The City of Wheeling’s Water Department continues to take steps to ensure its water supply remains free of contamination with the use of backflow preventers on water pipes connected to the City’s industrial and commercial water customers. 

Water Superintendent Lori Siburt said at this point, all of the industrial customers are in compliance and the cross connection/backflow coordinator is working on contacting commercial businesses.

“According to the latest report to the State we are 48 percent complete,” she said. “Once the customer installs the backflow device, it is registered with Aqua Backflow and needs to be tested every 12 months by a plumber certified in backflow testing.”

In response to a requirement of the West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health – the body responsible for regulating the water industry in the state - City Council passed an ordinance in July 2018 requiring that all industrial and commercial entities within the City have a backflow preventer on the pipes. Compliance is mandatory or water service can be shut off.

A backflow preventer is a device that’s installed on the water pipes that allows water to flow in one direction, but never in the opposite direction. Its sole job is to prevent drinking water from being contaminated due to backflow. This is unrelated to the sanitary sewer system.

“Backflow can happen when there’s a break in the main water line. Because pressure is lost during this type of event, water is no longer being pushed forward into a building and will flow backwards into the city water lines. A backflow preventer does not permit this to occur and keeps the City’s water supply contaminant free,” she said.

City officials started this project by bringing city-owned buildings into compliance with the ordinance. As those were being addressed, a letter and survey were sent to industrial and commercial customers. 

Each site then had to be inspected by a water department employee possessing certification from the state. If a backflow preventer was not in place, it was the customer’s responsibility to have one installed by a certified plumber. The same procedures will be followed as the project continues. Each industrial and commercial customer’s device must undergo annual testing to ensure functionality.

Those with questions about backflow preventers can contact the water department at 304-234-3849.