and Heating Inc., admitted helping one of Asselin's sons buy an insurance agency in South Hadley and installing a $5,000 water heater at former state Rep. Christopher P. Asselin's backyard pool in Springfield. To secure his spot in the authority's contracting scheme, Katsounakis also was forced to write a $77,200 check for Raymond Asselin and his former top aide, Arthur G. Sotirion, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Welch II. "In essence, it was a pay-to-play system," said Welch, adding that contractors often referred to bribes for Asselin as the "A Factor" and for Sotirion as the "S Factor." Katsounakis, who received more than $6.4 million in business during the past decade, pleaded guilty to three bribery counts. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he could face between 46 and 57 months in prison. ...The housing authority case is part of a larger federal anti-corruption campaign that has targeted more than a dozen taxpayer-financed agencies in Springfield, from the city's Office of Community Development to the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority. So far, 11 people, including former Police Commission Chairman Gerald A. Phillips, have been convicted; more than a dozen others, including former City Council President Francis G. Keough III and ex-Mayor Michael J. Albano's chief of staff, Anthony M. Ardolino, are awaiting trial." MassLive.com, March 2, 2006

MH may enforce backflow ordinance "An amendment putting more teeth into a current ordinance to prevent the backflow of pollutants into the city's water system, along with three annexation requests, are on the agenda for the Mountain Home City Council, which is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. All commercial businesses and some residents who have lawn sprinkler systems are required to have backflow preventors on their systems. If there is a break in the main water line, it could create a vacuum in the system, according to officials. Backflow preventors, if not working properly, could draw water with pesticides and fertilizers from the lawn back into the main line. During a meeting in February, Water Superintendent Johnny Moore said work was being done on an amendment to the backflow prevention ordinance. Both city and state regulations require backflow preventors to be checked annually, with the Water and Sewer Department sending out letters annually reminding customers who have backflow preventors to have them checked. According to the amendment, if the customer fails to comply within the 30-day period, the city would have the backflow preventors inspected and charge the customer $50. Any customer found in violation of the ordinance could be subject to a fine of $50 to $100 per day." The Baxter Bulletin, March 15, 2006

Belly Up to the Sink "It's Homer Simpson's dream come true. The phrase "beer on tap" took on a literal meaning for a Norwegian woman who turned on her kitchen faucet this weekend to find the alcoholic drink pouring out instead of plain old H2O. ..."I turned on the kitchen faucet and beer came out." Meanwhile, patrons and employees at the Big Tower Bar in Kristiandsund in western Norway were having their own mix-up two floors down, with water gushing out of the beer taps. All had a botched plumbing job to thank for the miracle. You see, someone at the bar accidentally connected the beer hoses to the water pipes for Gundersen's apartment." ...Per Egil Myrvang, of the local beer distributor, said he helped bartenders reconnect the pipes by telephone. "The water and beer pipes do touch each other, but you have to be really creative to connect them together," he told local newspapers. Gundersen joked about having the pub send up free beer for her next party." FoxNews.com, March 13, 2006

Wasteful Mexico City Hosts Water Summit "Mexico City is plagued by an almost diabolical combination of floods and water shortages, rising sewage and sinking water tables. What better place for world leaders to come together to discuss how to better manage water? Many of the 20 million people of this metropolis get by on as little as one hour of running water per week, while almost all the copious rainfall is flushed unused down the sewers, creating a gargantuan flow of wastewater that the city's few treatment plants can't handle. As with New Orleans, Mexico City is on life support, but on a much larger scale. ...Mexico City's system serves no one very well. Almost everyone buys bottled water or expensive home water systems. But it serves the poor worst. For many, bad water or none at all is just another fact of life. ...The city water system isn't bad because it's cheap. Because it's bad, it's terribly expensive. City water pipes are leaky, low-pressure and often dry, so every home must have an underground storage tank, as well as a system to pump the water up to a rooftop storage tank from which to flow down. ...Officials occasionally launch halfhearted campaigns to get people to drink tap water, but while they swear it's safe when it leaves treatment plants, they say it's often contaminated in aging, ill-maintained home tanks and plumbing." chron.com, March 12, 2006

Utility to get $21.7 million for pollution "Six years after one of South Carolina's worst industrial pollution incidents forced a Lexington County utility to shut down, a chemical company has been forced to pay more than $20 million in damages. A jury awarded the Lexington County Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission about $1.7 million in actual damages Wednesday, according to Melinda Powers, law clerk for Circuit Court Judge Larry Patterson. The actual damages against Tin Products Inc. include about $640,000 to replace the treatment plant. The jury also recommended the utility receive a total of $20 million in punitive damages, an amount Patterson then approved. That amount breaks down to $10 million levied against Tin Products itself and $10 million levied against former Tin Products President Charles Sanford, Powers said. Tin Products made chemicals used in vinyl siding and plastic plumbing and jars. From 1999 to 2000, those chemicals contaminated a 12-mile stretch of the Red Bank Creek and the Congaree River, killing fish and shutting down Cayce's water treatment plant. Water-use restrictions were imposed on 55,000 residents, and federal officials spent $2.1 million to clean up the 45-acre manufacturing plant." MyrtleBeachOnline.com, March 10, 2006

