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SALEM -- Commercial and industrial water customers in Salem who don't respond to set up a water supply inspection survey could risk losing their water, a city utilities official said.
City Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart said during a meeting last month that two notices had already been sent out to the businesses regarding the water cross connection survey and water backflow device testing that's required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
At that time, he said 75 commercial/industrial customers had not responded to the city's request to set up an appointment for the necessary inspection and testing. Any who still haven't contacted the utilities department will receive final notices in December.
By law, Weingart said the inspection and testing is mandated and if not fulfilled is a violation of the Ohio Administrative Code which ultimately means "we are required to shut off service."
The inspection and testing is done at no cost to the customer by trained personnel from the utilities department, with the program administered by the Operator Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO). The testing started in the summer and as of Oct. 15, 178 commercial/industrial properties had been surveyed. A second letter was sent out to 125 customers, with 75 giving no response at that time.
The letter explained that the department is required by law to do the surveys within customer properties "to determine if there exists any actual or potential cross-connections through which contaminants could backflow into the public water supply, and if necessary, prescribe the type of backflow prevention devices that are required to be installed by the user."
He planned to update the commission on the progress.
The city Utilities Commission will meet in a work session at 3 p.m. Nov. 18 to go over plans with Benesch Engineering for upgrading the water treatment plant and review the list of possible funding sources for the project, which will likely be done in phases.
Weingart said recently that it takes time to design the project, put it out for bid and then construct it. He asked if the electrical portion could be started as soon as possible, with Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson agreeing that the electrical is number one.
The work session will be followed by the regular meeting at 4 p.m. Nov. 18 in which the proposed water rate increases will be discussed, too.