HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7867 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7867
October 4, 1994
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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8 ix
Ian Subject: PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S
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CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
The City's cross-connection control program has been developed to prevent the contamination
of the public water supply through backflow and/or backsiphonage situations. A cross
connection is any physical arrangement where a public water system is connected directly or
indirectly with any other apparatus that may cause any substance, other than drinking water, to
enter the drinking water system. A backflow can occur under any set of hydraulic conditions
where the system is not protected by an approved backflow assemble. (Backflow means the flow
in the direction opposite to the normal flow or the introduction of any foreign liquids, gases, or
substances into the water distribution system).
The City of Fort Worth is required by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Committee
(TNRCC) to eliminate or control cross connections and to maintain a cross connection control
program for the potable water distribution system serving its customers.
The current City of Fort Worth's Cross Connection Control policy requires that cross connection
devices at commercial and industrial sites be permitted according to the following permit fee
structure:
First Device Additional Devices
Reduced pressure device $100 $50
Double check/double $50 $25
gate device
These fees generate approximately $130,000 in revenues, used to cover the cost of the City
testing the devices and administering the program. Program administration has resided in the
Water Department since May, 1993.
On June 7, 1994 (M&C C-14331), the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into
a contract with Back(low Management Inc. (BMI) to provide technical and professional
assistance in the evaluation, development and implementation of a revised cross connection
control program. Activities to date include:
* preparation of a proposed Cross Connection Control ordinance;
* discussion with all affected City departments (Fire, Health, Environmental
Management, Development) of the proposed program revisions, resulting in
consensus on the proposed policy; and, .
OFFICIAL
CITY SECRETARY
FT. WORTH, lix,
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7gfi7
aaregFa October 4, 1994
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
10
Page 2 of 3
EXA Subject:
1873 PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
meetings with Tarrant County Plumbers Assocation, current cross -connection
permittees, Texas Engineering Extension Service, wholesale water customers, the
City Fire Marshal, major hospitals in Tarrant County, League of Neighborhoods,
TNRCC and the Plumbing Board in Austin, and the Informal Water&Wastewat-
er Retail Rate Advisory Committee.
Areas of concern in the current program include the inability to test all devices at the time of
their installation, the inability to perform thorough audits of commercial/industrial facilities to
identify cross connections, the inability to provide-much needed public education programs and
information to all customers, and the inability to establish "partnerships" with major customers
as well as other affected departments which would result in closer working relationships and an
overall better cross connection control program.
Several changes are being proposed in the program:
1. Testing of all cross connection devices at the time of installation.
2. Responsibility for.determining whether and what type of a cross connection
device is needed will reside with the Water Department.
3. Privatization of the testing of devices after the initial test.
4. Certification of testers by the Fort Worth Water Department.
5. Increased public education for both residential and commercial customers.
6. Increased inspection and audit programs.
The initial estimated annual cost of this enhanced program is $223,000. Funding of this
program by the current method of permit fees no longer seem appropriate for several reasons:
with privatization of the testing, commercial customers will be paying the cost of
testing directly to the testers;
TNRCC's proposed rules require that all cross connection devices be tested at the
time of installation, including residential customers; and,
OfFICIAL RECORD
the public education program will be aimed at all customers. C" SECRITARY1
FT. WORTH, TEX.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAr.FR C7,.%r3.r 1 AI^MVU 'rr--Nr A C,
Jji, �
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7867
��aTERFa October 4 .1594
nF .. � To the Mayor and Members of the City Council ,t,-
o
.� Page 3 of 3
tEXPS Subject:
1873
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH'S
CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM
It is proposed that permit fees no longer be collected and that the program funding be included
in the Water Department's operating budget. Through transferring available resources, the cost
of the program will be absorbed in the Water Department 1994-95 budget.
An implementation schedule is outlined below:
November, 1994 Revised ordinance to the City Council
November-
December, 1994 Conduct four (4) tester certification programs (12
students per class)
January 1, 1995 Effective date of ordinance
For this policy to be effective, continued coordination among all affected departments will be
necessary. To date, all of these departments have agreed that such coordination is necessary and
have committed to working together.
Unless othe e directed, staff will pursue the implementation plan of the revisions to this
P gr
1
City Manager
OFFICIAL, RECORD
CITY Jew.pETARy
TO WORTH, TEX. k
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER _ __ __ _— FORT WORTH,TEXAS.__`--