What is the Backflow Department?
Also known as the Cross-Connection Control Program (CCCP); the village service department is responsible for the prevention of actual or potential connections between the public water supply and a source of contamination or pollution.
Staff are responsible for:
- Inspecting the installation of backflow assemblies
- Creating and Enforcing policies related to the CCCP
- Tracking all the backflow assemblies in the system, and ensuring they are tested annually by NC certified backflow testers.
- Assisting customers, testers and installers with any questions pertaining to compliance or backflow assembly information.
- Meeting current state and federal guidelines for drinking water.
What is a backflow assembly?
A backflow assembly is a testable one-way valve that prevents water from a business or residence from flowing back into the main drinking supply.
Why is a backflow assembly necessary?
In the event that pressure is lost on the main line feeding your meter, water from a private line could potentially be siphoned back into the mainline unless a properly working backflow assembly is in place. This is known as back siphonage. If a hazard is directly connected to a customer’s waterline, then contaminants and pollutants could potentially be siphoned back into the main drinking supply as well.
Another concern is backpressure, and this occurs when pressure is created on the private side of the meter by a pump or a heat source. This could include a pump used to increase water pressure for a Fireline or a boiler, which increases the pressure in the water line through heat (thermal expansion). Backpressure doesn’t require a drop in pressure on the public side of the meter to cause a backflow issue, making it harder to track.
What could cause a backflow occurrence?
- If a mainline break it will cause immediate pressure loss.
- If anyone uses a hydrant nearby it may cause significant pressure loss.
- If a boiler causes the pressure on a customer’s private line to be greater than the pressure on the public side.
- If a pump is used on the private side of the meter. This can increase the pressure to a point where it is higher on the private side than on the public side causing backpressure. This could be to feed fire lines or buildings and homes when the pressure at the meter is not high enough for the customer’s needs.
- ANY situation in which the pressure on the private water line is greater than the pressure on the mainline could potentially cause a backflow incident unless a backflow assembly is installed.
Who needs to install a backflow assembly?
- All commercial and Industrial water account holders.
- Any customer with an irrigation system hooked up to their water line.
- Any customer with a water meter that serves two or more households. (Multi-family)
- Any customer with a pool that does not have a hard piped air gap installed to fill their pool.
- Any customer hooked up to a secondary water system such as a well water hook-up.
- Any customer with a residential or commercial fire line.
- Any customer with a boiler system.
- Any customer with a yard hydrant.
- Any customer that presents a hazard of any type that could contaminate or pollute the water system.
- Any customer who recently installed a well or water storage tank.
Where in the City’s Code of Ordinances does it say that I am required to install and maintain a backflow assembly?
Chapter 931, Section 72
No arrangement shall be allowed whereby there may be any possibility of rain, well, or any other water of any source flowing into the Municipal mains or service lines.
No service pipe connected with the Municipal mains shall be connected with the pipes supplied with water from any other source except upon written permission by the Ohio EPA, which permit shall be revocable at any time.
Every service so connected shall be equipped with a Backflow Prevention valve to be installed in accordance with the requirements of the Ohio EPA.
Do I already have a backflow Assembly?
If you are being asked to install a backflow assembly, then the village is currently not tracking an assembly for your home or business. This does not mean that an assembly has not been installed by a previous owner. It is always a good idea to check right behind the meter, where the water enters the building and near specific hazards (such as a boiler or commercial dishwasher) to see if a backflow assembly has been installed. If you would like to set up a meeting with a backflow inspector, call us at 330-938-6922 and an inspector will come to help you look for a backflow assembly if the Village is not already tracking one at your address. This service is free of charge.
What qualifies as a backflow assembly?
The Village of Sebring requires that all assemblies are testable, lead free and meet industry standards. This means that the dual check valve attached to the back of the meter is only acceptable as a backflow assembly for single family homes on a domestic line with no other apparent hazards. This also means that the “backflow device” or check valve that comes with many commercial dishwashers and soda fountain machines are not accepted because they are not testable using the accepted methods and assemblies set forth by the Village of Sebring.
Who can I call to schedule a backflow test?
The inspectors for the Village of Sebring do not perform backflow tests. Backflow inspectors only perform backflow installation inspections. To schedule a backflow test you must contact a certified backflow tester.
How often does my backflow need to be tested?
Each backflow assembly must be tested annually at a set date. That date is going to be based on when the backflow was originally inspected, and the Village of Sebring began tracking that particular assembly. The due date does not reset based on the last time a test was turned in. For example, if a backflow assembly test is due in April and it doesn’t get tested until June; another test will have to be performed the following year in April.
Can I test my assemblies early?
The Village of Sebring allows tests to be submitted up to 60 days prior to their due date and still meet the compliance requirements for that year.
I have multiple assemblies and multiple due dates. Can these be consolidated and tested at the same time?
If you have multiple backflow assemblies that need to be tested at different times throughout the year, the backflow department can work with you to get all dates consolidated. This will require that all assemblies are tested at once and that no assembly has gone more than one year without being tested. For example, if it’s August and you paid to have three assemblies tested in February and you have two more assemblies to test in September; then all five could be tested in September and the new due date for all five assemblies could be set to September. This must be approved by a member of the backflow department beforehand.
What happens if I don’t turn in my test on time?
Your water account may be subject to temporary service interruption if you haven’t submitted your test by the due date. If your water service has been shut off due to backflow non-compliance, then you need to speak to a member of the backflow department by calling 330-938-6922
What happens if my backflow assembly fails its test?
Notify the backflow department and call your chosen plumber to repair the backflow assembly. Once the assembly is repaired or a new assembly is installed, it needs to be tested, and the installation has to be inspected.
I didn’t receive courtesy notices from the village this year, what can I do?
If you didn’t receive the notices that the village sends out every month as a courtesy reminder then please call 330-938-6922. Your mailing address may need to be updated. The addresses in the backflow departments database are not updated automatically when customer service updates an address in their database, so please make sure you notify the village when your mailing address changes.