TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Douglas E. Smith, City Manager
DATE: December 7, 2016
Title
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE VIII IN CHAPTER 39 OF THE CITY OF MARGATE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL / BACKFLOW PREVENTION.
Body
BACKGROUND: Backflow prevention assemblies and devices help protect the city potable water system from contamination and pollution originating on customers' property. Ordinance 2013-10 was passed on October 16, 2013 to create Chapter 39, Article VIII which is entitled Cross Connection Control / Backflow Prevention. Current city code only requires customers to install or replace dual checks under very specific circumstances. The proposed code changes clarify the definition of a service connection point, which is the point water system ownership transitions from the city to a customer; the point of transfer of ownership to a single-family residential customer will now be after the dual check device if one is present. It also eliminates the requirement for single-family residential customers to maintain dual check devices. Dual checks cannot be tested in place and as a result it is nearly impossible to determine if maintenance is necessary. The city will replace dual checks in conjunction with regular water meter replacement cycles and take the responsibility for proper operation of the devices for single family residential customers. This change will allow the City to maintain accurate inventory of the devices in the system and provide accurate data to the Health Department as part of the new annual reporting requirement; and will be an overall efficient process in lieu of burdening residential customers with additional maintenance and reporting procedures.
The ordinance was approved on first reading by the Margate City Commission on November 16, 2016.
RECOMMENDATION: For approval.
FISCAL IMPACT: Approximately $250,000 in parts cost for installation by City of backflow prevention of residential properties...
Click here for full text