`Authority’s backflow prevention program is announced`

By Hal Johnson
Herald Writer

Non-residential and new residential water customers served by New Wilmington Municipal Authority will be required to install backflow prevention devices under a five-year program “to im-prove safety,” according to a news release from the authority.

The devices will be installed at the customer’s expense. Non-residential customers include com-mercial, industrial, medical, educational locations and multi-family apartments.

Under certain circumstances — such as fighting a fire — water pressure in the public system drops and any pollutants or contaminants in a customer’s plumbing could be siphoned back into the public system, potentially becoming a major threat to public health, the release said. According to the authority, the backflow device prevents that.

The authority said it is operating under orders from the state Department of Environmental Pro-tection to carry out state and federal laws.

With two exceptions, single-family houses will not be included. All new connections and single-family houses changing owners must have the devices installed before water service is provided.

Non-residential customers will have six months after being notified to comply. Noncompliance will result in denial of water service. Reasonable extensions of deadlines may be allowed for good cause, upon written request.

Using state guidelines, The authority has categorized customers according to their potential threat to the public water system. Customers in the “hazard” category will be first in the program.

Those customers will be invited to a meeting at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 26, at the New Wilmington Bor-ough Building. Experts on backflow will attend.

A list of approved plumbers and devices will be provided by the Authority. Plumbers certified in backflow prevention must test the installations.

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Updated January 5, 1999
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