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Sanitary survey flags minor water-system issues; council reviews state-model backflow ordinance
Summary
Sunman utility staff reported minor sanitary-survey deficiencies that were fixed or scheduled for repair and the council discussed a state-model cross-connection/backflow-prevention ordinance (first reading) that will require commercial customers to install devices and annual certified testing.
Utility operator (Utility operator (S7)) presented the results of the 2026 water sanitary survey to the council, describing several minor deficiencies that the town has fixed or scheduled for repair and noting the inspector highlighted items to strengthen grant applications.
The operator listed findings including old equipment at Well 5, a missing screen on an air-release valve at Well 6 (24-mesh screen ordered and installed), a small hole near a pump housing that turned out to be an extra pull for above-ground to submerged piping, localized rust on the raw inlet pipe (which was painted), and minor rust on the North Tower legs where cinder blocks had been used in the past. The operator said most items were “easily fixable” and that the inspector added some deficiencies intentionally to increase the chance of funding for the town’s larger project.
Clerk (Clerk (S1)) also told the council that it had adopted a contingency plan and introduced a cross-connection/backflow prevention ordinance (ordinance 2026-03, first reading). Council member (Council member (S3)) explained this is a state-model ordinance many jurisdictions are using and said it primarily affects commercial or industrial customers and requires annual certified testing and recordkeeping; Chair (Chair (S4)) and members discussed applicability to residential users who have pond or cistern sources connected to internal plumbing, and whether zoning or meter-size thresholds determine applicability.
Why it matters: a cross-connection/backflow-prevention ordinance protects the municipal distribution system from contamination in the event of pressure loss or backflow, which safeguards public health and helps the town comply with state regulations and funding requirements.
Next steps: the ordinance will be presented again at the next meeting for further consideration; the utility operator said some repairs will be bid in spring and others have already been corrected.
