“You always find something once you start looking.” The question is: Are you ready to look? Do you have the funds to support a compliant cross-connection control program so you can start looking effectively?
The July 1 deadline to submit your cross-connection control plan to the California State Water Resources Control Board is rapidly approaching. You know, in a general sense, what you need to comply with the new Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook (CCCPH). Have you also planned and prepared to fund all the necessary activities for state compliance and protection from unknown backflow hazards?
In a recent webinar, Gary McLaren, Cooper Nicholas, and Kyle Morrison from the HydroCorp team reviewed critical elements of a compliant cross-connection control program in the state of California, as well as what you should consider when updating your program budget.
Essential Budget Elements
“It really comes down to: Who’s going to do this?” Nicholas explains. “Who is going to be managing, maintaining, and operating the program activities?” Cross-connection control programs can be labor intensive, both in the need to conduct on-site hazard assessments and in the behind-the-scenes work that takes place at your utility’s office.
Boots on the Ground
First, you need someone to conduct hazard assessments. You need qualified people on-site at service connections to visually analyze plumbing configurations and ensure a) the presence of backflow prevention where required by state codes, and b) the proper installation of any backflow preventers.
If you’re planning to conduct hazard assessments with internal staff, you also need to budget time and resources for training and certifications. At minimum, staff involved in field activities should maintain the California Cross-Connection Control Specialist certification (CCCS). In fact, water systems in California that serve 1,000+ connections are required to have a dedicated CCCS. All field personnel must be trained on what to look for and how to identify missing, incorrect, or improperly installed backflow preventers.
Often, it can be easier, cheaper, and more efficient to outsource on-site hazard assessments to a third party with trained, certified, and experienced field technicians who can effectively tackle your system’s cross-connection control surveys.
Administrative Considerations
On-site hazard assessments are just one part of the equation. Preparing for the assessments, keeping records, and following up creates a significant administrative burden. Have you budgeted for the administrative labor involved in your cross-connection control program?
From postal notifications to scheduling to documentation, non-compliance enforcement, and follow ups, your internal administrative team will have plenty of new responsibilities with a new cross-connection control program. Not to mention the important role of public education and engagement.
Who is going to manage these tasks? Do your existing employees have the time and ability to do so? Do you need to hire someone that can cover this role? Or does it make more sense to contract a third party to take the burden off your office staff?
Documentation & Digitization
Documentation plays a big role in compliance with the CCCPH. Your utility needs to maintain documentation of your program, providing a report to the Water Resource Control Board annually.
Technology can be incredibly useful in optimizing your cross-connection control program, but software alone will not protect the water or guarantee compliance. In addition to tracking backflow preventer tests, you can use software to:
- Collect data during on-site hazard assessments
- Maintain records reflecting the hazard level of service connections
- Document on-site assessment findings
- Plan and schedule recurring assessments
- Track enforcement efforts and corrective actions
“Are you leveraging all available technology to efficiently manage your compliance?” Morrison asks. Technology, when designed with cross-connection control in mind and used in tandem with boots-on-the-ground program elements, can simplify processes and compliance efforts.
Saving Money (& Stress)
You need a lot of elements within your program and, as a result, in your budget. But an effective cross-connection control program shouldn’t break the bank. Cost-saving steps can include:
- Categorizing and managing assessments based on service connection type and hazard level
- Conducting on-site hazard assessments with survey software to streamline data collection and reporting
- Developing a geographic plan to guide efficient execution of hazard assessments
- Automating postal notifications and recurring assessments
A cross-connection control program exists to protect the water you provide to your community from contamination. “Be diligent on non-compliance,” McLaren says. “Water contamination is at stake. Diligence will help maintain your costs.” Enforcement not only ensures compliance with the CCCPH, but it saves your utility money by preventing costly contamination incidents.
To learn more, watch the on-demand webinar, “Budget Breakdown: The Dollars & Sense of California Cross-Connection Control Compliance.”
