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Never Mind, County Says Of Backflow Valve Warnings

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 7, 2008

Updated: 10/07/2008 07:03 pm

TAMPA - Hillsborough County's water department mistakenly sent out notices last week threatening thousands of water customers with $500 fines if they didn't get their backflow prevention valves tested by a certified plumber.

About 41,000 homes and businesses have backflow assemblies that protect the water system from cross connections with reclaimed water, irrigation systems and alternative water sources pumped from lakes and ponds. The county requires the backflow protection valves be tested once a year.

Usually, the county sends out about 2,500 notices a month reminding customers with the devices to get them inspected by a certified plumber. Customers tend to get the inspection after one or two reminder notices.

But in trying to clear up a backlog of homes and businesses that weren't in the system, the water department accidently sent out the 16,000 final notices with the threat of a fine.

"It was our mistake," said Paul Vanderploog, director of the county's Water Resources Department. "We did not verify the information in the new, updated database prior to the notices being mailed."

Dave McGowen, who lives near Gibsonton, said he usually gets his backflow device inspected after the second of three notices sent out by the county. This year he only got the one threatening a fine.

"This looks to me like it was written by a plumbers' union," McGowen said.

The water department plans to send letters to everyone who got a notice saying to disregard them.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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