Tech Brief - Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention "When drinking water is transported to a consumer, it is possible for contaminants to be introduced in the distribution system. This situation may occur due to connections between potable water lines and non-potable water sources or by a water flow reversal, resulting in contaminated water. This Tech Brief, discusses cross connections and backflow, and explores ways to prevent these situations. ...Numerous, well-documented cases about illnesses and other hazards posed by cross connections have been documented. More information about the health risks cross connections may present and methods to prevent them is needed. Water utility personnel (managers, operators, local officials), plumbers, public health officials, and consumers need to be aware of the risks and understand prevention methods." National Drinking Water Clearinghouse

Landscape Sprinkler Design Tutorial - Backflow Preventers "You must have a backflow preventer on your irrigation system. In most places this is the law, everywhere else its just the smart thing to do. Almost everywhere the local authorities will dictate that certain types of backflow preventers may not be used with irrigation systems because they do not provide adequate protection. In some cases, the authorities will dictate the exact type of backflow preventer you MUST use. ...Your landscape has all kinds of nasty things in it that will make you sick or worse if you drink them. Thus irrigation water is considered a contaminant (creates a health hazard) rather than just a pollutant (is objectionable in color or odor). What's in irrigation water? How about toxic chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and animal waste? (Not that I want to gross you out, but every day millions of dogs lift their legs in a fond salute to their favorite sprinkler head!) These things can and WILL come back up your irrigation pipes and into your drinking water if you don't stop them. If you have a well they can go down your well and into everyone else's drinking water. If you are on a community water system you will be poisoning your neighbors." IrrigationTutorials.com

DEP cites city for second violation "WALTHAM -- City officials Friday made public a second citation by the Department of Environmental Protection, which faulted city efforts over the past two years to inspect systems that keep industrial contaminants out of the water supply. In spring 2004, the water and sewer department stopped outsourcing inspections of cross connections, the devices that prevent industrial or commercial equipment from backing up into the water supply, contaminating it with chemicals or waste. Since August 2005, inspections have been handled by Water and Sewer�s cross-connection inspector, Jason Devane. But Devane has only tested existing devices, not surveyed businesses to ensure the devices are in place wherever they are needed, the DEP said. "They failed to adequately perform the proper inspections," DEP spokesman Joe Ferson said Friday. ...Cross-connection inspection is important to ensure that machines fed from the water supply -- in dentist�s offices and factories, for example -- do not back up into the system. This could happen, Ferson said, if a break occurs in a water main, reducing pressure flowing into such machines. A cross connection allows water to flow in, but will not let it escape out. ...However, he conceded the testing program might not be adequate to catch owners of smaller business who aren�t aware they need cross connections. ...The Department of Environmental Protection citation requires a cross-connection survey program be in place by April 13. Pittorino said bids for the project will be due from outside contractors by March 21. He estimated the survey will cost about $80,000." Daily News Tribune, March 6, 2006

City officials: Cross connection could prevent widespread illness "The proposed Ca�on City ordinance regulating the use of cross connection devices for the city�s water supply may, according to city officials, help prevent contamination of the potable water supply, which could lead to widespread illness. Such a danger and risk to the system is why Water Distribution Supervisor Anthony Bosco said every service tap connected to Ca�on City�s water lines must have a containment device designed to prevent backflow on it. ...Bosco said residents especially could be familiar with backpressure. When a backflow device is connected to a water heater, water sometimes is blown from it that would have otherwise flowed back into the city�s water. �When water expands inside a hot water heater, it pushes that water, which can hold bacteria or other con-taminants, into the system,� Bosco said. �When customers put the device on, we�ve had calls saying that the water is going on to the floor now because the device is doing it�s job and not allowing the water out.� Garden and sink hoses also allow a great deal of backflow, and irrigation systems have backsiphonage associated with them." Canon City Daily Record, March 3, 2006

Roof catches fire at mall construction site in Estero "A small fire broke out on the roof of the Dillard's department store at the Coconut Point mall construction site late Monday morning while a plumber was working on the building's sprinkler system, said a spokesman for Estero Fire Rescue. The plumber was using an acetylene torch to cut a hole in the building's metal roof when he ignited a debris pile, said Jim Clarke, spokesman for Estero Fire. "From where he was working, in the ceiling of the second floor, it appears he was working on the sprinkler system," Clarke said. ...Larry Nisbet, a battalion chief with Estero Fire, called the district at 11:32 a.m. when he saw smoke as he was driving by the site on the east side of U.S. 41 north of Coconut Road, Clarke said. Workers on the site were battling the blaze with fire extinguishers and had not called 911 by the time firefighters arrived, he said. ...Estero Fire Rescue shut down any "hot work" on the Dillard's project, such as welding, after officials realized the fire hydrant near Dillard's was not accessible to fire trucks, Clarke also said. Once the hydrant is relocated, probably within a day or so, work will resume as usual, he said." Bonita news.com, Feb. 28, 2006

