The City Council is taking a look at toughening up enforcement for backflow preventer inspections.

Under the proposal, customers would have to comply with current regulations on inspections, or be subject to a city inspection, with costs charged to the water bill. Full Article

One of the great things about gardening is anyone can do it. Gardening doesn’t require a great expanse of land. In fact, those with very little space can still have a successful gardening experience. Container gardening is a great way to grow some flowers, or even vegetables. It’s fun, easy and rewarding.

However, keeping the containers properly watered throughout the sweltering Oklahoma summer can be a bit of a challenge. During the hottest parts of the summer they often dry out before you get home from work. When you go on vacation, you have to find someone to water them for you.

A simple solution to this dilemma is using an inexpensive drip irrigation system and automatic control valve. These irrigation systems can be bought at many home improvement stores, garden centers and nurseries. Kits are available by some manufacturers that contain everything needed to install a drip system to your outdoor faucet, including tubing, stakes with adjustable emitters, backflow prevention device, T-connectors and fasteners to secure the tubing. Full Article

CORPUS CHRISTI - Today, the city council voted in favor of tougher regulations on backflow preventers. Those devices protect our drinking water.

Among the proposed changes, the city would be able to inspect, and if needed, fix backflow preventers that are out of compliance. The cost would be added to the customer's utility bill. Full Article

Wasting taxpayers' money!

Manatee County requires backflow preventers and testing. The claim is that it will prevent "unintentional contamination of the water supply."

Oddly, this is only the case in the county; town water supplied doesn't have these devices.

They claim this is necessary because we have a ground irrigation system. Since those systems are a completely separate supply system, not connected to the drinking water supply (use reclaimed water), the assertion is mute.

We are not in a "flood zone" designated region. There is no possible way for water from a pond or river to enter the county-provided drinking water system, as those have no pressure. Full Article

City and state laws require backflow preventers to be installed and maintained by customers that tap into public drinking water supplies, but in Corpus Christi there is little recourse when those rules aren't followed.

The issue came to light last month, when a backflow preventer either failed or was not present at a mixing tank operated by Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions, Inc., on Valero property. As a result, an unknown amount of Indulin AA86 escaped the tank and plunged the city into a four-day water ban. Full Article

At their May 4 meeting, the City Councimembers received updates on many city initiatives, including:

Bus intercept—Sound Transit's proposal to build a bus intercept on 80th Avenue S.E., near the planned light rail station, isn't sitting well with many Islanders.

The Council subcommittee has "serious doubts as to the viability of Bus Intercept on Mercer Island as presented," according to the agenda.

"There does not seem to be any combination of minor revisions and mitigating efforts that could lead us to recommend its consideration or anticipate its approval by the City Council," it states. "The magnitude of the proposed facility and the operating flexibility that Sound Transit and Metro seem to require make it more important than ever that these and all relevant agencies revisit other options to locating Bus Intercept on Mercer Island." Full Article