Hydro Designs, Inc. (HDI)

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October, 2011

Hydro Designs, Inc. has been assisting WRWA this past year with a new 40 Hour, Hands-On Cross Connection Control Training Course.  The most recent class had 23 participants that obtained Cross-Connection Assembly Tester Certification Credentials administered by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.



Congratulations to all of those that participated in the training class and we look forward to continuing to assist WRWA with future classes.

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APWA Reporter, September 2010
Excellent Article with insights written by Richard Coates, III, P.E.

http://issuu.com/APWA/docs/reporteronline_092010
(page 20)

Here is a summary of his top ten reasons to consider privatization:

1. Specialized skills are needed
2. Staff augmentation
3. Temporary and seasonal assignments
4. Management doesn't understand the business
5. Lack of manager
6. Management doesn't have time to manage the program
7. Cost - it's cheaper to outsource
8. To pass on risk; reduce liability
9. Managed competition
10. More flexibility with existing personnel and other resources

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WRWA in conjuction with Hydro Designs, Inc. recently received course approval from the WI-Department Of Commerce to provide a 40 Hour Cross Connection Control Assembly Tester Course.

This class will provide participants with the training and "hands on" laboratory experience to complete the requirements for a Certified Backflow Tester in the State of Wisconsin.

For more information on this Cross Connection Control Training Course, visit the Wisconsin Rural Water Association web site:  www.wrwa.org or download the course information here:  WRWA Tester Course Information.

Press Release from Richard Duncan, Executive Director, DRWA

January 4th, 2011

Delaware Rural Water Association (DRWA) has obtained ASSE approval to offer Backflow Prevention Assembly Training!

Milford, DE – The Delaware Rural Water Association continues to emerge as the State of Delaware’s leading association dedicated to providing specialized training not only for its water and wastewater professionals but now it has taken the next step in educating architects, engineers, regulatory and plumbing professionals.

Delaware Rural Water Association is pleased announce that its training center has received national recognition and accreditation from the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE), for Cross Connection Control Certification. This nationally recognized ANSI® accreditation is designed to provide qualified students a national certification for obtaining a certified backflow assembly tester status not only in the State of Delaware, but throughout the United States. 

The Delaware Rural Water Association‘s goal is to help provide a safe and dependable supply of drinking water and is committed to ensuring that their efforts continually improve and protect drinking water resources in our country..

CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL

A cross connection is a direct or a potential arrangement of drinking water piping that is or can be connected to a questionable source.  A common example is a garden hose attached to a sill cock with the end of the garden hose submerged into a bucket of detergent.  Other examples may be your home’s underground lawn sprinkling system or water treatment unit.  Examples of commercial cross connections may be found on carbonated beverage equipment, boilers and process equipment.

In order to maintain a safe and dependable drinking water supply at the highest level possible, backflow prevention assemblies are required where the water may come into contact with a contaminant. It is required by state and local codes that all backflow prevention assemblies be tested at a minimum on an annual basis or as required by your local water utility. Any such testing and/or maintenance must be preformed by an individual that successfully completed a certified course such as the ASSE Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester course. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in the contamination of your public water supply or perhaps discontinuation of your water service.

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Hydro Designs, Inc. has worked with the DRWA over the past year to facilitate Cross Connection Control & Backflow Prevention Training.  Congratulations to Rick Duncan and his TEAM for obtaining ASSE school approval to offer Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Training and for their efforts to promote safe drinking water. 

 

December 2010

Impact beyond Department Of Public Works (DPW) or Water Utility Department

Implementing and managing a cross connection control program effects more departments and people than just the DPW or Water Utility staff.  Here are a few examples:

- Accounting/Billing - Address information.  Accurate database information and an ongoing process to implement address changes is needed.

- Plumbing, Building, Fire Inspectors.  Code Enforcement.

- Local Health Inspectors and State Regulatory Agencies

- Local Government Officials

- Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers and Licensed Plumbers

- Public Water Users:  Residential Customers vs. Commercial/Industrial Water Users..Cross Connection Control Regulations and impact will vary.



Ongoing communication with each of these various stakeholders is essential in order to ensure cross connection control program success/compliance.

September 2010

Distinguished Service in Water Distribution Award

Barry Walter, Vice President of Hydro Designs, Inc. Cross Connection Control Services recently received the Distinguished Service in Water Distribution Award from Danny Coats of the Water and Waste Operators Association (WWOA) of Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia.

Danny Coats(left) With Barry Walter (right)

Mr. Walter has been with Hydro Designs, Inc. for over 15 years and developed Municipal Cross Connection Control Programs for water systems in Michigan and Wisconsin. 

In 2009, Barry moved back to his home state of Maryland and is now bringing his Cross Connection Control Training and Program Management experience to the Mid-Atlantic Region.

 

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Backflow Administrator Program Certification

Hydro Designs, Inc. team members receive ASSE Series 5000, Standard 5150 Certification.

Stu Asay, P.E, PH.D, IAPMO Director of Backflow Prevention Institute conducted the training course earlier this year for 15 staff members. 

 

Click here for more information and to read the recent article including course content in OFFICIAL Magazine.

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When it comes to Cross Connection Control Resources, you can find plenty of information on the internet.  Some useful sites and links (in no particular order):

1. Les O'Brien, Univ. of Florida TREEO Center, Backflow Prevention Links
2. USC - Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research 
3. Backflow News
4. Backflow Prevention Tech Zone
5. American Backflow Prevention Association
6. Watts Backflow Prevention Literature
7. Wilkins Backflow Preventer Maintenance Video and Literature
8. FEBCO Cross Connection Control Handbook
9. Backflow Test Kits - Backflow Prevention Assembly Test Procedures
10. Cross Connection Control - Best Practices Guide EPA
11. AWWA Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control DVD
12. IAPMO Drinking Water & Backflow Prevention
13. Plumbing Engineer Magazine
14. BCWWA Cross Connection Control

 

Cross Connection Control Programs
In House vs. Outsourcing

 

“Times have changed. Now public water and wastewater utilities must evaluate all cost-effective options to ensure that their operations are efficient and competitive.”

AWWA Journal, November 1999, Vo. 91, No. 11, pp. 44-47

 

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Seems like this article is even more relevant in today's economy.  Water purveyors and utilities have to do more with less and continue to look at cost cutting measures in order to balance budgets.

 

 

One of the items that is certainly on the radar for financial decision makers is Cross Connection Control or Backflow Prevention Programs.  Implementation and management of a Cross Connection Control Program can seem like a daunting task.  However, like many projects, one needs the proper tools and plan (directions) to get the task accomplished.

I've attached a few links to help with the process and answer the question:  What are some of the necessary resources (expenses) required in order to implement and manage an on-going Cross Connection Control Program?  This by no means is an exhaustive list..some utilities purchase their own backflow prevention assemblies and manage the annual assembly testing..(cost is added to the consumer water bill.)  Of course, with each state having different regulations and cost recovery methods, one approach may not work for another system.

 The point of these attached worksheets is simply to provide several cost elements to consider when determining expenses for Cross Connection Control Program implementation and management.

• Cross Connection Control Program Worksheet(click here for .pdf)

 

• General Outsourcing Decision Making Scorecard (click here for .pdf)

 

As always, we welcome your questions or comments.

If you have been following us for awhile, you may have noticed a new look to our web site.  We are completely updating our web site to provide the latest information and technical resources as it relates to Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention.

We will be featuring more video clips, photos, training and educational resources that we believe you will find valuable for assisting with Cross Connection Control.

As always, we remain available to answer any Cross Connection Control technical or administrative questions that you may have.