The Corpus Christi City Council recently received an update on the city’s backflow prevention program from Daniel M. Grimsbo, the Interim Executive Director of Water Utilities, and City Manager Margie Rose. Ms. Rose stated that the city has taken significant steps to protect the city’s water system. The City set up new procedures following an incident at an industrial facility which prompted the city to issue a “do not use the water” notice in December of 2016

The backflow prevention commercial contract status program began in January 2017 and consisted of 918 backflow preventers that needed to be inspected. Mr. Grimsbo stated city workers had inspected 854 out of 918 backflow preventers. This constitutes 93% of the backflow preventers installed in city’s industrial and commercial properties. Mr. Grimsbo reported that 26 backflow preventers have not yet been inspected because they are installed on fire sprinklers services at several local hospitals. The city is working to get permission to enter local hospitals to examine their backflow prevention assemblies. It was also reported that two out of seven industrial companies have not yet elected to allow the city to let the inspectors enter their properties to conduct inspections. The city is working with the its legal team and with with the two industrial facilities to allow inspectors to conduct the necessary inspections. The City is working for 100% compliance before the end of April.