2010 Cross Connection Control Program
Overview
The City of De Pere Water Utility System delivers safe, high-quality drinking water every day. To continue to protect the public health and keep the water system safe from contaminants and pollutants we are required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and the City of De Pere Municipal Code to maintain a cross connection control program. The City of De Pere Water Utility has contracted with Hydro Designs, Inc. (HDI), of Brookfield, Wisconsin to manage our program. HDI is an environmental services firm that specializes in backflow prevention education and cross connection control inspections. Hydro Designs Inc does not sell plumbing devices, installations or perform device testing. They currently manage program services for over 115 municipalities and water utilities in Michigan, Wisconsin Illinois, Florida and Minnesota. HDI will perform the initial inspections of all residential, commercial and industrial buildings throughout the city to detect actual & potential cross connections and make recommendations for the installation of backflow prevention devices or assemblies where necessary. Buildings that have Well Water supply only and have no municipal water supply connection will not require an inspection. This will help ensure that contaminated or polluted water cannot backflow into clean drinking water.
WI NR 810.15 Defines a CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM as; The supplier of water for every municipal water system shall develop and implement a comprehensive control program for the elimination of all existing cross-connections and prevention of all future cross-connections. A record of the cross-connection control program shall be kept current and available for annual review by the department.
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Public Education Program - We will inform our water customers with newsletters, and brochures. Visit the following web site for more information: Hydro Designs, Inc: http://www.hydrodesignsinc.com/ .
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Notices to Owners - Notify the building owner of a scheduled inspection date and any required corrective action.
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Cross Connection Survey - All residential, commercial, governmental, institutional and industrial facilities plumbing systems which are connected to the public water supply will be inspected to determine if cross connections exist as required by the WI DNR Regulation NR810.15.
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Installation of Protective Devices - Backflow prevention devices or assemblies will need to be installed at the owners expense where known unprotected cross connections exist as required by Dept. of Commerce Chapter Comm 82.41.
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Annual testing - All backflow prevention assemblies will be tested once a year by a State of Wisconsin certified tester of the owner's choice.
What Is a Cross Connection?
How Does Contamination Occur?
- Backsiphonage may occur when there is a drop in the supply pressure of the water distribution system. This can be caused by a water line break, water main repair, during a rapid withdrawal of water from a fire hydrant or other situation that creates a vacuum, which may pull or siphon contaminants or pollutants into the drinking water supply.
- Backpressure may be created when a source of pressure, such as a pump, boiler or other use creates a pressure greater than that supplied from the water distribution system; this may force water to reverse direction.
What is a Cross Connection Survey?
Cross connection control program questions can be directed to Hydro Designs, Inc. at (800) 315-4305.
Contact the City
- Phone: (920) 339-4050
- Fax:
(920) 330-9491 - Staff Directory