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Ogden seeks ordinance updates to tighten backflow and cross-connection protections
Summary
City staff proposed updates to Ogden's backflow and cross-connection ordinance to remove grandfathering language, clarify definitions, and strengthen enforcement and public education; staff said the changes align with state rule R309 and apply to residential, commercial and industrial connections.
Ogden City staff briefed the council on proposed updates to the city's backflow and cross-connection control ordinance, saying the code—which has not been substantially updated since 1991—needs clearer definitions and stronger enforcement language to protect the municipal water supply.
Justin Royer, the city's backflow technician, said backflow is "the undesirable reversal flow of water" and cross connections are direct or indirect links between potable water and nonpotable sources. He walked the council through code-violation examples the city finds in the field, including illegal hydrant hookups, improperly plumbed chemical dispensers, and dual-source connections where secondary irrigation water is tied to culinary systems.
Royer said the proposed ordinance would remove language allowing grandfathering of older devices that no longer meet current plumbing standards and would reference the city's engineering and plumbing-code standards (which are updated periodically). The updates would support enforcement and public education, and Royer emphasized that the state rule (R309, Utah Division of Drinking Water) requires purveyors to maintain cross-connection control programs.
Council members asked how the changes would affect homeowners. Staff said the ordinance covers residential, commercial, industrial and municipal connections, and they described a risk-based approach: commercial and industrial sites generally contain the highest-risk cross connections, but residential noncompliance is common in older neighborhoods. Royer estimated many residential fixes (for irrigation connections, for example) often fall near $500, while more complex assemblies or certified testable devices vary in cost depending on configuration and installer.
Royer said the city does outreach and hands-on inspections, will provide education materials and will work with city inspectors to identify needed upgrades during permitting and remodels. He said city staff and the Weber County Health Department coordinate on inspections and that the ordinance changes will help reduce resistance from owners when enforcement is necessary.
The council did not take immediate action; staff said they would return with ordinance language and outreach materials.
