Water Authority to Inspect Property Tomorrow!!!

[mrbstephens]

I got a letter in the mail from the local water authority saying they need to inspect my property and to make sure I have a check valve to prevent back flow into the main water supply. I called them today and he said he was driving by and noticed my "EGGS FOR SALE" sign. He says he needs to inspect the property since I own livestock. I asked what he would look for. He said any standing water near the chickens with hoses laying in it or irrigation near the coop. I asked what would happen if he didn't like what he saw and he said I'd need to get the check valve put on in my house. He then started saying something about my children(who does he know I have children). He said that he knows they must enjoy having the chickens and that they probably help with them. I think he was trying to insinuate that they may be in danger of getting sick. So, while setting up the appointment for him to inspect he said, "you're home most days?" How did he know I'm a stay at home mom? I'm thinking someone in my neighborhood reported me.

Now, first of all I only have 10 hens. That's it. No other livestock at all. Second, there are no puddles at all. The coop is set on the highest point of my property. It's CLEAN. There is no irrigation or hoses near the coop. I THINK we already have the check valve on the house. I did notice that on the bottom of the letter that it was CCed to the Health Department.

I'm a little worried. Should I be???

 

[ranchhand]

I'd call the water authority and verify the info. That kind of info should NOT be available to them. Definitely think about the neighbors, too.

Letters like that are quite easy to forge, call the Health Dept. too. Verify it all.

Best of luck, please post how things go.

 

[mrbstephens]

Well, I called the Water Authority. A woman answered and said, "Suffolk County Water Authority." She forwarded me to the man I spoke to. It sounds like the real deal. I'm just worried that I'll get in trouble with my chickens some how.

 

[gbeauvin]

I've heard of similar concerns from people who set up automatic-water changers for their fish-tanks. I believe that technically anytime you have a direct connection between the incoming water source (aka a faucet) and a source of potentially contaminated water (fishtank, chicken waterer?) that you're supposed to have a check-valve to prevent water from flowing backwards and contaminating the water mains. A similar problem occurs when you have a direct connection between the incoming water and the sewage/drain return.

The fish-keeper who was warning about this gets around it by always having a gap between any water source and either the tank or the drain. So an auto-fill system would pour water into the tank, but not be submerged under the water. Likewise a system that both drained and filled would NOT have the drain pipe connected directly to the fill pipe.

It seems like some of the auto-filling water systems I've seen as I've perused this site may have a problem on this front, but I don't know for sure.

Do you have any auto-waterers? If not, then simply coil your hose and I don't think you'll have any problems at all.

-GB (not a chicken expert, not even a fish-keeping expert, and certainly not a plumbing expert, but merely someone who reads forums

)

 

[new chick 203]

hopefully it's not a big deal and it is as simple as a valve. We have a wetlands on our property and I thought that having chickens in such close proximity would be a health issue, but it turns out CT has no problem with livestock on wetlands. Good luck!

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I have an automatic sprinkler system, but not near the coop. The nearest sprinkler head is probably 40 feet away. I have a spigot slightly closer.

 

[gbeauvin]

Quote:
I don't expect you'll have any problems, but free advice is generally worth what you paid for it

Let us know how it goes?

-GB

 

[twentynine]

It's not just a simple check valve-- it's called a "backflow preventer".

Why?

For instance water customer "A" owns an above ground swimming pool equipped with a auto water level controller.

Some one down the road breaks the water main, all service pressure is lost potable water is leaking out of the main. The level controller for customer A's pool is open trying to raise the water level in the pool. So in reality water is siphoned out of the pool, into the water main.

Mrbs is going to find out all about other terms to, like positive seperation, check valve, back flow preventers.

This incident happened in a nearby town.

Grounds keeping company hired by the town, for weed control in drainage canals, spraying, Roundup, Rodeo or 2,4d Amine, and a coloring agent. Using 500 gallon spray tanks. Method used, they dump the proper amount of active ingredient into the tank, take a water hose coming from the municipal water supply, drop it into the tank, turn it on, go off a smoke cigarettes until the tank is filled. This particular day, they add the dye and chemical, begin filling the tank. However a construction company installing a natural gas line unearths and ruptures the 10" water main supplying that part of town. The weed control guy finishes his smoke, can't figure out why the tank is not filling, but in fact is actually emptying. That's right chemical and dye siphoned right down into the water main. No one would have ever been the wiser except for the dye added to the spray tank, showing up in neighboring homes.

 

[caspernc]

I have backflow valves on ALLL my water fausets outside. I don't want the nasty hose water going back into the house pipes. Very inexpencive. Sometimes I put a broadleaf killer on my hose and the back flow is a necesity. (I so wish forums had spell check) A trip to Lowe's and your good.

 

[mrbstephens]

Phew! Inspection took less than 5 minutes. He looked, commented on how beautiful they are, asked where the irrigation heads were, thanked me, said he doesn't see any problems and left! smile