Hot tubs full of germs "A teaspoon of typical tap water has about 138 bacteria. A teaspoon of typical hot tub water has about 2.17 million. That's only one of the unsettling findings by a team of Texas A&M researchers. Of the 43 public and private tubs tested, a scary 95 percent showed the presence of (squeamish reader alert) fecal bacteria; 81 percent had fungi; 34 percent contained staphylococcus, which can cause deadly infections. The researchers said the lining of whirlpool pipes was where the nastiest stuff grew; when the jets are turned on, it's blown into the tub. Typical cleaning provided little protection." TwinCities.com, Feb. 28, 2006

Backflow Prevention - Handbook and Policy "The Backflow Prevention Policy (PDF - 7.96MB) is a key component of the Backflow Prevention program. It outlines Sydney Water's requirements, for both new and existing commercial and industrial properties, where there is a risk of contaminating the water supply. ...Sydney Water is licensed to operate water, sewerage and some stormwater drainage systems in the Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains areas. The Operating Licence is granted under the Sydney Water Act 1994. The Act requires Sydney Water to observe three equally important principal objectives: to protect public health, to protect the environment, to be a successful business. Sydney Water�s Backflow Prevention Containment Policy is aligned with these objectives. It is aimed at improving the safety of Sydney�s water supply by reducing the risk of contamination by backflow from connections to the water supply system (from the customer�s premises or standpipes). Backflow occurs when a contaminated source enters the drinking water supply. The Backflow Prevention Containment Policy outlines requirements for new and existing properties, identified as a high or medium hazard and standpipes. The policy requires all properties, identified as high or medium hazard to install a backflow prevention device at the outlet of the meter." www.sydneywater.com.au

Anthrax Spores May Survive Water Treatment "Anthrax spores may survive traditional drinking water disinfection methods and can attach themselves to the inside surface of water pipes, suggesting water treatment facilities should be prepared to employ alternate disinfection methods in the unlikely event of the release of anthrax in the water supply. Researchers report their findings today at the 2006 ASM Biodefense Research Meeting. "The purpose of this study was to determine the fate of anthrax spores in a drinking water system that uses chlorine as a disinfectant. Though researchers have some knowledge of how other waterborne pathogens may survive or die in drinking water systems, little is understood about the fate of anthrax spores in chlorinated water systems," says Jon Calomiris of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, Maryland, who conducted the study. ..."The data seem to suggest that anthrax spores can tolerate water treatment, can attach to pipes or biofilms within the pipes, and could pass through pipe systems to reach the consumer tap," says Calomiris. In the unlikely event of the release of anthrax spores into the water supply, alternate decontamination protocols (such as exposure to higher concentrations of chlorine or an alternate disinfectant for an extended period of time) may be needed as regular treatment methods may not be effective..." Science Daily, Feb. 26, 2006

Metal thefts a steal as material is easily taken, easily sold "CRIME: Recyclers are working with police to solve what's become a worldwide problem. The soaring cost of scrap metals is fueling dozens of thefts throughout Inland communities, causing not only headaches, but major dangers as well, officials said. Bandits are stripping aluminum, copper, iron and brass from wherever they can, fetching top dollar at recycling yards. "It happens every day everywhere," Riverside County sheriff's spokesman Cpl. Dennis Gutierrez said. "It's a huge problem." The thefts are part of a crime wave hitting the planet, authorities said. Manhole covers, sewer plates, aluminum light poles, parking meters and freeway signs are disappearing - sometimes in broad daylight - in cities from Chicago to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur. ...This modern-day gold rush is being flamed by China's massive building boom and the high demand for materials in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, police and builders say. ...The United States traded more than $2 billion worth of scrap metal to China in 2004. More than two thirds of all U.S. copper exports and half of all aluminum exports go there, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Southern California is one of the hardest hit because of the ongoing construction and development, according to the region's Construction Industry Crime Prevention Program. Other states under siege include Texas and Florida. ...Three people pleaded guilty in the last month to taking about 300 backflow devices from Inland businesses. The U-shaped pipes that stick out of the ground keep waste from flowing back into the main water supply. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Earl Quinata said the trio were paid more than $17,000 in the past year selling the copper piping to local recycling centers. Authorities say there is little they can do to prevent thefts except investigate calls that come in from the public." PE.com, Feb. 27, 2006

