On the April 2009 water bill, Chesterfield County residents were notified that an annual inspection of backflow preventers on their irrigation system is required. There has not been an incident of cross-connection contamination in the past ten years. And, there is no indication of such for the ten previous years. So, why was the decision made to begin enforcement of the 1974 Water Works Regulation requiring annual inspections?
According to Roy Covington, Director of Utilities for Chesterfield, the risk of contamination is low-as characterized in a recent meeting of the Board of Supervisors- “low risk, high consequence.” In discussing this enforcement policy, an incident in Roanoke in 1979 is often referenced. Though it was an expensive cleanup ($240,000), it was not the result of a malfunctioning irrigation backflow preventer.
It was caused by the lack of a vacuum breaker on a hose bib (outside faucet) when the city was working on a water main. According to Doug Caldwell of the Lexington Office of Drinking Water, a pesticide applicator was diluting chlordane (now outlawed) adding water from a garden hose. When finished, the garden hose was left in the mixing container, and the solution siphoned back into the house, and, eventually, all the homes on Autumn Lane. It did not cause sickness or death. The residents were not successful in their $20 million suit against Roanoke, according the to present city attorney.
Basically, backflow does not occur unless there is a significant drop in pressure in a water system. Even then, several other conditions must exist simultaneously.
If annual inspections are so necessary, why is it that Henrico, Hanover and even the water supplier for Roanoke do not enforce this requirement for their residential customers?
It is my understanding that the EPA and industry standards recommend annual inspections only for high risk situations.
This requirement is financially burdensome for residents. If each of the 14,000 owners of irrigation systems in the county pays as little as $50/year for the inspection, the total cost would be $700,000. Compare that to the $240,000, the cost for cleanup in the Roanoke incident, once in 32 years. The cost to residents far exceeds the cost for cleanup in a rare instance. How unfortunate the residents should have this expense at a time when the economy is suffering.
I cannot imagine what the cost is to the County for enforcement. To date, there have not been any penalties or prosecutions. However, this expense, when the risk is low, seems unnecessary.
A close look at the State and County regulations requiring all homes have hose bibs with vacuum breakers is certainly indicated.
I hope you will amend this regulation with regard to annual inspections.
