City delays backflow ordinance

SANDPOINT — A controversial ordinance meant to protect Sandpoint’s water system hit another roadblock last week when the council voted to keep the item in limbo for at least another month.

The ordinance, which has been on the council’s agenda since January, was drafted in response to a 2008 survey conducted by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The survey found a number of deficiencies in Sandpoint’s water system, most notably in its lack of an adequate backflow prevention program. The proposed ordinance would require more than 450 water users to submit to annual backflow tests.

Backflow devices and assemblies work to protect water supplies from contamination or pollution by eliminating reverse flows of water from individual systems into the public water source.

While nearly every home and business has some sort of backflow prevention, the ordinance — as well as state law — would only require a sliver of them to be tested, said assistant city engineer Matt Mulder, who spearheaded the program.

The test costs approximately $50 per unit, and those found to be in violation of the ordinance would be subject to a fine of $300 per day, per delinquent violation.

Several residents, including two council members, have raised concerns about the necessity  of the ordinance.

Councilwoman Helen Newton, who voted against the ordinance, said the plan has no teeth unless every home and business within Sandpoint’s water system is included. The proposed ordinance would not require testing from water users living or doing business outside city limits.

“If it takes only one incident to contaminate our water system and bring death and mayhem — as some would suggest — this ordinance will really provide no protection at all,” Newton said.

Sandpoint’s Fred Darnell, who has long opposed the program, said the ordinance is unnecessary and would only put a strain on residents and city staff.

“(This ordinance is) a make-work program that will cost a lot of money and will solve nothing. It’s a program that will try to solve a problem that does not now exist, never has because the lack of this device,  probably never will and is being negated in other areas of the country,” Darnell said.

After tabling the item at its February session, the city hosted a special meeting on the ordinance that included representatives from the council, public works department, Idaho DEQ, the state plumbing inspector and several disgruntled residents.

Despite the vehement opposition from Darnell and others, Mulder said he is convinced the program is necessary and legal.

“At the meeting I thought it was made pretty clear that this ordinance brings our laws up to comply with state laws and that it’s something we’re required to do, according to state laws,” Mulder said.

As was the case in January, when the program was first added to the agenda, the ordinance was approved by a majority of council, with Councilman Michael Boge and Newton dissenting. In order for the program to become law, a council majority must vote to suspend rules requiring the ordinance be read on three separate occasions. Councilmen John Reuter and Stephen Snedden, along with Councilwoman Carrie Logan, voted to suspend the rules, with Boge and Newton dissenting. Councilman Doug Hawkins Jr. was absent from the meeting.

The ordinance will return to council for second and third readings in April.