Highlands Today
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Backflow Devices Required On Many Homes
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Published: July 16, 2008
LAKE PLACID - Local municipalities and the county are scrambling to comply with a 2002 state mandate that might cost thousands of county public water customers at least $300 each.
About 500 Lake Placid water company residential and business customers are on the hook for about $200,000, said Gary Freemen, utilities director.
About the same number of county public water users are also liable, said Ramon Gavarrete, county engineer.
A letter addressed to Freeman from Raymond Kenney, engineering specialist II with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency, warned the utilities director about possible fines for non-compliance.
"The department can take enforcement and assess administrative penalties," wrote Kenney.
The DEP mandate forces public water users to install double check valves that would prevent contaminated water from entering the public water system. The DEP most recently required installation by Aug. 28.
Public and private drinking water providers would be required to install "backflow prevention assembly devices" to keep non-potable water sources from jeopardizing the quality of public water.
A valve installed at the customer's meter would shut down any backflow and prevent the possibility that contaminated water could enter the public water system.
"If water is contaminated, it doesn't get into our system, and it possibly saves lives or anybody getting sick," said Freeman. "If there is any possibility of the water being contaminated, we can't jeopardize the health of customers."
Fouled water could enter the public system from washing a dog, fertilizing with chemicals or spraying with a pesticide.
Freeman said that all water company customers who use ground water to irrigate or live close to a water source, including one of the town's 25 lakes, are required to install the devices.
Gavarrete said that about 500 of 1,200 county water users, along with many more municipal users in Avon Park, Sebring and the county's improvement districts would likely be forced to comply.
There are not enough plumbers or certified inspectors in the county to install the equipment for all impacted customers, said Gavarrete. And it would be "very unreasonable" to expect compliance by an Aug. 28 deadline.
Both Lake Placid and the county are asking the DEP for more time to devise and implement a plan.
"We were told by the DEP, you guys are running out of time," said Gavarrete. "The DEP could come in and write us up, but it's not something we need to rush into."
At Monday's meeting, the Lake Placid Town Council voted to authorize an invitation for bids to install.
Backflow prevention assembly devices cost about $135, with additional installation and material charges.
Freeman expects to open the bids Aug. 5, with council acting at the Aug. 11 meeting.
Both Freeman and Gavarrete expect the full process, including implementation, to last for at least a year.
"It depends on how fast plumbers can put them in," said Freeman.
Lake Placid Council decided to likely band together and seek bids for all customers, in a bid to save money and time devoted to the project by water customers.
"We'll determine how we're going to handle it," said Councilman Ray Royce. "It's hard to go out to the residents and say, 'Go out and spend $400.'"
Freeman said customers would likely be billed for installation of backflow devices over a year's time period, or a prorated monthly charge.
Gavarrete suggested that all county public water providers seek one overall bid to further cut costs.
Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com
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