The Palm Coast Utility Department in Florida is replacing nearly 1,500 backflow prevention devices from houses across Palm Coast after discovering many of the devices installed in recent years do not meet updated state and federal requirements. The Utility has removed about 90% of the devices and is working to remove all of the devices as soon as possible. The Utility spokesman reported that they are awaiting delivery of the correct devices.

At issue is the amount of lead content in the brass components of the devices. Prior to changes in the federal safe drinking water act which became effective on January 4^th, 2014, brass components used in any part of the water system were allowed to contain up to 8 percent lead. The regulations were updated in 2014 to limit the allowable amount to 0.25 percent.

The city has been ordering the correct backflow prevention devices since 2014, and many of those installed have been the right ones. But in late March, a Utility technician discovered the devices he’d received for a new installation did not meet the updated regulations.

Utility managers immediately compared model numbers to a master list kept for maintenance purposes and found some 1,456 of the incorrect devices had been installed, mostly between December 2017 and March of this year. An investigation revealed the manufacturer had shipped the wrong devices to Palm Coast. The manufacturer blamed the issue on a clerical error on their end and is working closely with the City to change out the devices.

Palm Coast Utility crews and a contractor have been working seven days a week to remove the problem devices since the issue was found. As soon as the replacement backflow prevention devices arrive this week, technicians will shift to installing the new ones at affected homes. Because the devices must be installed by a certified backflow prevention device technician and tested before use, the replacement process will take several weeks to complete. The mistake was reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Palm Coast’s water is tested regularly and meets all requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida DEP.

More information is available here.