A newsletter dedicated to Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention www.abpa-sa.org

March Vol. 28 Issue 3

Lawn Irrigation Systems – High Hazard or Low Hazard

Cross Connection?

Commentary – By Fred Baird – Bac-Flo Unlimited, Inc.

The following is a review of irrigation systems, their operation and considerations in the determination of high hazard (Health Hazard) cross connection or low hazard (Non-Health Hazard) cross connection classification.

One of the first things the average person must understand is the fact that water pressure goes from a higher pressure to a lower pressure. Water pressure is not always constant and there are many variables that create these backflow situations. These situations can be very minute such as a pressure fluctuation caused by demand or the complete loss of water pressure due to water main breaks, fires in the area, high demand, piping design, etc. Additionally, pumps and elevations can create back-pressure situations.

There have been many cross connection contamination events involving backflow situations. For everyone documented it is estimated that 20,000- 30,000 go undetected due to dilution. In documenting incidents in San Antonio for many years, we never documented an incident involving a residential lawn irrigation system. We did however, have an industrial site back-pressure almost a million gallons of contaminated water from an irrigation auxiliary water source into the city supply. The connection between the city supplied irrigation system and the auxiliary source was created without the water system’s knowledge. A Water Quality complaint involving illnesses led to the discovery of this incident. Also, we have been told about residential backflow situations where the potable water was contaminated.

Wonder why we never officially documented an incident on any other irrigation systems?

Let’s review how irrigation systems operate. There is a master valve and independent zone controllers. These valves only withstand 0.5 psi back-pressure. With the loss of water pressure – if the backflow preventer is not working as designed, the water in the irrigation system will be drained back into the potable water system. The irrigation system does not have to be on for the system to be drained into the drinking water supply. In San Antonio, a licensed irrigator and backflow tester has actually set up a system to demonstrate this at conferences.

Backflow Prevention Assemblies – Studies have shown through annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies a failure rate of 10-20%. If a backflow preventer is not tested for approximately 10 years the failure rate is in the area of 85%. What does this mean? Loss of water pressure – failed backflow preventer – and you are drinking water from your irrigation system!

Continued on Page 6

March Meeting Details Meetings of the San Antonio Chapter ABPA are usually held the second Thursday of every month except December. Dinner and refreshments are served at 6:00 p.m. sharp with the meeting starting at 6:30. The next meeting is: Date: Thursday, March 8, 2018 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: SAWS Bldg 2 Conference Room 2800 US Hwy 281 North. Program: To be announced Meal Sponsor: ABPA-SA Chapter

No alcoholic beverages allowed by

TCEQ Next Meeting: April 12, 2018

Meeting March Agenda 5:00 p.m. General discussion and quorum

confirmation 5:15 p.m. Call Meeting to order. 5:16 p.m. Secretary’s Report. Read and approve the

minutes of the previous meeting. 5:20 p.m. Treasurer’s Report. Discussion and

approval of the treasurer’s report. 5:25 p.m. Supply Officer’s Report 5:30 p.m. Vice President’s, Directors, and any other

reports for the good of the chapter. Comments, new business, any discussion.

5:40 p.m. Training Report. Training & Meal Sponsors 5:45 p.m. Webmaster Report 5:50 p.m. President’s Report. New & old business 6:00 p.m. Meal is served. 6:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting

1. Gauges to be tested. Carl Michaud- Bill Hamrick 2. First time attendees or visitors (get w/Jeff

Hoffman for membership application / info) 3. Irrigator’s Report. Ron Renouf 4. Report from the Directors Meeting. Brad Harrell 5. Election of Officers & Directors in October 6. City, regional, and national reports. James

Cantrell and any City personnel present 7. Supply Officer Report. Troy Baird 8. Training program for the evening. 9. Raffle prize announcement.

Ongoing Goals of ABPA-SA Chapter

1. Educational Outreach with public by

presenting at PHCC meetings, engineering firms, schools, and neighborhood associations. Continuing goal.

2. Greater use of TCEQ website. Tracking of CEUs, Services available. Personal education.

3. Increase member awareness of importance of chapter meetings. Increase attendance and public awareness.

4. Increase website resource information. More detailed links to more information like TCEQ, COSA, and any place that would be helpful to our members

Big Thanks to

BAVCO for sponsoring the February meal and a $50 Amazongift card for the raffle drawing. BAVCO for the $25 Amazon gift card for a drawing of all attendees who put a business card in the pot. Ron Chapman from BAVCO for providing the training program concerning the use of factory authorized parts during BFPAs repair.

