Public Utility District #1
Of
Jefferson County
March
20, 2006
Board of
Commissioners
Dana
Roberts, District 1
M. Kelly Hays, District 2
Wayne G.
King, District 3
Dear
Bywater Bay Water System Customer:
The purpose of this letter is to discuss the PUD's plan to
improve the reliability and safety of that portion of the
Bywater Bay water system that is serviced by a booster pump
station.
After the most recent power outage incident we reviewed our
procedures and liabilities within the Bywater Bay Water
System. We contacted DOH for advice and recommendations.
Their primary concern was the cross-connection potential
that could occur during the power outage. Unfortunately,
when Pope Resources built the system they designed it to
sell property, not to provide utility service and as a
result the highest location on the water tank is lower than
the highest home site. Therefore, a negative pressure could
result in the system during a power outage and result in
water being back siphoned into the water system from
individual homes. We do install single check valves at all
the residents, however, this is not enough protection to
meet the most current DOH regulations. The PUD does have a
cross connection prevention program in place, which
requires those residents that present a threat to the
system to purchase and install an approved cross connection
prevention device (see enclosure 1).
What the Board decided was that the PUD could pay for the
purchase and installation of a fairly sophisticated
generator set (over 7,500 dollars), however all the home
owners will have to install an approved double check at
their home site. The double check will have to be inspected
annually by a certificated Backflow Assembly Tester (BAT).
The PUD has a trained staff member; however we currently
charge 50 dollars per visit.
I asked Mike McClure, our state certified Cross Control
contamination Prevention Specialist to prepare information
on what will be required. Attached is documentation on an
approved assembly unit that he would recommend. The devices
should be positioned after the meter; but before any water
usage devices (lawn hydrants, sprinkler systems, etc.).
They will remain property of the homeowner, The assemblies
need to be professionally installed (by a licensed
plumber); Mike will come by to certify the work was done
correctly. The hardware will cost somewhere between 100 and
150 dollars; and there will be an installation charge. The
area home owners may wish to get together and hire a
plumber to install the devices as a group; this may save
time and expense.
We appreciate you time and patience on this matter.
G.
Parker PE
230
Chimacum Road / P.O. Box 929, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 PH
(360) 385-5800 FX.(360) 385-5945