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HydroCorp tells Norway council records gap leaves city at risk of noncompliance; proposes turnkey cross-connection program
Summary
HydroCorp representatives told the Norway City Council the city's cross-connection inspection records are incomplete and that the city is 'technically out of compliance' with state inspection-frequency rules; the firm proposed a turnkey inspection, tracking and public-outreach program and discussed cost and enforcement options.
City officials on Tuesday heard a detailed presentation from HydroCorp on cross-connection control (backflow prevention) after staff said the city’s inspection records are incomplete.
Paul Patterson of HydroCorp told the council municipal water systems in Michigan must maintain a compliance program and inspection schedule; the meeting packet referenced the state rule in meeting materials as "Public Act 399 part 14." HydroCorp representatives said the city’s historical inspection documentation is incomplete, making it difficult to verify required inspection frequencies.
"You are technically out of compliance based off of inspection frequency," HydroCorp representatives told council members, and they recommended a turnkey program that would handle inspections, testing-tracking software, customer notifications and follow-up for noncompliance. HydroCorp said it works with many municipalities and can host inspection records in proprietary software so the city can export reports for state filing.
HydroCorp described program options: a commercial-inspection contract (materials showed a per-inspection estimate and a two-year contract example) and residential options that differ by inspection frequency (5-year versus 10-year cycles). The presenters said customers would pay for required testing and repairs; the contractor would perform the inspections and help the city with enforcement letters and noncompliance lists. In the presentation, material figures referenced a commercial inspection option (roughly $83 per inspection in the contractor’s worksheet) and an estimated program cost range depending on the residential frequency selected.
Councilors asked practical questions about how inspections are carried out and expressed concern about homeowner intrusiveness and affordability. HydroCorp said inspections are typically limited in intrusion (basements and outside points of use) and that the firm can provide public-education materials, bill inserts and an appointment portal to reduce friction. The presenters also noted the city’s existing cross-connection ordinance (adopted in 2016 per packet materials) may need minor language updates to reference current department names.
No procurement decision was made at the meeting; councilors directed staff to review ordinance language, get clearer cost estimates and consider the program during the next budget cycle.
