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Sunman reviews sanitary‑survey fixes and prepares to adopt state model backflow ordinance
Summary
Utility staff reported only minor, quickly remediable deficiencies in a 2026 water sanitary survey and the council reviewed ordinance 20‑26‑03, a state model requiring backflow prevention assemblies and annual testing for certain nonresidential connections; council scheduled further review and next month’s formal ordinance action.
Utility staff presented the 2026 water sanitary survey and described several minor deficiencies that had been addressed or would be corrected quickly.
Connor said inspectors had found items such as old equipment at well house five, a missing screen on an air‑release valve and surface rust on a raw inlet pipe; staff ordered parts, applied repairs and painted the affected metal. "He made it so it looked like there was a more need of a issue and that it would go to the place that we're applying for and that that would catch more of their attention," Connor said, describing how the inspector framed some findings to help the town’s funding application.
The council adopted a required contingency plan and discussed a separate, state‑driven model ordinance (ordinance 20‑26‑03) on cross‑connection and backflow prevention. The ordinance would require appropriate backflow prevention assemblies for new commercial or industrial connections and annual certified testing, and it allows the town board or a certified operator to determine degree of hazard.
Councilors sought clarification about whether the requirement would apply to residences using private wells connected to internal plumbing and asked staff to return with clearer guidance and definitions next month. No final ordinance vote was taken; members indicated they would review precise zoning and meter‑size thresholds before adoption.
