The future of Texas backflow?

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I've concluded that cities are going to get fed up with those below ground dcvas. This seems to be the method in Raleigh, NC. Lot of plastic decco-rocks in use here. A lot just sit like this one in the front. In the winter they disconnect from the unions and stick it in the garage.

[Wet_Boots]

The unions won't be seen everywhere, since the 'classic' method of winterizing a Febco 825Y requires a disassemble/reassemble to clear all the water out.

[DanaMac]

I've concluded that cities are going to get fed up with those below ground dcvas. This seems to be the method in Raleigh, NC. Lot of plastic decco-rocks in use here. A lot just sit like this one in the front. In the winter they disconnect from the unions and stick it in the garage.

Except that the meth addicts will eventually start stealing those, along with the deco rocks. I've had two plastic deco rocks stolen. I was getting my haircut last week, and there PVB had been stolen recently. Our parks and city RPs have all been getting cages installed.

[Wet_Boots]

What's the resale/scrap value of a deco rock? :confused:

[DUSTYCEDAR]

they live under the rock:hammerhead:

[DanaMac]

they live under the rock:hammerhead:

That one was pretty good :laugh:

[DanaMac]

What's the resale/scrap value of a deco rock? :confused:

Couldn't tell ya. But addicts and scum will steal anything. Then throw away later if found to be worthless. Maybe they'll hide their dope under it. Thinking they can outfox the police.

[Tom Tom]

That one could to be moved to the mulched in area and hidden behind a real rock.

[Wet_Boots]

Seems you could loop a cable around an RPZ and a ring(s) inside the fake rock.

[irrig8r]

I've concluded that cities are going to get fed up with those below ground dcvas. This seems to be the method in Raleigh, NC. Lot of plastic decco-rocks in use here. A lot just sit like this one in the front. In the winter they disconnect from the unions and stick it in the garage.

Been that way here for years. And they have to be within 3 feet of the meter on commercial jobs. Cages and blankets are more popular than fake rocks.

However, PVBs and A/S valves are still OK too for residences as long as the installation follows code.

[DanaMac]

I've concluded that cities are going to get fed up with those below ground dcvas.

I do have one system I maintain that is a DCVA below ground. Doesn't meet code here, but it's been in a long time anyway.

[Mike Leary]

I do have one system I maintain that is a DCVA below ground. Doesn't meet code here, but it's been in a long time anyway.

Do you test, Dana?

[DanaMac]

Do you test, Dana?

No I don't. No residences get tested that I know of.

[AI Inc]

1 town next to me tests resis every yr. Thats the only town in my whole work area that does.

[Mike Leary]

No I don't. No residences get tested that I know of.

Wow, that is a sad situation. When you lose pressure, go to the DCVA and
rip out the checks, retainers & springs.

[DanaMac]

Wow, that is a sad situation. When you lose pressure, go to the DCVA and
rip out the checks, retainers & springs.

Don't tempt me. :)

[greenmonster304]

I've concluded that cities are going to get fed up with those below ground dcvas. This seems to be the method in Raleigh, NC. Lot of plastic decco-rocks in use here. A lot just sit like this one in the front. In the winter they disconnect from the unions and stick it in the garage.

people really have stuff like that in there front yard? it looks atrocious.

[Wet_Boots]

people really have stuff like that in there front yard? it looks atrocious.You should see California - all backflow all the time.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

That one could to be moved to the mulched in area and hidden behind a real rock.

In my friends case she got them to move it behind a electrical utility box. Told the irrigator "I know this is how you do it in Raleigh but this ain't how we do it in Texas:)" Limit to how far you can run them I think.

[Mike Leary]

Told the irrigator "I know this is how you do it in Raleigh but this ain't how we do it in Texas:)"

Nice to hear you're making new friends in the trade along the road.

[dwofford]

Here in tulsa underground is not allowed, only p.b. or r.p. and lines coming out of the ground must be copper, with heat tape and box or it wont pass on the other hand we have no regulations past the b.f.