Public Health Risk Management Plan Guide � Distribution System � Backflow Prevention "Backflow-prevention devices are used to stop substances that may cause sickness being drawn back into the drinking-water supply. Backflows into the main create a public health risk to the quality of water through the entire water supply. Their prevention is the responsibility of the drinking-water supplier. Backflows within a building create a risk to the health of the occupants and, under the Building Act 1991, are the responsibility of the building owner. This Guide is concerned with the prevention of backflow into the main. ...There may be risks to the health of staff who install backflow prevention devices. These are acknowledged but are not discussed further, as such risks are the subject of health and safety in employment legislation. ...Reliable information about water quality is essential for the proper management of a water supply. Knowledgeable and skilled staff are also essential for minimising the public health risks associated with water supplies." Ministry of Health, Wellington, New Zealand, June 2001

City water under boil advisory "Everybody served by the Williamsport Municipal Water Authority is strongly advised to boil all drinking water until further notice, and it is likely the advisory won�t be lifted until Friday at the earliest. The authority issued the �boil water advisory� early Wednesday afternoon after a contractor working at the authority�s wellfield south of West Third Street at Lycoming Creek ran a piece of heavy equipment over a 20-inch water main buried about a foot underground, breaking the pipe and causing a drop in water pressure. According to the authority, the pressure drop turned clear water to a dirty rust color in some sections of the city close to the wellfield and a systemwide increase in the �risk of microbial contamination.� According to the announcement, �a drop in water pressure� from any break �creates conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through backflow by backpressure and backsiphonage. That increases the chance �water may be contaminated by disease-causing organisms.� �Do not drink the water without boiling it first,� the alert said." Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Feb. 24, 2006

Down the Drain "On Monday morning, Joe O'Malley will leave the North Wildwood cottage he's called home since his wife left him a year ago. He'll drive about 50 miles to a small South Jersey town called Fairton, where, at around 2 p.m., he'll surrender his freedom. A convicted racketeer, O'Malley will call a federal correctional facility home until Feb. 27, 2008. ...That's the mantra of any convict, from the Joey Merlinos right on down to the nickel-and-dime smack salesmen of the world. None of them is guilty. Each of them was railroaded. ...Born and raised at 28th and Snyder streets, O'Malley became a plumber, and then an L&I plumbing inspector. As per his job description, he'd travel the city checking out plumbing jobs and, if they were up to snuff, signing off on them. As per standard industry practice dating back to the early 20th century, most plumbers would slip a $5, $10 or $20 bill into his hand upon arrival. "When I was a plumber, I tipped," says O'Malley on the shore-house couch, his attention diverted every few minutes by the ring of his cordless phone, which sits atop a stack of court transcripts. "It's tradition. It was done out of respect." ...But about a year and a half before a bug was found in Mayor Street's office, the U.S. Attorney's Office said it amounted to much more. So they videotaped 13 of the city's 14 inspectors covertly pocketing the tips and, in March 2002, charged them with racketeering and extortion. It was the first salvo in the latest wave of municipal corruption indictments, so the stakes were high for U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, who declared the tips were "payoffs � to do their jobs." About six months later, prosecutors started trotting plumbers through the federal courthouse to testify that they'd tipped the inspectors, who earned $40,000 a year. Several were embarrassed to be there; they said the cash had no impact on whether their work was approved. (They declared there was no quid pro quo.) Still, prosecutors maintained, they were municipal employees, not diner waitresses. Tradition or not, being on the take�regardless of how small�violated the public trust. That October, eight inspectors who didn't cut pleas went down on charges generally reserved for La Cosa Nostra: They were now an interstate "criminal enterprise."" citypaper.net, Feb. 23, 2006

Ordinance calls for use of backflow prevention devices "An ordinance creating formal oversight of Ca�on City�s existing cross connection control program was passed Monday night in a split decision by Ca�on City Council members. The ordinance will regulate installation and use of backflow prevention devices connected to the city�s water supply. Colorado Revised Statutes Article 12 requires backflow prevention devices be installed on any cross con-nections to prevent dangerous chemicals and other hazardous materials from making their way into public waters. The statute also compels businesses and some residences to have devices installed, maintained and inspected yearly at the customer�s expense. Most residential customers only will need a lower-costing double check valve, which does not require yearly inspections. Although every cross connection in the city will be required to have a backflow prevention device, the focus will be on businesses with products or services that pose a greater risk to the water supply. ...Several members of the public and business owners addressed the council with concerns about the ordinance. The cost of adding devices to existing businesses was estimated by one business owner, Dale Boody, as capable of reaching millions of dollars for Ca�on City businesses as a whole. He estimates there are about 1,000 business that will be affected and the cost of having a device installed is between $500 and $1,000." Canon City Daily Record, Feb. 21, 2006

Water Contamination Events: Lessons Learned from Katrina (see the webstream of this event, RealPlayer required) "The massive water contamination event resulting from Hurricane Katrina highlighted the critical need for every community to incorporate disaster preparedness for water supply disruption and contamination in their natural disaster response and terrorism preparedness emergency plans. Dr. Meinhardt, author of Recognizing Waterborne Disease and the Health Effects of Water Contamination will review the numerous challenges created when water systems are damaged by natural disasters, man-made accidents, or terrorist activity. A series of disaster preparedness strategies specific to water contamination and which are essential elements for ALL local and state emergency response planning in order to protect the public's health will be discussed." Center for Public Health Preparedness, Feb. 9, 2006

