Cross-Connection Control

ATTENTION BPAT’S AND CSI PROVIDERS:

Beginning August 1, 2016 backflow prevention assembly Testing and Maintenance reports and Customer Service Inspection reports must be submitted online through a third party website hosted by Vepo LLC. BPAT’s wishing to perform backflow prevention assembly testing in Buda must be registered with the City. Registration is also handled by Vepo LLC.

Click here to find the Vepo website for BPAT T&M reports: https://www.vepollc.com/backflow.aspx

Click here to find the Vepo website for CSI reports: http://www.vepollc.com/csi.aspx

Click here to download a Quick Start Guide with information on how to become a registered BPAT: http://www.vepollc.com/save_bpats/Quick%20Start%20Guide.pdf

Overview

A cross-connection is a connection between the drinking water system and a actual or potential contaminate or pollutant. A cross-connection can be a hose with sprayer containing fertilizer, an irrigation system, a hose in a bucket when washing your car or a variety of household appliances that connect directly to the water system.

Backflow

Water flows from a faucet, shower head, or sprinkler system because of pressure. In the event of a main break, hydrant flush or fire-fighting activity, these pressures can drop. If pressures drop low enough, the water distribution system can literally pull water out of surrounding sprinkler systems, homes, or businesses. When this happens, water flows backward and is called backflow.

Warning

The water flowing back into the water system may now carry fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, industrial chemicals, bacteria, detergents, or other hazards. Anytime you or a neighbor use a hose to apply fertilizer to the lawn, allow water to puddle around a sprinkler head, or leave a hose in a bucket, there is a potential to pull hazards into the drinking water system.

City of Buda Backflow Prevention

Overview
Preventing backflow is an important way the Public Works Department protects our drinking water.

Prevention & Protection
To prevent and protect against backflow, the City of Buda Public Works Department:

Requires backflow prevention devices to be installed and tested on all new construction.
Enforces annual testing on all water connections classified as high-hazard for backflow, including:
- Commercial
- Industrial
- Residential properties

Devices
Backflow prevention devices prevent water from being pulled back into the drinking water system. By stopping the water, the device also stops the fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, industrial chemicals, bacteria, detergents, or other hazards that may be carried with the water.

Additional Information
For more information, please fill out and submit our online Contact Us Form or call (512) 312-2876.

At-Home Backflow Prevention
How to Help
We are all stewards of the water system we inherited. You can easily help protect our water from backflow by installing a backflow prevention device.

Backflow Prevention Devices
Hose bibb vacuum breakers are simple, inexpensive backflow prevention devices that can keep water from being sucked through your hose into your house. Using one when using a hose to spray for bugs, spread fertilizer, or push debris out of gutters can prevent any hazards from getting back into the water supply.

Recommendations
The City of Buda Public Works Department requires that everyone install a backflow device on sprinkler systems and strongly recommends that everyone install a backflow device in their homes. The Department also strongly recommends that you check these devices annually to ensure that they are working properly.

Testing Backflow preventers
(a) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be tested upon installation by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies which are installed to provide protection against health hazards must also be tested and certified to be operating within specifications at least annually by a backflow prevention assembly tester. The signed and dated original from must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days of the test.

(b) All backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed and tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14) or the University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control.

(c) Assemblies shall be repaired, overhauled, or replaced at the expense of the customer whenever said assemblies are found to be defective. Original forms of such tests, repairs, and overhauls shall be kept and submitted to the city within five (5) working days of the test, repair, or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly.

(d) No backflow prevention assembly or device shall be removed from use, relocated or the assembly or device substituted without the approval of the city. Whenever the existing assembly is moved from the present location or cannot be repaired, the backflow prevention assembly shall be replaced with a backflow prevention assembly or device that complies with this section. The American Water Works Association Manual M14, current edition, University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control current plumbing code of the city, whichever is more stringent {, shall be applicable}.

(e) Test gauges used for backflow prevention assemblies testing shall be calibrated at least manually in accordance with the American Water Works Association’s Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control (Manual M14) or the University of Southern California Manual of Cross-Connection Control. The original calibration form must be submitted to the city within five (5) working days after calibration.

Recognized backflow prevention assembly testers must hold a current endorsement from the state commission on environmental quality and be registered with the City of Buda.

Registered Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers (BPAT)

As a service to our citizens, we are providing a list of Registered Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers (BPAT).

The City of Buda does not endorse or recommend an individual or company on this list, and or does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and workmanship performed by any individual or company on this list.

City of Buda Backflow Prevention Testers List (Updated: 5/13/2019)

Additional Information
For more information about backflow preventer testing, please fill out and submit our Contact Us Form or call (512) 312-2876.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Mail: MC-155
P.O. Box 13087
Austin Texas 78711-3087
PH # 512-239-4453
Fax 512-239-0030
Home: www.tceq.state.tx.us
290 Rule: www.tceq.state.tx.us/files/rg-195.pdf-4005959.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (4601)
Ariel Rios Building 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460-0003 Phone: 202-564-3750 Fax: 202-564-3753
www.epa.gov

American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA)
PO Box 3051 Bryan, Texas 77805-3051 PH # (979) 846-7606 Fax # (979)846-7607
www.abpa-sa.org

Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

PO Box 4200
Austin, Texas 78765
PH # 1-800-845-6584
# 512-936-5200
Fax # 512-450-0637
www.tsbpe.tx.us