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"Direct Talk" by the President

The annual PHCC/ABPA Skeet shoot is coming up on March 8th at the National Shooting Complex. I would like encourage anyone and everyone to attend. This event is a lot of fun to participate in. If for some reason you can’t participate then try to make it for the networking aspect. I look forward to seeing y’all there on March 8th!

Brad Harrell

Here is a good website for emergency information: www.sanantonio.gov/emergency/ Check it out. Chapter Chatter Plus My Opinions Greg Shean, Secretary This is going to be very interesting Read the TCEQ Input in the minutes. I reviewed both sides of the residential irrigation “To be a health hazard or not to be a health hazard” in last month’s Chatter and at the February meeting. My hope is the TCEQ goes with the facts, not the emotion, and will be independent of other organizations and states that have a “follow the herd” mentality. The final decision is going to be very interesting.

PHCC/ABPA-SA Clay Shoot My wife and I will again provide the reception meal for about 125. We start with 60# of smoked pork shoulder for pulled pork, make two types of BBQ sauce, a roaster each of our “meat and beans” and pork and beans, coleslaw, and this year, rum cake. This is prepared over the 4 days before the March 8th clay shoot. However, it’s between 3 PM and 5 PM on March 8th, so come for the food and beer and you can still make the ABPA-SA Chapter meeting for your CEUs.

Meeting Meal for those with CRS disease March 8th Pork Spare Ribs (quantity – 2) w/rice, pinto beans, creamy potato salad, tea, and cookies.

MINUTES SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER-ABPA

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Thursday, February 8, 2018

Brad Harrell, president, presided over and opened the San Antonio Chapter-ABPA Board of Directors meeting starting at 6:32 pm, in the Tower 2 Conference Room at HQ SAWS.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - PRESENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - ABSENT Brad Harrell - President Anthony Romero – Vice President Jeff Hoffman –Treasurer Greg Shean – Secretary Troy Baird – Past President

OFFICERS SPECIAL TO THE CHAPTER - PRESENT

OFFICERS SPECIAL TO THE CHAPTER - ABSENT

Carl Michaud – Gauge Testing & Certification Jim Cantrell – Liaison to SAWS Bill Hamrick - Special Officer to Gauge Testing and Certification

Manny Hernandez – Public Relations/ Speakers/ Program Topics

Troy Baird - Supply Officer

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Jeff Meeks - Sgt. At Arms Matthew Wilgen – Webmaster

DIRECTORS AT LARGE - PRESENT DIRECTORS AT LARGE - ABSENT Ron Renouf Fred Baird Robert Stricker Bruce Rathburn Carl Michaud Joe Fazekas Gene Hinojosa Frank Snyder GUESTS PRESENT Kyle Loffler, Miller Mays.

Ron Chapman, BAVCO, Michigan.

Agenda Item #1. Secretary’s Report: The January meeting minutes were in the January newsletter. Robert made a motion to accept the minutes. Passed. INFO.

Agenda Item #2. Treasure Report: No report. INFO.

Agenda Item #3. Supply Officer Report: Troy has an inventory that will make you look good. Caps are $10, T-shirts are $15, shirts are $25, and jackets are $45. INFO.

Agenda Item #4. Meal Sponsor: BAVCO is sponsoring the meal w/sautéed vegetables, side salad, roll, sweet and unsweetened tea, and cookies. INFO.

Agenda Item #5. Raffle Sponsor: BAVCO provided a $50 Amazon gift certificate and an additional $25 Amazon gift certificate drawing for those providing a business card. INFO.

Agenda Item #6. TCEQ Report: TCEQ conducted an informal stake holder meeting on backflow for irrigation systems at the Tesoro building, 8700 Tesoro Drive, on January 16th at 1:30. TCEQ listened to comments about whether irrigation backflows should be a low hazard or health hazard. They made no comments. Greg and Joe gave summary. Only six of about 35 attendees made comments. Three wanted a health hazard designation because of confirmed health hazards of irrigation water. Three wanted to keep it as a low hazard as existing rules could be better enforced since SAWS does not have the employees to expand their backflow program at this time. Bruce added that more than 80,000 assemblies are in the SAWS system that do not receive a notification from SAWS. He also added that per plumbing code, notice or not, they are required to be tested annually. Plumbing code and TCEQ RG 344 requires anyone maintaining irrigation systems must ensure there is a current backflow test before performing any type of irrigation maintenance. Bruce said that SAWS is taking this very seriously, and will follow whatever rulemaking comes down from the state. INFO.

