Council approves Wessler Engineering contract to support backflow prevention program

The Speedway Town Council voted 5-0 on Jan. 27 to approve a professional services proposal from Wessler Engineering for the Backflow Prevention 2025 Implementation Project. The proposal commits $8,000 for roughly 40 hours of on-call assistance over six months to help the town track, document and, as needed, assist with inspections of backflow preventers required by state law and IDEM guidance.

Philip Faust, the town treasurer, told the council the town has about 450 backflow preventers that require annual certification and reporting. “We require by ordinance and by law that you have a backflow preventer on your side of the tap,” Faust said, explaining that many commercial and industrial connections are subject to the requirement while most residences are not.

Kleinhans said the bulk of the work will be office-level coordination and reporting to meet state requirements; Wessler staff may assist with inspections when licensed personnel are needed. Faust and Kleinhans said the town’s plumbing inspector, building commissioner, water superintendent and distribution foreman can do some inspections but lack all required licenses for others. Nancy Cho at Wessler Engineering was identified as a potential inspector.

Kleinhans said the requirement is new since recent law changes and that the expense was not in last year’s budget; the town will absorb the cost during the year. The council approved the Wessler proposal 5-0.