The Town of Nashville council voted to reimburse commercial customers for the installation cost of backflow preventers after staff concluded the devices had been required in error.

Town staff reported that a cross‑connection ordinance adopted in 2022 was later restricted by state action that became law in September 2024, preventing the town from requiring backflow preventers on existing services except for 21 designated high‑hazard connections. After the change, staff discovered about 50 commercial customers had installed devices they were not required to have. Staff projected total installation reimbursement at about $94,242 based on invoices received from a sample of 20 customers and extrapolating to the full list.

“Those customers who have incurred costs putting [the devices] in when they didn’t have to be reimbursed,” Randy (town staff) said during the presentation, summarizing staff’s recommendation and the town’s outreach to the affected customers. Randy also told the council insurance is processing a claim and will review each case; staff expects the insurer to reimburse the valve and installation in many cases.

Members asked practical questions about removal and downstream costs after some businesses reported plumbing issues. Kirby Winstead, who spoke during public comment for Key Properties/Key Printing, asked that the council consider paying to restore prior plumbing arrangements rather than only reimbursing installation: “If it would be okay, could I give the board this information?” Kirby said, adding that removal could cost an additional $720 plus permit fees for his locations.

Council agreed to move forward with reimbursing installation costs now and to direct staff to return to the Dec. 9 meeting with more detailed data and recommendations on removal reimbursements and hot‑water‑heater claims. Staff said reimbursements would be paid from the town’s water and sewer enterprise fund and, when insurance reimburses the town, the fund would be replenished. The council also discussed asking customers who remove reimbursed valves to turn the valves over to the town so staff can resell or otherwise dispose of them.

Next steps: staff will continue processing insurance claims, collect invoices from affected customers, and present a detailed reimbursement and removal recommendation at the Dec. 9 council meeting.