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Utilities - Water Department
Water/Sewer Billing Office, 333 W.
Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640 Phone: 989-837-3341
Water Treatment Plant, 2607 Bay City Rd., Midland, MI
48642 Phone: 989-837-3515
Email: water@midland-mi.org
Cross Contamination
A cross connection is any temporary
or permanent connection between the public water supply and a
potentially hazardous water supply on the consumer’s end. Through
these types of connections, contaminants can flow from the
consumer’s water supply back into the public water supply. Two of
the most common ways this can happen are through underground
lawn irrigation systems and fertilizer spray applicators attached to
residential hoses.
Avoiding Cross ContaminationBackflow
prevention devices can be used to help protect our water
supply. Through the City’s Code of Ordinances, the Water Department
requires that these protection devices be tested on an annual basis. The
exception to this is pressure-type vacuum breaks that protect lawn irrigation only;
these are to be tested every three years, per new State law that changed the
requirement from five years to three, effective January 1, 2011.
Effective testing of protection
devices can detect
failures in them.
Backflow Prevention Device Performance
In 2004, there were 868 tests on residential backflow protection
devices used by City of Midland water customers. Of these, 103 devices failed. Also, 436 tests were
conducted on commercial backflow prevention devices. Of these,
49 devices failed. Combined, the failure rate for commercial and
residential devices was 11.7 percent.
These numbers show the importance of maintaining a diligent cross
connection program. The help of every residential and
commercial water customer is needed to maintain a safe water supply.
If you
receive a letter notifying you of the need to have your device tested,
please have it tested as soon as possible and send the results to the
City’s Water Department, 333 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640.
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