[Mike Leary]

Here in tulsa underground is not allowed, only p.b. or r.p. and lines coming out of the ground must be copper

Testing regs?

[dwofford]

under ground b.f.
sorry

[dwofford]

with only 5 years in the industry i am still kinda new to it. What are other states codes on backflows

[easymoney]

well here in washinigton state depending on the water pervayor which most of them have a decent cross conection control program there are 4 bf preventors that must be tested anually the rp, dcva, pvb, and the ever so rare svb. the company i work for the back flow testing department is the boss's little nest egg. almost no overhead with an anual 40% profit.

[Waterit]

Florida accepts them all except for AVB's; only commercial gets tested (yearly).

The only thing that can be buried is a DCVA, and only those from Watts as thier installation instructions show one being mounted in a vault. The acceptable vault is two jumbo boxes stacked up, one upside down with cover removed, soil cloth in its place, rock for drainage, 3" min. space between bottom of DCVA and rock, test ports pointing up.

[Wet_Boots]

What, they don't sell AVBs and ASVs in Florida? Hmmmmm.

[DanaMac]

DCVAs are not approved in Colorado Springs area. Maybe other areas in the state, but not El Paso county where I am licensed. RPs, PVBs, and AVBs if there is one for every valve, past the valve. Thus the lame ASV.

Inspections are limited. SUPPOSED to pull permits for new BFVs and inspected to meet height and other requirements. Rarely done though. I'll even admit to not pulling permits on installs. Lay of the land here. Some I did, some I didn't.

[Waterit]

What, they don't sell AVBs and ASVs in Florida? Hmmmmm.

Oh, they sell them alright, mostly at the big-box stores. Homeowner specials.

As I said, they don't meet code, so we get to upsell a lot of PVB's and control valves when working on a permitted project. If it's just a residential repair I'll mention that they don't comply, leave it up to the HO to decide whether to replace. On commercial, I insist on it being brought up to code.

Speaking of code, any other states/municipalities requiring rain sensors on new installs?

[dwofford]

not just yet in tulsa but anytime on a commercial job, if the city architect plans the landscape they always put in that there must be a system installed with rain and freeze sensor and sometimes even specify the exact location, learned it the hard way that if they say they want it it must be there in its exact location. our inspectors are usually very strict on regs, even had one fail a b.f. because he said i had to have foam pipe wrap on copper out of ground and a post on each line coming out of the ground. (first time i ever heard of that)

[bicmudpuppy]

I left the Johnson county area of KCK, but Water district number one (Johnson County) tried to require PVB or RP's on all sytems with annual testing. Last I heard, the class action law suit was still pending. The first thing that happened when the suit was brought to court was that all testing stopped. They haven't enforced testing for over 5 years that I know of, including commercial properties. They also started allowing DCs in ground. The state regulations allow DCs, much like other areas. Many purveyors have followed the main stream and required stricter protection. As always, money talks. At some point, there is going to be an incident, and then the money will be from the other direction and there will be a fortune to be made in either disconnecting systems or upgrading them.

Everyone says "you can't prove where the contamination came from.........". That may be true, but proving that the negligence of not enforcing a cross connection program could very easily be proven and the wrong person is going to get ill or die, and then everyone will have to pony up, one water purveyor at a time.

[Mike Leary]

Last I heard, the class action law suit was still pending. The first thing that happened when the suit was brought to court was that all testing stopped. They haven't enforced testing for over 5 years that I know of, including commercial properties.
Everyone says "you can't prove where the contamination came from.........". That may be true, but proving that the negligence of not enforcing a cross connection program could very easily be proven and the wrong person is going to get ill or die, and then everyone will have to pony up, one water purveyor at a time.

What a crock with the class action deal; what for?
A ineffective cross-connection program is like a intersection that has a lot of accidents; a few have to die before the stop light goes in. :dizzy: