March 18, 2024

Backflow prevention program moving forward

The Newton Water Board approved moving forward with a backflow prevention program, utilizing Backflow Systems Solutions Incorporated to implement the program during its March meeting Friday. The company, based out of Illinois, will work for the city to check commercial or residential buildings on the backflow systems that are in place to see if it is up to code or potentially needed.

“The backflow prevention program is required in cities of 15,000 and is under the Department of Health. It requires that any business that may have a potential of high-hazard backflow into our public water supply has to have a containment device installed on their water service line going into the building. The backflow preventer keeps contamination from going back into the public water supply. If they have a sprinkler line they have to have a double check valve,” Board Member L. D. Palmer said.

Currently, the city has about 200 devices in place that it has records on. Palmer said he believes the city could have 700 total accounts that may need devices. With the help of Backflow Systems Solutions Incorporated, the city plans to begin checking 40 to 50 buildings at a cost of $5,000 per year. All work will be administered by the hired firm beginning with sending out informational letter to those who need to be checked.

“They take the data that we have so far and their IT people put it online and we have total access to it of all of the information on the backflows, who has a device and who doesn’t, who has had it tested and who hasn’t,” Palmer said.

The city found that hiring an outside firm was the most cost effective option. Hiring a new employee and training them was a much more expensive option than outsourcing the work. Backflow Systems Solutions Incorporated has also worked with other cities in Iowa, including Johnston and Clive.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com