Last August John Decel, Chair of the TCEQ Irrigation Advisory Council, said that he made a recommendation that TCEQ review RG 344 irrigation rules. All comments must be made by February 28th, whether for or against it. Comments can be made on the TCEQ website. John said that he has attended all of the TCEQ presentations to date and 144 attended and 35 made comments. He said that the AWWA and the ABPA considers residential irrigation a health hazard because of what can be found in the irrigation water. Rain and water events accumulate and flow back into the heads if submerged. He asked that, agree or disagree, submit your comments, as we are the subject matter experts. He said that all of 344 irrigation rules are up for comment. INFO.

Agenda Item #7. Irrigation Report: Ron said that Shavano Park is registered with Civil Systems who keeps track of licenses to ensure that you are legal. According to Civil Systems, 98% of all cities have had contractor fraud problems. It costs $50 per year but you might be the only person who can test where Civil Systems are used. INFO.

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Agenda Item #8. Home & Garden Show: Jeff confirmed that we will have the same booth location and at the same price for the September 14, 2018 show. Joe confirmed that there was more traffic in the September garden show than in the February show. INFO.

Agenda Item #9. ABPA National Report: No one responded when Bill asked if anyone had received the ABPA resending of the 2,200 letters for director nominations. INFO.

Agenda Item #10. South Texas Irrigation and Lawn Expo (STILE): Joe and Greg attended the expo on January 20th. The location, at the Embassy Suites at IH 10 and IH 410, was definitely an improvement. Joe described the breakfast and lunch food selections. Greg said that some large equipment booths did not get much attention. The expo crowd thinned out considerably for the two CEU presentations and then returned after the presentations. The presentations were given by The City of San Antonio Plumbing Inspection and the other was the SAWS Conservation Section. INFO.

Agenda Item #12. COSA Plumbing Inspections Department Report: Was present with no report given. INFO.

Agenda Item #13. PHCC Report: Brad said the Young Members Awards were given to Colton Bolin ABPA-SA and Mike Shannon COSA Development Services. The PHCC/ABPA-SA Clay Shoot will be again be at the National Shooting Complex off Culebra on March 8th. Greg will again be providing the reception meal. INFO.

Agenda Item #14. SAIA 5th Annual South Texas Irrigation & Landscape Expo (STILE): Brad talked about STILE and new location. The Expo will be on January 20th at the Embassy Suites at IH 10 and IH 410. There will be two, 2 CEU presentations – The City of San Antonio Plumbing Inspection and the other will be SAWS. Each class will cost $25 to attend but Expo admission will be free. INFO.

Agenda Item #15. Training: Ron Chapman summarized OEM part, “If it seems cheap, and too good to be true, it probably is!” The first issue is last of 3rd party approvals which changes the approved backflow assembly. Modifications to backflow prevention assemblies will invalidate the Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research’s approval. Assemblies must be installed and maintained in the configurations(s) and orientation(s) in which they were evaluated and approved. The 3rd party approvals can only be given on what they have “evaluated.” For example: the FEBCO 825 Y Nitrile rubber had trouble with reactions to some chemicals. Silicone rubber was submitted it to USC with a rubber change only and it failed. The second issue is liability insurance. Ron explained the concerns: What they produce? How many they produce? Manufacturing oversight. The parts must meet ASTM manufacturing standard. Tolerances are met according to standards which is especially important in the rubber products. Manufacturers must be supply the same rubber. Manufactures must make sure only originally passed parts are used in assembly. The third issue is performance. Before a backflow preventer is ever sold it must through design, reviews, and approvals. Lots of performance data is produced on how this product should work. Any change of rubber will change performance to some degree, the question is how much? The backflow flow manufacturer does not know the exact recipe of the rubber use.

Non-factory hardware parts: Stainless steel bolts or washers - stainless steel is graded. Chromium and nickel determines hardness, corrosion, with thickness, diameter and grade also making a difference on the performance. Cost of OEM factory repair parts are a definite consideration. Manufacturers must recover their costs and show a profit. Older or obsolete assemblies will tend to cost more. Ron gave cost examples of newer devices and obsolete or an odd size model. Plus the manufacture has to deal with units left over, holding costs, product degradation, and additional costs such as marketing, payroll, and warehousing.

