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2022 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2021 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2020 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2019 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2018 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2017 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2016 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2015 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2014 Water Quality Report (PDF)

2013 Water Quality Report (PDF)

Why is Hydrant Flushing Necessary?

Hydrant flushing is necessary to:

• Ensure adequate flow and pressure is available
• Remove sediment from the pipes
• Maintain water clarity
• Maintain quality in the distribution pipes

The City maintains over 120 public fire hydrants.

Water Discoloration After Flushing

Occasionally, water becomes discolored after hydrant flushing. If this happens:

• Run your cold water tap for a few minutes until the water clears
• If it doesn’t clear, wait a few minutes and run the water again
• Avoid running hot water to keep sediment out of hot water heater
• Avoid washing clothes until the water clears
• Call the City at (503) 667-6211 to report discolored water that lasts longer than a day

Why Do I Need Backflow Testing?

Annual Testing

Per Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 333-061-070 and District Rules and Regulations, all approved backflow prevention assemblies must be maintained and tested at least once per calendar year to protect the public water system. Protecting the public water system from the risk of contamination is a serious matter for the State and the City of Wood Village.

Who Performs the Testing?

Oregon Drinking Water Services (DWS) provides a public list of OHA-certified Backflow Assembly Testers. The list is voluntary so not all certified testers choose to be on the list. Select the county you want, and then you can sort by certification #, name of tester, employer, city, and state. If you are a certified specialist trying to verify a test report, but don’t see the tester on the list, email the program at cross.connection@dhsoha.state.or.us

Only OHA Certified Testers are allowed to provide testing services in Oregon. Backflow Assembly Testers who provide their testing services for a fee, are required to be licensed through the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) or the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). Testers on the following list have provided information that they, or the company they work for, has either a CCB or LCB license; however, this information has not been verified. You can look up CCB licenses or LCB licenses.

How Do I Know When It’s Time to Test?

If you have previously never had a backflow test performed, please instruct your tester to email your backflow test results to the City at city@woodvillageor.gov.

The City of Wood Village sends reminder notices to community members and businesses, who have previously sent backflow test results to the City. An initial courtesy notice is usually mailed four months before the annual renewal date as a reminder to schedule your backflow testing.

Backflow Testing Notices

• Courtesy Notice
• First Notice
• Second Notice
• Final Notice

Check out the Keeping Your Water Drinkable tab for more information on the importance of backflow testing.

Although the water that reaches your home or business is pure and safe, contamination can occur within your own piping system. This article describes potential water contamination hazards, called cross-connections, and tells how you can help keep your water safe and drinkable.

CROSS CONNECTIONS ARE A CULPRIT

A cross-connection is an accident waiting to happen. Any time the potable (drinking) water supply comes in contact with an objectionable or harmful substance, a cross-connection is created. For example, placing a hose in a bucket of detergent, or attaching a hose to a sprayer of fertilizer creates a cross-connection and a possible health hazard.

Cross connections can lead to contamination when a change in pressure within the water supply piping allows the water to flow backward.

This reversal of flow, called backflow, can allow contaminated water to flow back into the supply piping, threatening health and safety. Although under normal circumstances the city water supply is pressurized to keep water flowing to your tap, unforeseen circumstances (such as the need to fight a fire) can suddenly change the pressure in the supply piping, allowing the water to siphon back from your tap to the city supply.

GUARDING AGAINST CONTAMINATION

Most modern water-using fixtures and appliances are made to guard against backflow. Many sinks, toilets, clothes washers, and other water-using appliances have built-in backflow prevention features. However, some water-using fixtures and equipment have no built-in backflow prevention features and require added protection. In these cases, backflow preventers should be installed to guard against the possibility that contaminated water could flow back into the supply piping. Following are a few common water uses that can create cross-connection hazards, and tips for preventing accidental water contamination.

HOSES

Hoses are used in a variety of ways that can create cross-connections. Simply placing a hose in a container to mix water with detergent, fertilizer or any other non-potable substance creates a cross-connection that can allow the contents of the container to backflow into the water supply. The simplest solution to this hazard is to always avoid placing hoses into non-drinkable fluids. In cases where hose-end attachments like chemical spray applicators and radiator flush kits are being used, the only way to guard against contamination is to install a backflow preventer on the hose connection. Hose-type backflow preventers are available at many local plumbing supply stores. They must be equipped with a break-away set screw.

WELLS

Well supplies are often equipped with a pump that, if connected to the potable piping, can overcome city water pressure and create a backflow. Although wells generally operate at pressures less than the potable water supply, changes in supply pressure, water main breaks, and shut-downs for water system maintenance can cause potable supply pressures to be less than well output pressures. Untreated well water can contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants that can backflow into the drinking water supply. There are two ways to guard against backflow from well supplies: 1) permanently disconnect the well system piping from the piping that carries water from the city water supply; or 2) install an approved backflow preventer on your side of the water meter that supplies water to the well system. For a list of approved backflow preventers, contact your local water supplier (listed at the end of this article).

LAWN SPRINKLERS & UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Because they are not always under pressure, irrigation systems are subject to groundwater infiltration. Fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals that are used directly on landscaped areas can flow into the irrigation system piping if the system has a leak or if sprinkler heads are mounted where water pools on the ground. Because of these potential hazards, lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems require backflow prevention as per plumbing code. To find out what type of backflow preventer to use on your system, contact your local water supplier (listed at the end of this article).

POOLS & SPAS

Chlorine and other chemicals used to keep your pool or spa bacteria-free can be hazardous if allowed to backflow into the drinking water system. First, when filling your pool or spa, be sure that the hose end does not touch the water in the pool. Second, install a hose-type backflow preventer on the hose connection serving the pool as per plumbing code. The hose-type backflow preventer must be equipped with a break-away set screw. Additional plumbing requirements may apply depending on what type of pool or spa system you have. Contact your local water supplier (listed at the end of this article) for additional requirements.

HEATING, COOLING & FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Heating, cooling, and fire sprinkler systems that use water from the potable supply pose a hazard because water within those systems often sits stagnant for long periods of time or may have chemical additives. Plumbing codes require that these systems be equipped with backflow prevention. Contact your local water supplier (listed at the end of the article) for a list of approved backflow preventers or for more information about these systems and cross-connections, contact your local water supplier (listed at the end of the article).

WHAT CAN YOU DO

It is impossible to cover all of the information pertaining to cross-connections in this article. We hope the preceding information will inspire you to further educate yourself on the hazards of unprotected cross-connections.

Like fastening your seat belt or donning a life vest, backflow prevention measures provide protection for events that can happen. Hopefully, the backflow preventers you install will never be needed; however, once installed, backflow prevention measures help keep our water drinkable.

Questions? Please Contact:
City of Wood Village
24200 NE Halsey Street
Wood Village, OR 97060
Phone: 503-667-6211