Portales City Council adopts backflow prevention plan

The Portales City Council adopted an ordinance for a cross connection, control, and backflow prevention plan that would allow the installation of backflow prevention valves.

The ordinance was adopted on a 7-1 vote, with Councilor Rustin Self voting against.

“This was something that wasn’t taken care of a few years back,” Ashley Flores, projects manager for the city said.

Backflow valves are used to ensure that no hazardous condition exists between a non-potable and potable water supply.

“There needs to be a backflow valve put in to keep someone’s well from feeding back into the city,” Councilor Eldon Merrick said for further explanation.

Flores said she thought getting this ordinance would be greatly appreciated in the future for drilling wells and/or building homes.

Because the city’s public works department would be responsible for the protection of the city water system and would have to do an operational test annually, councilors showed some concern with the workload that would be put on city employees.

“That’s going to be a large labor drain for you guys on top of whatever you’re doing to go back and have to check backflow valves every year,” Merrick said.

Also in the ordinance, Merrick stated that this plan would be the responsibility of the landowner as a property owner.

“It’s kind of unclear as to who is responsible for this,” Merrick said.

The property owners would also maintain records of how and when the valves were checked.

However, Merrick’s question of who would maintain these valves was answered and it would have to be the landowner.

“You have to be certified in a backflow prevention product,”Chris Mendoza, public utility superintendent said.

Once we determine that a backflow valve needs to be installed, is it the city’s responsibility to fit that in or is it the landowner’s?

Mendoza said the landowner can hire an outside plumber, contractor, etc. as long as they are certified, to come and install the backflow valve.