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Council warned of low spring flows and illegal irrigation tie-ins; staff to publish backflow guidance
Summary
Utility staff reported only one spring running at about 5 gallons per minute, said conservation is needed and warned that two recent cases of irrigation systems tied into culinary water without required physical disconnects present contamination risks; staff will publish guidance on safe backflow prevention.
Garrett, Mayfield's water staff, told the council only one spring is running right now and estimated that spring is producing about five gallons per minute. He said treated water from the plant has a different taste because treatment reduces minerals and that the town needs more rain or snow to restore normal spring flows.
Garrett also warned the council that staff have found instances where residents tied irrigation systems directly into the culinary system without a required physical disconnect or backflow prevention device, which is illegal and risks contaminating the drinking-water system. "It's totally illegal," Garrett said. "You gotta have a physical disconnect so that one system cannot fall into the other."
Council members agreed staff should publish a diagram and social-media guidance explaining how to install backflow preventers and the required air gap or physical-disconnect methods. Staff said they will share an image and information via the town newsletter and social channels to discourage unsafe connections and to protect the town's drinking water.
