A newsletter dedicated to Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention www.abpa-sa.org

October Vol. 28 Issue 10

Another Home & Garden Show & Free Hands-On Class Has Come & Gone

The Home & Garden Show was another success, with Fred the peeing dog still making people turn heads and asking questions about backflow prevention and their irrigation systems. It is also an opportunity to educate the public about hose bib vacuum breakers that should be on all of their hose bibs, even if they don’t have an irrigation system.

Bac-Flo Unlimited has again provided the “Free Hands-On” this year to the chapter members who had earned at least 16 CEUs by attending chapter meetings and will need to renew their BPAT License before September 2019. This year they conducted the hands-on training in their new Training Building that was added earlier this year. Fred, Sandy (Fred’s wife, the Chief Chef), and Troy provided the usual Bar-B-Que beef with all the trimmings, including beans, potato salad, cold slaw, bread, carrot cake, and German chocolate cake.

The training was held in the new Bac-Flo Unlimited Hands-On Training Center

For those members who will be taking their “Hands-On” in 2021 please remember, the rules are changing. See the new rules in the September 2018 Direct Connection Newsletter at http://www.abpa-sa.org/images/newsletters/2018/september2018.pdf

The New Bac-Flo Unlimited Hands-On Training Center

October Meeting Details Meetings of the San Antonio Chapter ABPA are usually held the second Thursday of every month except December. Dinner and refreshments are served at 6:00 p.m. sharp with the meeting starting at 6:30. The next meeting is: Date: Thursday, October 11, 2018 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: SAWS Bldg 2 Conference Room 2800 US Hwy 281 North. Program: David Rhode – Plumbing Code

Changes Meal Sponsor: Bac-Flo Unlimited, Inc.

No alcoholic beverages allowed by

TCEQ

Next Meeting: November 8, 2018

Meeting October Agenda 5:00 p.m. General discussion and quorum

confirmation 5:15 p.m. Call Meeting to order. 5:16 p.m. Secretary’s Report. Read and approve the

minutes of the previous meeting. 5:20 p.m. Treasurer’s Report. Discussion and

approval of the treasurer’s report. 5:25 p.m. Supply Officer’s Report 5:30 p.m. Vice President’s, Directors’, and any other

reports for the good of the chapter. Comments, new business, any discussion.

5:40 p.m. Training Report. Training & Meal Sponsors 5:45 p.m. Webmaster Report 5:50 p.m. President’s Report. New & old business 6:00 p.m. Meal is served. 6:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting

1. Gauges to be tested. Carl Michaud- Bill Hamrick 2. First time attendees or visitors (get w/Treasurer

for membership application / info) 3. Irrigator’s Report. Ron Renouf 4. Report from the Directors Meeting. President 5. Election of Officers & Directors in October 6. City, regional, and national reports. James

Cantrell and any City personnel present 7. Supply Officer Report. Troy Baird 8. Training program for the evening. 9. Raffle prize announcement.

Ongoing Goals of ABPA-SA Chapter

1. Educational Outreach with public by

presenting at PHCC meetings, engineering firms, schools, and neighborhood associations. Continuing goal.

2. Greater use of TCEQ website. Tracking of CEUs, Services available. Personal education.

3. Increase member awareness of importance of chapter meetings. Increase attendance and public awareness.

4. Increase website resource information. More detailed links to more information like TCEQ, COSA, and any place that would be helpful to our members

Big Thanks to

Cary Wiley with Safe-T-Cover for sponsoring the evening meal and providing the training about the history of the need for backflow assembly enclosures and the design the industry incorporated to provide well engineered and manufactured enclosures. He also provided a $50 Academy gift certificate.

Thanks to Jim Cantrell for his report about the TCEQ SeptemberCCC Meeting and SAWS changes.See Agenda items #12, #13, and #14 in the Minutes on page 5.

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"Direct Talk" by the President

As my 2 year term as president comes to a close I wanted to thank all the people who helped me along the way. I have made a lot of long lasting relationships and look forward to the newcomers. I want to wish our new President, Vice President, Treasurer, and the new Directors luck. If I can help in any way don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank You

Brad Harrell

Here is a good website for emergency information: www.sanantonio.gov/emergency/ Check it out.

Chapter Chatter Plus My Opinions Greg Shean, Secretary “ Going Fishing – ‘Sole’ Out” The annual trip will be from Friday, October 26th to Sunday, October 28th at the Cast n’ Stay at Baffin Bay. The Organizers said the trip is “sold out” and will notify the attendees on required deposits. However, please e-mail or tell Troy at the October meeting if you’d like to be put on a waiting list in case someone cancels out – this has happened before. This really is a great trip so; get your reservation in early for next year.

