Miami Dade County. Miami Dade Water & Sewer Department. Cross Connection Control Program 2/27/2015

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1 Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department Cross-Connection Control Program Update & Allowable Testing Procedures Miami Dade County S.E. tip of Florida Strong Mayor form of government 13 commissioners Total of 35 municipalities Including large unincorporated area Presented by: Juan Pelay March 4, 2015 Population: 2.8 million 85% minority population Miami Dade County Miami Dade Water & Sewer Department Municipal water & sewer utility located in Miami- Dade County, FL Serve 2.8 million residents + 2 million visitors annually Approximately 450,000+ metered services 87.5% Residential 7,800+ miles of water mains FY 2014 Gross Revenue: $560 million Cross Connection Control Program Began in mid-1990 s handling only Departmentowned facilities Originally planned that County would handle all testing for all customers. Original ordinance adopted in 1999, for new customers only Amended to add existing customers in 2002 Containment program Cross Connection Control Program Customer is responsible for installation and maintenance Department notifies customers Install Testing Others Notices for Testers Expired Certification Expired Test Kit Calibration 1

2 CCC Program Statistics 24,750 backflow prevention assemblies 7,660 due for installation January registered testers 312 companies CCC Reference Manuals AWWA Manual M14 USC Manual of Cross Connection Control Average mailing: 3,000 letters per month Staffing: 4 Technical / Code Enforcement Field Staff 2 Office Staff U.S. EPA Cross-Connection Control Manual Guiding Principle Florida Administrative Code Took effect May 5, 2014 Includes list of customer types that need backflow protection installed Requires an annual report Requires written CCC Plan Testers Originally specified a TREEO Only tester requirement Made to allow other schools County was to create and regulate backflow preventer testing trade Certified Backflow Preventer Tester So where does this leave us? Backflow Tester Schools in So. Fla. American Society of Sanitary Engineers Accreditation Florida Plumbing & Backflow Association Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association Institute for Cross-Connection Murray Backflow School University of Florida TREEO Center Ensure schools are teaching minimum requirements of the AWWA manual M14 Currently UF TREEO is the only accredited school 2

3 Spot Checking Testers Spot check 10% of tests submitted to the department. Issues Found during Spot Tests Test kit discrepancies 15% of tests checked show some discrepancy Request a meeting at the site with the tester, to retest the device Backflowgage Watts Midwest Test procedures used by the various testers Test Procedures Minimum standard is AWWA manual M14. Located in Appendix A starting page 85 in 3 rd Ed. Why AWWA manual M14? (1)(a) FAC lists M14 as a reference. The third edition of AWWA Manual M14 is incorporated herein by reference M14 Test Procedures Several test procedures: Pacific Northwest Section AWWA RP Test Procedures DC Test Procedures PVB Test Procedures New England Water Works Association Use of Bypass Hose in RP Testing PVB Test Procedures DCVA Test Procedures RP Test Procedures SVB Test Procedures M14 Test Procedure Differences RP Start by testing the RV RV opening point RV continues to open opens fully CV1 & CV2 1-hose test for CV2 M14 Test Procedure Differences DC 1-hose method 2-hose method Test CV1 & CV2 Test RV 3

4 M14 Test Procedure Differences PVB 1-hose method 2-hose method for testing the CV Test Procedures Used In Miami All test procedures must meet M14 6 schools All teach basically the same information All test procedures are basically the same, and meet M14 requirements Still, some testing issues remain Test Procedures: RP Test Procedure RP Reduced Pressure Principle Assembly: Recording CV1 score ASSE & TREEO take reading after backpressure test on CV2 Relieve Valve Check Valve 2? Test Procedures: DC Tests are basically the same 1-hose vs. 2-hose test for CV s 1-hose High side hose connected to the upstream TC Short tube on downstream TC 2-hose (NEWWA) High side hose to upstream TC Low side hose to downstream TC Test Procedures: PVB 1-hose vs. 2-hose test for CV 1-hose High side hose connected to TC1 2-hose (NEWWA) High side hose to TC1 Low side hose to TC2 All procedures test the Air Inlet the same way. 4

5 Issues with Tests Most test procedures taught at schools are the same or at least very similar. Why is there an issue? It s not what s being taught, it s how it s being learned. During field audits many testers have trouble performing the test. Possible Solutions Standardized Testing Procedures Local Enforcement Disallowing tester from submitting reports Fines (code enforcement) $1,000 fine for submitting false or fraudulent test report Statewide Licensing Create Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester as a licensed trade 5