5/4/04

Cross Connection Inspections to Begin

In May, residences with secondary water meters, as well as businesses, will be visited by Town of Holly Springs Cross-Connection Control Coordinator Wayne Wilhelm to make certain devices that prevent water from flowing backward from the property owner’s water supply into the public drinking water supply are in place and in compliance with state law.

This initiative is in response to a new state law, as well as the Town’s backflow and cross-connection ordinance, requiring municipalities to create cross connection programs that monitor which properties need devices to prevent the backward flow of water and the potential contamination of the public drinking water supply. The program will also make certain that the devices are maintained.

A cross connection is any physical connection that ties the public drinking water system with another source of water or water system that has questionable water quality. For residential property, some examples of cross connections include irrigation systems, swimming pools and the usage of well water. Under certain circumstances, such as a break in a water main or a firefighting effort, and without the proper prevention devices, there is a possibility of contaminated water entering the public drinking water supply through the cross connection.

These backflow prevention devices use a system of check valves to prevent water and potential contaminants from the secondary water system or source – for example, the irrigation system or swimming pool – from being forced backward into the Town’s drinking water supply.

This summer, after the site inspection, if a Town employee finds a backflow prevention device that is not up to Town and state standards, or if a Town employee finds a property that needs a backflow prevention device, the Town’s cross-connection control coordinator will mail the property owner a letter. The letter will detail the necessary steps the property owner will need to take to comply with Town standards and state law.

Because the Town of Holly Springs will only inspect outside devices and water meters, residents will not need to be present during the visit. Eventually, all Town water customers will be visited to ensure that backflow prevention devices are installed properly where needed.

Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us