Public Works director previews cross‑connection/backflow control program; board asks edits and to revisit draft

Steve Randall, director of public works for Wolfeboro’s water and sewer utilities, presented the select board with a draft cross‑connection control and backflow prevention program at the board’s May 27 work session.

Randall said the program’s purpose is to prevent contamination of the public water supply by isolating potential sources of backflow and cross connections. He cited New Hampshire administrative rules referenced in the draft (transcript: "Env‑Dew 505" and subsequent rules) as the legal authority for the program and described how the department would implement permitting, inspection, enforcement and recordkeeping.

Key points Randall presented include: an initial permit fee of $75 and a $50 renewal fee every five years; permits are nontransferable; owners must install and maintain devices at their own expense and arrange testing by certified inspectors; high‑hazard devices require semiannual testing while low‑hazard devices are tested annually; failing devices must be repaired within 30 days; inspection records are kept at least five years and the department must submit annual reports to DES by April 1. Randall said the program will allow residential dual checks to remain exempt from permit fees in most cases but that permits and inspections apply to higher‑hazard commercial and institutional uses such as restaurants and hospitals.

Randall described an ongoing effort to build a ‘golden master’ inventory of about 2,400 municipal water customers (approximately 30% commercial), and said the department is working to complete that inventory “this year” to support inspections and reporting. He said the department will use an iWORKS tracking system to flag renewals and generate reinspection lists. Randall also said the department aims to rely on third‑party certified inspectors (for example sprinkler companies or plumbing contractors) to perform inspections and submit tickets to the department rather than making the town perform every inspection.

Board members pressed for several clarifications. A member asked that the draft explicitly state that certain installations must be performed by licensed plumbers; Randall agreed to add language. Members also asked Randall to add clearer instructions on where to obtain permit forms; he said forms will be available on the town website and at the Public Works garage. The board discussed inspection cycles and how to stagger renewals to avoid heavy single‑year workloads; Randall said permit renewal is on a five‑year cycle while inspection frequency varies by hazard class.

Randall explained how irrigation and deduct meters would be handled and reviewed current meter charges and billing mechanics; he cited a $23.65 base monthly charge for the smallest meter size as part of the billing examples. On fees, he said the department set inspection/permit fees by averaging nearby municipalities’ charges so that third‑party inspectors remain economically viable.

After discussion the board asked Randall to incorporate the suggested edits (licensed‑plumber language, clearer permit form directions and any other clarifications) and return with a revised draft. The board agreed to take up the remaining policy documents individually at future work sessions rather than approving the package all at once.

Randall said he would bring the revised cross‑connection control draft back to the board for further review and potential approval.