It was moved the meeting be adjourned. Seconded and passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 for the raffle.

Greg Shean, Secretary ABPA San Antonio Chapter 5

Cont. from page 1

Backflow Prevention Assemblies – Studies have shown through annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies a failure rate of 10-20%. If a backflow preventer is not tested for approximately 10 years the failure rate is in the area of 85%. What does this mean? Loss of water pressure – failed backflow preventer – and you are drinking water from your irrigation system! In Houston, as an example, there is no requirement to test their irrigation backflow protection on residential irrigation systems. Many have been installed for over 20 years without testing, which the majority will not prevent backflow. Hurricane Harvey – Houston floods- many of these backflow preventers were under several feet of sewerage contaminated water. Water pressure lost – these failed backflow prevention assemblies would allow the flood waters to be drained right through the pressure vacuum breakers into the public drinking water system. There is a move not only in Texas, but some other states also, to designate all irrigation systems a high hazard cross connection. Many States already classify irrigation as a high hazard cross connection as detailed in plumbing codes. Currently in Texas – the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has classified the simple residential irrigation systems as a low hazard. This comes from what irrigation systems were 60 years ago when there was no chemical injection, toxic drip irrigation involving root killer, aux. water sources, etc., as we are seeing in today’s world. TCEQ regulations apply to annual testing of high hazard (health hazard) cross connection Backflow Preventers only and no annual testing requirement on low hazard cross connection assemblies, because all plumbing codes call for annual testing on high and low hazard backflow prevention assemblies. Many cities are not requiring annual testing on the simple irrigation system and are

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citing the plumbing codes as not requiring monitoring, i.e., annual test due notices, along with TCEQ not considering irrigation a high hazard. If the irrigation systems are moved to a high hazard classification, the impact will be on home owners having irrigation systems and water purveyors that will be required to track the annual testing. This is quite a financial burden on water purveyors and home owners. However, many cities have realized the hazard and are requiring annual testing. The public – We have yet to explain to the average citizen how their irrigation operates and all the hazards we see today, that they demand from their city the backflow protection be “tested annually” as required in plumbing codes. Back to the original question – High hazard or low hazard? Test annual or just forget about the irrigation backflow protection all together? Shouldn’t it be that if you want water for a special use, you should be required to protect the potable water supply? Or maybe we just rely upon the dilution factor? After all for every incident documented, it is estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 have occurred and go undetected due to dilution. Is the solution to Cross Connection Control in general – Dilution? What does your neighbor have installed in their irrigation system – chemical injection, toxic drip irrigation, mosquito killing chemicals, aux. water sources, etc.? Ask This Question - Why Test Backflow Prevention Assemblies? 1. Ensure assembly is still installed. 2. Ensure Backflow Protection hasn’t been by-passed. 3. Ensure hazard hasn’t changed with chemical injection, aux. water sources, etc. 4. Ensure the checks have not been removed. 5. Ensure checks haven’t been knocked out due to water hammer 6. Ensure assembly working as designed 7. Testing and Maintenance required in all plumbing codes. Irrigation Study Request: What we need is a detailed study on lawn irrigation systems like was done on firelines and the effect of stagnant water on the public drinking water system. This detailed the results of pressure fluctuations and loss of water pressure, thereby, draining stagnant water into the potable water system. The AWWA basically told the fire industry – if you want water you will protect it. If such a study was conducted by AWWA on a National Level that indicated irrigation systems are not a hazard – we then need to stop requiring testable backflow protection on the simple irrigation system and go back to the duel checks from 70 years ago or require no backflow protection. This is basically what we have now if the backflow protection is not tested and maintained. Numerous Cities and States Struggle With Lawn Irrigation Backflow Preventer Requirements, which includes periodic testing! What’s Wrong With Our Water Industry That This Issue Has Not Addressed? What’s Your Thoughts on Irrigation systems and Protecting Your Drinking Water? Fred Baird has been in the backflow industry for over 45 years. He initially developed and enforced SAWS backflow prevention program for almost 30 years and was involved in the AWWA M-14 Cross Connection Control Manual – 3rd Ed. Revision in 2004, which classified all lawn irrigation systems a high hazard (health hazard) cross connection. 7

ABPA-SA Board of Directors

2017 - 2018

1) President –Brad Harrell 2) Vice President – Anthony Romero 3) Immediate Past President – Troy Baird 4) Treasurer – Jeff Hoffman 5) Secretary – Greg Shean