Bismarck to enforce back flow rules "Certain Bismarck businesses will be receiving letters in the near future concerning testing of back flow devices. The board of aldermen voted during its meeting on Thursday to start enforcing an ordinance that requires certain businesses to have backflow prevention capability. Businesses that are required to have the capability include those that have a special use of water like the Bismarck School District." Daily Journal, Feb. 17, 2006

MH City Council OKs annexation (scroll down)"...Moore also told the council about an amendment to the backflow ordinance he would propose at another meeting. The city and state require backflow preventors to be checked annually, and the Water and Sewer Department sends out letters reminding residents who have backflow preventors to have them checked. Currently the department sends letters to residents with backflow preventors and does not get a response from some, so more letters are sent and, in some cases, certified letters. Moore wants the ordinance amended so that a letter with a 30-day notice be sent along with a copy of the ordinance. After 30 days, city employees would be allowed to inspect the backflow preventors if the resident did not have it done by an approved person, and the city would bill residents for the work. The department is having trouble getting people to comply, Norell said. Moore said the city would charge $50, while other plumbers charge from $35-$50 and more. Moore explained that while all commercial businesses are required to have backflow preventors, some residents who have lawn sprinkler systems also are required to have them. The problem: If there is a break in a main line, it could create a vacuum in the system. "If the backflow preventor is not there, if there is water in the yard or any contaminants in the yard, they could flow back into the main lines with pesticides and fertilizers," Moore said. "It could poison the people in that household and down along the line."" The Baxter Bulletin, Feb. 17, 2006

3rd case of Legionnaires' disease "With a third case of Legionnaires' disease confirmed in Volusia County, a Daytona Beach Shores hotel will remain closed until the hotel management completes a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the beachfront lodging. Dr. Tom Coleman, director of the Volusia County Health Department, said Thursday that the remediation work at the Seagarden Inn is voluntary and is not being done under an order from the health department. Although Coleman emphasized there is no definitive proof linking the hotel with the pneumonia-like disease, he did say: "The only known connection with these confirmed cases is that they stayed at the Seagarden Inn last month." ...The city has also checked that "backflow preventers," mechanisms to prevent water from the hotel from re-entering the water system, are working." Orlando Sentinel

Cross Connection Control Program "A cross-connection is an unprotected actual or potential connection between a potable water system and a source of contamination (such as waste water, industrial fluids, or pesticides), where backflow can occur from the source of contamination into the potable water system. Cross connection hazards are most widespread and potentially catastrophic in large metropolitan cities such as San Francisco where the water distribution system is very complex. ...The cross connection problem in San Francisco is further complicated by non-potable auxiliary water sources available to the San Francisco Fire Department such as the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS). Temporary cross-connections are created when fire hoses from the fire pumper trucks connect the AWSS to the potable water distribution system and through Siamese connections found on fire sprinkler systems. In emergencies, the ocean, bay, and a network of cisterns throughout the City (all of which are highly contaminated water sources), may also be connected to fire sprinkler systems were installed without adequate (approved) back flow protection. In addition, recent inspections of these sprinkler systems revealed many if not most of them are directly connected to the sanitary sewer system at the Inspectors Test Drain." City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Health Environmental Health Section

Crook may use trustees in city "Dennis Berg from the Colorado Department of Corrections told the Crook town council that trustees from the prison could do much of the work on the water and sewer lines for the new Crook Fire Station. The town has annexed the parcel of land on which the fire station/community building will be constructed, and is responsible for providing utilities to the site. ...Council members again discussed the cross connection requirements for sprinkler systems connected to the town's water lines, but are not sure exactly how to proceed. They again delayed sending a letter of commitment to the Crook Fire Protection District for the new water and sewer lines. So far, they have received only one bid for the project, but would like to have at least two." Journal Advocate, Feb. 12, 2006

