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

Miami-Dade Water & Sewer

Department

Cross-Connection Control Program Update &

Allowable Testing Procedures

Presented by: Juan Pelay March 4, 2015

Miami‐Dade County

S.E. tip of Florida

Strong Mayor form of government

13 commissioners

Total of 35 municipalities Including large unincorporated area Population: 2.8 million

85% minority population

Miami‐Dade County

Miami‐Dade Water & Sewer Department

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

Department-owned 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

CCC Program Statistics

24,750 backflow prevention assemblies

7,660 due for installation January 2016

525 registered testers

312 companies

Average mailing: 3,000 letters per month

Staffing:

4 Technical / Code Enforcement Field Staff

2 Office Staff

CCC Reference Manuals

AWWA Manual M14

USC Manual of Cross Connection Control

U.S. EPA Cross-Connection Control Manual

Guiding Principle

62-555.360 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.

Florida Plumbing & Backflow Association

Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association

Institute for Cross-Connection

Murray Backflow School

University of Florida TREEO Center

Accreditation

Ensure schools are teaching minimum requirements of the AWWA manual M14

Currently UF TREEO is the only accredited school

Spot Checking Testers

department.

15% of tests checked show some discrepancy Request a meeting at the site with the tester, to retest

the device

Issues Found during Spot Tests



Test kit discrepancies

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 3rd_Ed.

Why AWWA manual M14?

62-555.360(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

PNWS RP Test Procedures

PNWS DC Test Procedures

PNWS PVB Test Procedures

New England Water Works Association

NEWWA Use of Bypass Hose in RP Testing

NEWWA PVB Test Procedures

NEWWA DCVA Test Procedures

NEWWA RP Test Procedures

NEWWA SVB Test Procedures

M14 Test Procedure Differences ‐ RP

PNWS

Start by testing the RV

RV opening point

RV continues to open  opens fully

CV1 & CV2

1-hose test for CV2

NEWWA Test CV1 & CV2 Test RV

M14 Test Procedure Differences ‐ DC

M14 Test Procedure Differences ‐ PVB

PNWS

1-hose method

NEWWA

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

Recording CV1 score

ASSE & TREEO take reading after backpressure test on CV2

Relieve Valve

Check Valve 2…?

Test Procedure ‐ RP

Test Procedures: DC

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

High side hose connected to TC1

2-hose (NEWWA)

High side hose to TC1

Low side hose to TC2

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

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