[HollyMutual-Announce] Denver Water Backflow Prevention Survey

[Mark Derbyshire]

All:

Nine days ago I received two snail mails from Denver Water advising me
they would be performing a compliance survey in our neighborhood for
backflow prevention between the Holly Mutual well system and their
supply. It took me four days on the phone to finally get an appointment
scheduled, as our backflow preventer is inside our house and I was not
terribly keen about them barging in during a pandemic. However I
eventually discovered you can request them to wear a N95 mask, which is
considerably more effective than a surgical mask. When the technician
came to our house yesterday, he was here for less than 15 minutes.

About that time I was contacted separately by Phil Hothan from Denver
Water, who had several questions about the Holly Mutual system. He also
mentioned they were getting a lot of push back from home owners when
they showed up unannounced, but they are required by state health
regulations to perform these surveys. He asked if I could forward an
email from him to you explaining what they are doing and I agreed. I
have pasted his email following my signature and included the
attachments he sent me that are referenced in his email.

The interesting part of this, at least to me, is that if a home owner
severs and caps their well connection, it appears Denver Water will no
longer require that property to have a backflow preventer. It's been 20
years since Denver Water was installed in our neighborhood ,and I had
always been led to believe we were stuck with these devices and their
yearly inspections in perpetuity. That may actually not be the case.

Cheers,

Mark Derbyshire


-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	RE: Holly Mutual pipeline maps
Date: 	Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:11:14 +0000
From: 	Hothan, Phil A. <Phil.Hothan at denverwater.org>
To: 	Mark Derbyshire <mark at taom.com>
CC: 	Cancanon, Erik C. <Erik.Cancanon at denverwater.org>


Cherry Hills Owners,

As per state regulation 11.39 and in accordance with the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment we are conducting backflow
compliance surveys to ensure the public water supply remains protected.
We do this by the installation and tracking of a backflow prevention
device. These are usually installed at water point of entry within the
house and require annual testing by a certified backflow tester or company.

We are reaching out to you today because we show a duel [sic], untreated
water source in the form of a communal well in which you have access too
[sic]. If well water is still being used within your property we will
need access into your property to ensure the proper protection is in
place. Otherwise, we will need proof of connection abolishment via cut
and sweat capping of well piping within your property rendering
cross-connection permanently gone.

Please see attached reference material which outlines this state
mandated inspection. Each survey shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes
and tech will need access into house or location where the water enters.
(Usually in a mechanical room found in basement) Reach out to me direct
[sic] with further questions or to schedule your inspection. You may
also call my division's main phone number: 303-628-5969

Respectfully,
Phil Hothan | Water Quality Operations Sr. Tech – CCC Field
Denver Water | T: (303)628-6118, C: (720)545-5829
Phil.Hothan at denverwater.org | denverwater.org

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