Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley — The city of Hurley will work to come up with a plan for addressing water system cross connection violations.
Mayor Joe Pinardi said the city has until September to assure the Department of Natural Resources the violations have been addressed and corrected.
A connection between any part of the public water supply system and a source of contamination or pollution is called a cross connection. The aim is to eliminate cross connections to keep drinking water safe by keeping out contaminants and pollutants and preventing what are called backflows.
Pinardi said city street department employee Gary Laguna previously inspected residential houses, with some needing backflow prevention valves. Now the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is requesting the city follow up on the around 50 violations, many found during installation of new water meters.
Water normally flows in one direction, from the water system through the customer’s cold or hot water plumbing system to a faucet or other plumbing fixture. When water flows in the reverse direction, it is known as a backflow.
Pinardi said the city previously had a private company come in and check businesses for cross connections and the violations that now must be corrected are in private residences.
The mayor said his daughter was required to install a backflow prevention valve and it cost around $60 or $70. He said more than one valve may be needed for some households, however.
The city council briefly addressed cross connections Tuesday, but street superintendent Mark Bluse was ill, so the committee discussion was limited.
It was agreed Pinardi, public works committee chairman Robbie Lanctoe, Bluse and Gary Laguna will meet every two weeks to address DPW concerns.
In a related move, the city council adopted a revised ordinance on cross connections. It says the city may arrange for inspections of water system customers and have plumbing inspected by licensed contractors. Cross connections identified in inspections must be corrected at the user’s expense within 30 to 45 days.
Water service can only be discontinued after “reasonable notice” is given, however there is a provision for emergency discontinuances when public health is endangered.
Federal and state laws require all water utilities to establish and implement cross connection prevention programs.
Pinardi told the council the Public Service Commission requires water be shut off if proper notices are ignored.
Backflow occurs when back-siphonage or back-pressure is created in a water line.
Back-siphonage may occur when there is a drop in the supply pressure of the water distribution system, caused by a water line break, water main repair or during a rapid withdrawal of water from a fire hydrant, such as during the recent deadly fire in Ironwood. That creates a vacuum, which may pull or siphon contaminants or pollutants into the drinking water supply, turning the water to a dark color.
Back-pressure can also be created when a pump or boiler, for example, creates a pressure greater than that supplied from the water distribution system. That can force water to reverse direction.
Frequently mentioned by the DNR for potential contamination at residences are faulty water hose connections.
The WDNR recommends all industrial, commercial and institutional facilities be inspected for cross connections every two to six years.