The Challenge
Wisconsin administrative code requires public water systems to conduct bi-annual surveys of high-hazard, non-residential facilities; test backflow preventers annually; and submit an annual report to the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Germantown Water Utility, dealing with staffing shortages, turnover, and competing priorities while serving a community of diverse businesses, struggled to execute a compliant and effective cross-connection control program.
“There’s a couple of really large campuses that take four to eight hours for one guy to run through,” explains Paul Haugen, Water Superintendent at Germantown Water Utility. “With the volume of commercial properties we have and our current staff levels, we would not be able to absorb that in our normal day-to-day.” At a minimum, they “would have to dedicate a single person” to manage their commercial cross-connection control efforts, he explains. Their team needed support.
“Having that expertise brings value to the table; they just manage it all.“
– Paul Haugen, Water Superintendent, Germantown Water Utility
The Solution
Enter: HydroCorp. In 2006, Germantown first partnered with HydroCorp on their commercial cross-connection control program. “HydroCorp manages the entire process from the mailing to being that point person, the face of Germantown,” says Haugen. On-site, surveyors review the complex piping systems of commercial facilities and document any unprotected cross-connections—while educating property owners. “We appreciate the decorum, the professionalism, they show when they’re on-site.”
On the admin side, HydroCorp’s team tracks notices, manages non-compliance follow-ups, and maintains comprehensive documentation. “At the end of the year, getting those tracking mechanisms to give to the respective government agencies that require that information is really important,” explains Haugen. The “ease of getting information,” working with HydroCorp, makes all the difference.
“HydroCorp does an exceptional job tracking all the accounts we’re required to as part of our audit. Fulfilling our DNR requirements—documenting what was done, what was in violation—that’s very seamless.”
– Paul Haugen, Water Superintendent, Germantown Water Utility
The Result
“Partnering with HydroCorp has been really beneficial to us,” Haugen says. “Having that expertise brings value to the table; they just manage it all.” By mitigating both the on-site labor and administrative burden required to manage commercial cross-connection control, Germantown’s utility staff can continue to focus on providing excellent service to their customers without sacrificing safety or compliance. “The time saving is really, really great for us.”
Plus, HydroCorp’s professionalism in communication means Germantown Water Utility staff have support across their program—on questions ranging from specific surveys to compliance status to enforcement: “Anytime you’ve got a question, [our HydroCorp account rep] is right there and always has an answer,” Haugen says.
Today, HydroCorp conducts more than 150 commercial surveys in Germantown each year. “HydroCorp does an exceptional job tracking all the accounts we’re required to as part of our audit ,” says Haugen. “Fulfilling our DNR requirements—documenting what was done, what was in violation—that’s very seamless.” With HydroCorp in their corner, Germantown Water Utility has one less thing to worry about.
