Council adopts cross-connection/backflow ordinance update, approves outside inspections contract

The Roseville City Council adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 3.54, Article 2 of the city code to update cross-connection and backflow requirements, including adoption of standards, inspection authority, right of access, discontinuance of service, labeling, testing and penalties.

City Attorney Tim Thomason and Department of Public Services staff said the revisions were largely clean-up to align the ordinance with state law and provide the city tools to administer a cross-connection/backflow prevention program. Thomason said HydroCorp was retained to perform inspections and testing as part of that program.

"We recently approved the contract with HydroCorp to do the inspections and of, cross connection backflows," Thomason told the council, explaining the work is intended to prevent contamination of the public water supply.

DPS staff and city counsel reported that contracting the work was more cost-effective and practical than attempting to perform the specialized inspections in-house. Thomason noted several other communities implementing similar programs had found outside contractors more efficient and less costly.

Councilmember Hagerty moved to adopt the ordinance amendment as presented; the motion passed on voice vote. The ordinance repeals the prior article and replaces it with updated language addressing inspections, testing, violations, appeals and effective date.

The council and staff said enforcement will follow state requirements and that HydroCorp will coordinate scheduling and testing. No fiscal figures were provided in the public discussion; the council previously approved a contract with HydroCorp in an earlier meeting referenced by staff.

The ordinance change positions the city to comply with increased state oversight that staff said has become more active in recent months. Staff will return to council if additional budget or policy decisions are required to implement the program fully.