Grangeville, Idaho – Grangeville City Council in February passed both an ordinance and policy establishing a cross-connection process of protections and testing for water systems – both private and public – serviced by the municipality.

The policy requires backflow devices for users on the municipal water system where the potential exists for low-pressure situations resulting in cross contamination into the city water system. Devices will have to be tested annually and those results reported to the city. Failure to do so could potentially result in service being discontinued pending compliance.

The city has been working on developing the policy since 2018 to come into compliance with state rules overseeing public drinking water systems. Prior to this, the city has relied on state building codes requiring cross-connection devices; however, no testing policy has been in place.

Moving forward the city will be surveying the municipal infrastructure for locations where backflow devices will be needed.