City asks businesses to comply with clean water regulations

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The City of Enterprise Public Works Dept. has sent out letters reminding local business owners of the Oregon State law and a related city ordinance requiring installation of double-check backflow devices to keep contaminated water from flowing back into the citys water mainlines. The letters also remind businesses of the state mandate that backflow devices pass an annual inspection by a certified tester. 

Hurricane Creek Landscaping, Eastern Oregon Landscaping and Action Plumbing out of La Grande all have certified testers available, according to Public Works cross-connection specialist Shawn Young.

The city has just installed a 2-inch backflow device at the baseball park to prevent contaminants such as fertilizer from flowing into the citys water system, at a cost of $360 for the equipment. Cost of an inspection ranges from about $40 to $70, said Young.

The backflow devices are required for business owners operating car washes, commercial washing machines, boilers, fire sprinkler systems and soda-pop machines that operate using CO2. Affected businesses include agriculture operations, launderettes, food processing plants, medical centers including hospitals, mortuaries, restaurants, and petroleum processing and storage plants.

The installation and reporting requirements have been in place for many years and the current state law requiring compliance has been in place since 1996. The city sent out the reminders to Enterprise businesses in an effort to increase compliance after receiving only 15 responses last year.

Young explained that once the inspection is completed, it is the responsibility of the certified inspectors to submit certification to the Public Works Dept.

The process for business owners to follow in complying with the clean water mandate is to first contact the Public Works Dept. to determine whether or not the device and inspection is actually necessary. If it is determined that a backflow device or inspection is needed, business owners need to set an appointment for installation or inspection. Young explained that once the inspection is completed, it is the responsibility of the certified inspectors to submit certification to the Public Works Dept.

Those who fail to respond can expect another reminder from the Public Works Dept. Young said that the city prefers to work with business owners and works to avoid the enforcement tactic of shutting off water service to those who refuse to comply with the requirement.