Water bug is yet to clear "A NOTICE to boil waterremains for Myrtleford as North East Water continues to probe the source of E Coli in the towns water. The message has been in place since the start of the month when sampling revealed the bacteria at several sites at the town. Operations manager Fiona Smith said North East Water had flushed the system to rid it of contaminated water but it was yet to pinpoint the cause of the E coli. �Until we know where its coming from it will stay in the system, so people need to keep following the instructions of the boil water notice,� Ms Smith said. ...Ms Smith said Myrtlefords UV disinfection plant provided no residual disinfection in the water supply system, meaning bacteria could form in the pipes. She said customers should heed advice on the need to prevent backflow into the system. Backflow is the unintended flow of potentially polluted water into a treated supply, which occurs as a result of an actual or potential cross connection between the supply system and an untreated source such as a water tank, bore or river pump. �If you believe you might have some sort of cross connection, please let our plumbing department know..." The Border Mail, Feb. 13, 2006Bird Bay wants city refund "City staff has "continuously harassed" the owners of Bird Bay Plaza to install backflow prevention valves, and they're asking the city to reimburse the U.S. 41 Bypass shopping center more than $35,000. Venice Utilities Department's response: Sorry about your luck, but it's the law. Commodore Realty, based in Key Biscayne, Fla., owns the shopping center and claims utilities staff demands have lowered property values and created injury risks for customers. These valves are installed on drinking water lines to prevent water from backing up into the city's system. Venice's interpretation of these rules, however, has led to these large plumbing pipes jutting out all over the plaza's sidewalks and parking lot, according to co-owner David Puyanic. He said they tried to work with the city, but the utilities staff was inflexible. "Now, the result is, the backflows are installed all through the front of the property creating trip hazards and are ugly and lowered the value," Puyanic said. "It's just this big, obnoxious thing in front of the sidewalk. We've already had someone hurt on it ...and (the city) wouldn't budge with where we could put it." Backflow prevention devices not only protect the city's drinking water supply, but the water of fellow tenants at Bird Bay Plaza, according to the city. That is why the shopping center needed 28 backflow valves, one for each of the stores there. City staff contend that each valve must be at the point of entry next to the water meter in order to be in compliance with state law and federal Clean Water Act rules. Dual Check -- The complaints by Bird Bay Plaza are unrelated to the ones from the owners of single-family homes a year ago. Venice put its program to force homeowners to install these valves on hold after state officials couldn't agree on what's required. The state still doesn't know, though Sharek believes the state Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health should iron out their differences by the end of the month. Neither department can agree on which homes need a backflow valve and how durable -- read "expensive" -- these valves must be. DOH officials are asking for the highest-rated backflow device for all homes, while DEP has approved dual-check valves that can be installed underground and out of view. ...Homeowners are also protesting the cost and ugliness of copper plumbing pipes sticking out of their front lawns. Sharek said the city is pushing for approval of dual-check valves at homes considered to be "low risk," which are ones without a swimming pool, a well or reclaimed water. "They've had some discussion at the state level saying the dual-check (for single-family homes) might be OK," Sharek said. "At this point, we're not sure if they're going to approve that or not." No option No matter what state officials decide, owners of commercial businesses and multi-family buildings like condominiums must continue installing the most expensive types of backflow devices. The alternatives are stiff fines or the city cutting off water service. Bird Bay Plaza's owners own seven other shopping centers in Florida, and no other city has required them to retrofit water lines with backflow valves. ..."They should either reimburse us if they're going to let other people off the hook, or pay for us to relocate them behind the shopping center," Puyanic said. "They're in a location that is a problem to this day. ... The way it was handled, there was no leniency. Not only do you have to put them in, you have to put them in here."" Venice Gondolier, Feb. 10, 2006

School's water said safe; new test shows no E. coli "Water is flowing again through fountains and sinks at Linden Elementary School in Doylestown after followup testing yesterday showed no signs of the E. coli bacteria. Routine water tests earlier this week came back positive for E. coli. But the tests also showed a desirable level of residual chlorine, which should have killed off the bacteria. That led borough and county health officials to question the test. ...Officials from the borough and health department "said it was a false alarm and gave us the OK to put the water back on," Bernabei said. ...E. coli, a type of fecal coliform, can cause intestinal distress, headaches, and other generally short-term problems. ...The borough's water is tested by QC Labs of Southampton, Pa. The borough will be working with the company to determine how the error occurred, Davis said." The Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 27, 2006

Fire Hydrant Program for Temporary Service "Every day businesses such as street cleaners, pressure washers, and those working on construction projects need to use water from a fire hydrant. The backflow prevention program issues permits for these customers to obtain water for non-drinking use from a public fire hydrant safely and legally. We offer two types of permits: Specific Hydrant Permit - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will provide temporary water service by means of a public fire hydrant to customers who qualify for this service at locations within utilities service area. Vehicle Mounted Permit - This permit allows for businesses to use water from public fire hydrants at various locations daily." Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities

Backflow Prevention "The early weeks of fall are a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Many homeowners water a new planting with a garden hose placed at its base. Water trickles out of the hose and soaks the root ball. However, if a condition called back siphonage (also known as backflow) occurs as the plant is being soaked, water can be drawn back through the hose, contaminating the municipal water supply. The contaminants can range from dirt and silt to fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides. It can happen when a work crew opens a water main to make repairs, or when water is drawn from a fire hydrant to fight a fire. It also can occur when a vehicle knocks over a fire hydrant in an accident. In these situations, a vacuum or partial vacuum is created in a portion of the municipal water system. Water in the system reverses its flow, and it can draw in contaminated water." Popular Mechanics