Special Officers to the Association

6) SGT-AT-ARMS –Jeff Meeks 7) Liaison to SAWS – James Cantrell 8) Supply Officer – Troy Baird 9) Gauge Testing and Certification – Carl Michaud

Special Officer to Gauge T&C: Bill Hamrick 10) Public Relations/ Speakers/ Program Topics – Manny Hernandez 11) Webmaster – Matthew Wilgen

Directors at Large

Two-year term

1. Fred Baird 2. Gene Hinojosa 3. Frank Snyder 4. Joe Fazekas

One year term remaining

5. Robert Stricker 6. Ron Renouf 7. Bruce Rathburn

NOTICE: New Mail Address: ABPA-SA - P.O. Box 47820 - San Antonio, TX 78265 8

(*Buy the popular ‘BAC-FLO-5’ test kit, see course schedule, and much more on our website. For gauge certifications, call 210-698-0411 for weekly test times in Boerne, TX!)

“The Direct Connection” is published monthly and may be obtained from the www.abpa-sa.org website. Opinions or facts within “The Direct Connection” are not necessarily representative ofthe opinions of the American Backflow Prevention Association and may or may not represent an official policy. Additionally, the opinions or facts of contributors or advertisers may or may not represent an official policy. Published by the ABPA-SA Chapter Editor: Bill Hamrick Assistant Editor: Bruce Rathburn Additional Editors: The entire Membership For further information about ABPA, contact:

Bruce Rathburn – Past ABPA President americanbackflowh2o@gmail.com Troy Baird – ABPA Region 4 Director troybaird@gvtc.com

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APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

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Sustaining Membership $300.00 New Member

Renewal - Member #______________ To join the American Backflow Prevention Association, simply fill out the membership application form and mail it with your check to the address listed below, or if paying by credit card you may fax the completed form to 979.846.7607. Local chapters have additional fees. Below is a listing of chapters by region. To find out if there is a local chapter in your area, please review the chapter information on our website at abpa.org or call the National Office at 979.846.7606. Membership in the Association constitutes paying National dues.

Sustaining Member: • Must be a company or organization • Assign only one person as the member of ABPA • A Sustaining Member must submit a letter that

designates their Voting Representative.

Please Print Legibly or Type

Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc First Name MI Last Name (Include suffix)

Organization (Agency/Firm) Department/Division Title

Address:

City: State / Prov Zip + 4 Code/Postal Code Country

Daytime Phone Fax Email

ABPA-SA $ 60.00 Local Chapter (if joining a local chapter) Local Dues Amount

Method of Payment

Charge $ 125.00 to my Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Check Money Order Invoice Me

Credit Card Number Card Expires (MM/YYYY) CVC Number

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Additional Information How would you like to receive your Membership Renewal Invoice Notification? Email US Mail (Not available for International Membership)

Local Chapter Dues Listed by Region

REGION 1 New England Rhode Island

REGION 2 Virginia

REGION 3 Carolinas Florida Suncoast Peach State “1788” Tennessee

REGION 4 Arkansas Central Texas Corpus Christi Lower Rio Grande Valley North Texas San Antonio

$12.00 18.00

$25.00

$10.00 12.00 30.00 20.00

$10.00 20.00 23.00 25.00 23.0060.00

REGION 5 Colorado Southeastern Colorado Utah

REGION 6 Arizona Central Coast Central Valley California Hawaii Silver State Southern California

REGION 7 Big Sky Idaho Oregon SRC4

REGION 8 (USD) BCBPA (British Columbia)

$15.00 15.00 12.00

$20.00 10.00 10.00 23.00 23.00 15.00

$10.00 10.00 20.00 20.00

$26.00

REGION 9 (USD) Ontario REGION 10 Wisconsin

REGION 11 Indiana Indiana BPA Michigan Northern Illinois Ohio

REGION 12 Central Missouri Eastern Nebraska Heart of America Panhandle Western Nebraska

$50.00

$10.00

$ 5.00 25.00 40.00 23.00 10.00

$20.00 10.00 12.00 5.00 8.00

Please make checks payable to: ABPA 342 N. Main Street, West Hartford CT 06117979.846.7606 . Fax: 979.846.7607 Email: membership@abpa.org

06.2016

ABPA-S.A. Chapter P.O. Box 47820 San Antonio, TX 78265