Backflow prevention is the front line of defense against contamination of the public water systems that provide safe drinking water to the vast majority of Virginians.  Properly maintained backflow prevention systems have proven very effective in preventing hundreds of cases of potential contamination, sometimes with materials that are fatal if ingested.  If backflow prevention devices are not properly maintained, however, they can malfunction and allow the very contamination they are designed to prevent.

Occurrences causing backflow contamination most often occur due to well-intentioned mistakes by individuals who do not realize the impact of their actions.  Simply connecting a hose from an HVAC system to a sink can cause serious illness.  I have personally been involved in cases where ethanol glycol, undiluted sewage, propane, pool backwash water, and multiple other liquids would have been pushed by pressurized systems into the public drinking water supply had properly maintained backflow prevention assemblies been in place.  Yet many of these invisible hazards could cause poisoning or illness to the public.

Given these risks, it is unacceptable that the safety requirements be reduced on backflow protection certification for workers who operate, maintain and test these devices.

The City of Chesapeake requests that DPOR not eliminate the certification for backflow prevention device workers.