Pollution problem prevented at rail station "...RPZ valves (Reduced Pressure Zone back flow preventers) are being used to prevent a pollution problem at Leeds City Station as part of the Leeds ...Development Project. The valves stop non-potable water from flowing back into the mains when water is supplied to the carriages of the high-speed trains that run between Leeds and London... The RPZ valve installation is part of a �150 million regeneration project, run by Railtrack, which provides a brand new platform with improved facilities and station environment, reduced train travel times, and better train performance. ...RPZ valves have been used in numerous circumstances where back flow prevention is required and it is advantageous to fit a valve instead of a traditional break tank with booster pump. ...Moreover, the RPZ valve negates the need for expensive testing procedures for the existence of legionella, which can be the case with an unprotected break tank system incorporating a type �A air gap. Back flow can occur for two main reasons over-pressure and back siphonage. If the pressure in a non-potable water system exceeds the water supply pressure and there is a direct mains connection, the result will be pollution of the water main, for example, a pressurised fire sprinkler system, where a pressure vessel is fitted to give a boost to the fire fighting supply as soon as a fire is detected. During periods of high usage of the water main, the high flow rate conditions cause the pressure in the main to fall below that of the pressure vessel. In this situation, if measures are not taken, contaminated water from the sprinkler system could flow back into the mains supply. In a back siphonage situation, a physical rupture of the main or pump failure at a booster station may cause the condition. In either case, if the connection point is on higher ground than the mains fault then water will travel back down the main in the opposite direction back siphonage. Depending on what fluid is connected to the main at the higher point, the result of this could be disastrous for the public water supply." www.edie.net

Methodology for Setting a Cross-Connection Control Program (scroll down to Potable Water #10) "This document is the tenth in a series of best practices related to the delivery of potable water to the public. This document outlines the best practice for setting a cross-connection control program. It is based on a review of existing literature, the responses to questionaires sent to 17 Canadian municipalities and input from water quality and distribution system experts from across Canada. ...Based on the number of actual and potential cross-connections in a municipal water system, and the resulting health hazards, it is important for the municipality to have an effective cross-connection control program in place. While many Canadian municipalities have a comprehensive program, other municipalities have only a minimal program, or no program at all." www.infraguide.ca, Oct. 2005

BPMA/ABPA Backflow Prevention Scholarship Competition (2004's winning essay) "Thanks to the reliability of local water utilities and federal and state health and building laws, most Americans have come to expect clean water. No one really expects to be drinking bacteria-infected water, and for the most part, water utilities have kept up their end of the bargain. Nonetheless, the possibility of water contamination, particularly through backflow, remains a serious health concern." www.abpa.org

Cross Connection Survey (scroll down page)"The Washington Town council approved a proposal from Environmental Systems Service for updating and administering a Cross Connection Survey mandated yearly by Virginia's health department. As part of the survey, ESS will inspect outside spigots, wells and "cross connection danger areas" belonging to town residents. ...danger areas would include any business or resident who deals with large volumes of concentrated liquids, such as private darkrooms, undertakers, and rerstaurants." Rappahanock News, Jan. 18, 2006

Legionella- A Lateral View "Perceiving an unsupported complacency about the dangers of the bacteria, the author outlines suggested testing improvements, less familiar at-risk situations, and the reasons for a more vigilant approach to combating Legionella. ...The objective should be to root out potential system contamination, especially in areas that expose the at-risk and general population to Legionella. ....Let us also not forget lawn sprinklers that have been dormant for some time. Who knows what can grow therein. Look at the age of the population that plays golf. Look at the age of the population that likes to take casual walks in the evenings." search for Legionella- A Lateral View at www.esmagazine.com

Story about city water's safety was misleading " The recent report on tap water by the Environmental Working Group was very helpful in getting an important issue on the front page of the local newspaper, but the story may have left many people with serious misconceptions. The tap water in Wausau and other area communities is safe and healthy to drink. The water that local utilities produce meets state and federal drinking water standards. It is our opinion that drinking tap water is healthier than drinking soft drinks, sweetened juices, and most other beverages. You may contact your doctor, the Marathon County Health Department, or the Department of Natural Resources to get their input, but we think they will agree. ... Drinking water standards have gotten tougher, and clearly one of the goals of the Environmental Working Group study is to pressure the Environmental Protection Agency to continue this trend. This is a good thing -- provided we keep our perspective. The study cited arsenic as one of the contaminants in Wausau's drinking water. The last sample we tested had less than one part per billion of arsenic and the drinking water standard is 50 parts per billion. Arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral. The Environmental Working Group can make front-page headlines by claiming our water is contaminated with arsenic, but this really is not an accurate representation." wausaudailyherald.com, Jan. 12, 2006

