The nearly universal acceptance of U.S. public water supplies as safe is a tribute to the successful management of this nations water systems.  With the growth in complexity of public infrastructure and extensive use of water and sewer systems, there is a danger of potential contamination of water supplies.  This increased risk to the integrity of water systems is a concern to the Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department.  The responsibility to protect this community's public water supplies from contamination rests with this office.

The program to secure and protect the public water system from contamination is called "Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control" (BPCCC).  A concurrent program is managed by the Greene County Health Department, Division of Plumbing Inspection, to secure and protect the water supply within the service customer's premises.

PROGRAM AUTHORITY

The authority for the BPCCC program of the Greene County Health Department is based upon the Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4101:2-51-38 Backflow.

The authority for the BPCCC program of the Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department is based upon the Ohio Administrative Code 3745-95-01 through 08 Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control.

The regulatory oversight of the BPCCC program for all Ohio public water supplies is the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  through regular inspections, program reviews and approvals, public water supplies are required to institute and maintain an effective BPCCC program.

The Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department (GCSED) has reassumed administration of the Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Program from the Greene County Combined Health District effective January 1, 2006 for all water customers of the GCSED.  The Ohio EPA requires the supplier of water to administer and enforce such a program to protect the public water system from contamination.

The Ohio EPA requires all backflow devices have thorough inspections and operational tests performed at least once every twelve months at the expense of the water customer.

Backflow devices are required for fire sprinkler lines, underground lawn irrigation systems, separation of the public water system from an auxiliary water system, and prevention of cross-connections to any actual or potential hazard to the public water system.  These devices shall be repaired, overhauled or replaced at the expense of the consumer whenever they are found to be defective.  Records of such inspections, tests, repairs and overhaul shall be kept by the consumer and made available to the Sanitary Engineer.

The tests must be conducted by a plumber certified to test backflow prevention devices.  A list of certified plumbers in the area can be obtained by clicking here.  A copy of the form may be obtained by clicking here.  The form should be filled out and mailed back to Customer Service, Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department, 667 Dayton-Xenia Road, Xenia, OH 45385

A plumber holding a valid certificate as a backflow technician shall perform inspections, tests, and overhaul of backflow prevention devices. The customer shall provide a copy of any inspection or test report to the Sanitary Engineer by June 1 each year.  Failure to comply shall result in water service being shut off and not being restored until the customer has complied with these requirements.  Customers shall be charged the turn-off fee in effect at the time.

The governing regulations can be accessed on the following web sites.

Ohio EPA: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ddagw/oac.html#effective

GCSED: http://www.co.greene.oh.us/saneng.html

If you should have any questions, please contact Jim Bowen, Customer Service Manager at (937) 562-7495, or jbowen@co.greene.oh.us.

PRECAUTIONS:

THERMAL EXPANSION

Thermal expansion occurs when water expands due to being heated by a water heater.  When a backflow preventer is put on line, the expanded water is no longer allowed to flow back into the water main to be dissipated.  This may result in a pressure build up on the water heater causing the relief valve to open and vent water to the atmosphere.  Other possible side effects are damage to the center of the flue of a gas fired water heater from constant internal pressure which could spur a hazardous presence of carbon monoxide gas or even a water heater explosion.

State plumbing codes have addressed this situation requiring that an expansion tank or other device designed for expansion control be on the cold water supply to the heater.  This code should be followed by plumbers in making backflow installations.

It is also suggested that when a pressure relief valve is used, it should be installed above a drain or a line to the drain provided for water relief.   When using a thermal expansion tank, the appropriate size for the water demand should be used.