Thief has cost city parks $2,000 "A thief has cost Colorado Springs taxpayers at least $2,000 in recent days, making off with irrigation system valves from city parks. Nobody has been arrested, but officials suspect someone is stealing the parts, known as vacuum breakers, for scrap metal � earning a few dollars for something it costs the city $300 apiece to replace. And they�re stealing a lot of them, eight within the past two weeks. The thief tried and failed to take two others. �Someone is out there on a mission and that�s disturbing,� said L. Kurt Schroeder, the city�s parks maintenance, trails and open space manager. A valve connecting two pipes sticking out of the ground, a vacuum breaker � also known as a backflow preventer � keeps sprinkler water from entering the main water supply. They are required on any lawn irrigation system to prevent chemicals and other runoff from contaminating drinking water. They have disappeared from central Colorado Springs parks at night. The thief or thieves are cutting the copper pipes. �It wouldn�t take long to cut them off. A couple of minutes, and they�d be done,� Schroeder said. The water is shut off in the winter, so no possible contamination occurred, Schroeder said." gazette.com, Jan. 14, 2006

Cross Connection Control Backflow Prevention 9/11 & You (see pages 6 & 7) "In recent months terrorist threats have forced America's utility managers to re-examine vulnerability - particularly of the nation's water systems, however some water professionals have been warning about the potential dangers of cross-connection and backflow for decades. "Sometimes we just weren't taken as seriously as we have been since 9/11," observes Les O'Brien, who teaches Backflow Prevention... O'Brien points out it's not just terrorists that threaten drinking water supplies." The Floridian, Volume One, Issue four

SA girl's electrocution ignites service debate "Oprah Rapuleng was due to start school on Wednesday, like other six-year-old South Africans, however she was electrocuted after drinking water from a standpipe near her Soweto home, in a case which has caused outrage among her friends and neighbours. They claim that shoddy work by the company which installed pre-paid water meters affected the electrical system, resulting in her death. ... "What happened there is that there was no earthing in the houses in that area. So when the girl went to open the tap water she was electrocuted." The community alleges that electric shocks have been widespread - including in the local primary school - since Joburg Water embarked on Operation Gcina Manzi, a campaign aimed at saving 7bn litres of water lost in Soweto every month." BBC News, Jan. 11, 2006

Biofilm formation and control in dental unit waterlines "This review details the current literature on relevant aspects of biofilm formation and microbial control in dental practice. To date, there is no published evidence of a serious public health risk from biofilmcontaminated waterlines. However, there remain few effective methods of decontamination of such waterlines. ...Nevertheless, the waterlines of dental units remain a potential weakness in the control of infection in the dental practice, as they can easily become contaminated... Previously it was found that backflow of material from dental units to the mains water supply could occur and it may be necessary to install check-valves to prevent this occuring. ...In addition, the water supply of dental units should no longer be connected directly to the public water supply." Biofilms (2005) 2, 9-17 Cambridge University Press

Code Requirements on Thermal Expansion Control in Domestic Service Water Heating Systems" When dual-check valves and check valves are installed in water meters, they seal off the household plumbing system from the potable contaminated household water into the public supply. Because they do their job so well, these backflow devices can contribute to thermal expansion, which can cause serious problems. ...The first indication of a thermal expansion problem is the phone call from a customer, angry that his water heater relief valve is continually spilling hot water. The possible liability facing the Water Authority, however, is far more serious than the customer angry about wasted water. What the customer, the Water Authority, and even many plumbers don�t realize is that long before the 150 psi relief valve pops, dangerous pressures are continually being exerted on the water heater, fittings, fixtures, appliances, and the piping system on a regular basis... two or three times a day. ...The safety valve may operate once or twice a day, which is not only wasteful, but is also dangerous. A T&P valve is designed as an emergency control on ly, not as an operating control, and this continuous operation may cause premature failure of the valve. What most people don�t realize is that dangerous conditions can exist during thermal expansion long before the relief valve operates. Internal pressures repeatedly occurring during recovery periods can collapse the center flue of a gas fired water heater, creating a hazardous presence of deadly carbon monoxide gas or even a water heater explosion." www.NorthOgdenCity.com

Outsourcing City Hall -- A leaner, more efficient way to push people around "At the beginning of 2005, Sandy Springs was an unincorporated Georgia suburb with a history of grousing that its taxes were subsidizing the rest of Fulton County rather than funding needed services at home. At the beginning of 2006, it is the seventh largest independent city in the state, population circa 85,000, and has mostly succeeded in crawling out from under the Fulton authorities' rule. The wealthy town's new government consists of a mayor, a city council, and a skeleton crew of public employees.Nearly everything else, from public works to urban planning, will be provided by the private sector ... ...At first glance, that might look like a radical libertarian utopia. ...But there's a fly or two in the ointment, problems not just in Sandy Springs but with the way local officials across the country have come to think about privatization and property rights. Most of Sandy Springs' services are nominally provided by private industry, just as Galambos says. But the consumer is the government of Sandy Springs. For the individual citizen, there will be no competing companies with competing qualities, competing prices, competing anything. Different enterprises will contend for the city's business, but the average resident will still face a municipal monopoly; it's just that the government is negotiating its contracts with companies rather than its own employees. ...The best thing about Sandy Springs might not be the fact that you'd want to live there, but the fact that you don't have to." Reasononline, Jan. 6, 2006

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