Just to give you a final idea of the menu and how to get there – use manual directions. There is a minor menu change. Saturday Lunch: Instead of seasoned & baked chicken wings with enhanced Frank’s Hot Sauce, Deep smoked pulled pork with homemade BBQ sauce, and Chips, we will have my El Paso Chili that I’ve been flogging for about 40 years. It will be enhanced with lots of shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese, chopped onions, hot sauce, and saltine crackers. Might be a good warm up if it gets cold. No ground beef or beans – just 2 parts of ½” cubed beef to 1 part of 1/2” cubed pork. This I’ll do at home to blend the flavors. It is great with beer.

Use your navigator at your own risk. I did, twice, and ended up on the same dead end road 5 miles from Castn’ Stay. Didn’t learn my lesson.

Take IH 37 towards Corpus Christi. Take IH-37 south to Corpus Christi 144 mi /1 h 58 min Take US-77 towards Robstown/Kingsville/Brownsville Continue I-69 S/US-77 South – about 40 miles. 9 miles past Kingsville, look for FM 628. There’s a Loyola Beach sign on right side and a high Kings Inn sign across 77 on left side. Turn left onto FM 628. Continue to follow FM 628 – 8.4 miles Turn left onto County Road 1140S – Brown’s Market on corner Cast'n Stay will be on the right – 1 mile 448 S County Road 1140, Riviera, TX 78379 The San Antonio Home & Garden (H&G) Show I’ve been to all of them and Peeing Fred hasn’t lost his peeing charm. Folks just come off the escalator and have yet to be worn out and slow down. First they see the little girl drinking that brown water. The little girl is a kid’s magnet. I’m standing up and ask them if they have an irrigation system. They look at me and I point out the brown water comes from Fred. After asking, if they don’t have an irrigation system, the Hose Bibb Vacuum Breaker is a great way to talk about backflow. Whether they have an irrigation system or not, we’re there to educate the public on the importance of backflow prevention. They are homeowners looking to improve their home. If they say they do, I would then ask them if they have a backflow preventer and if it has been recently tested. Now they are backing up to talk. Take it from there to explain what a backflow preventer does in a few words and answer their questions.

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I had four requests for a follow on visit, although I didn’t volunteer for it. Two irrigation repairs with a backflow check (Windcrest and Timberwood Park), one needed a backflow (Kallison Ranch way out Culebra) and one had a problem with the Schertz city plumbing department. None a short drive for me. So far, no one has called. It really is a lot of fun and worthwhile in homeowner backflow education and possible help.

October 11th Meal. The meal for October will be sandwiches with trimmings, potato salad, fruit salad, cookies, and tea.

MINUTES SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER-ABPA

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Thursday, September 13, 2018

Brad Harrell – President, presided over and opened the San Antonio Chapter-ABPA General membership meeting starting at 6:35pm, in the Tower 2 Conference Room at HQ SAWS.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - PRESENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS - ABSENT Brad Harrell - President Troy Baird – Past President Anthony Romero – Vice President Greg Shean – Secretary Jeff Hoffman –Treasurer

OFFICERS SPECIAL TO THE CHAPTER - PRESENT

OFFICERS SPECIAL TO THE CHAPTER - ABSENT

Carl Michaud - Gauge Testing and Certification Troy Baird - Supply Officer Bill Hamrick – Membership Matthew Wilgen – Webmaster Jim Cantrell – Liaison to SAWS Manny Hernandez – Public Relations/ Speakers/ Program Topics

Jeff Meeks - Sgt. At Arms

DIRECTORS AT LARGE - PRESENT DIRECTORS AT LARGE - ABSENT Frank Snyder Ron Renouf Carl Michaud Robert Stricker Gene Hinojosa Fred Baird Joe Fazekas Bruce Rathburn GUESTS PRESENT: Cary Wiley, National Sales

Manager,Safe-T-Cover,Atlanta Georgia

Agenda Item #1. Introduction: Brad asked for any new members or guests to introduce themselves. No takers. If too shy – sign in with Jeff. INFO. Agenda Item #2. Nominating Committee: Carl reported that Anthony Romero will be on the ballot for President; Joe Fazekas for Vice President; and Kristen Parisher for Treasurer for the October meeting election. They will assume their duties immediately after the election, probably by acclimation, at that meeting. Directors for a one-year term will be Gene Hinojosa, Bruce Rathburn, Ron Renouf, and Frank

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Snyder. Directors for a two-year term will be Fred Baird, Timothy Sales, Robert Stricker, Michael Lopez, and Keith Waldrep. INFO.

Agenda Item #3. Secretary’s Report: The August meeting minutes were in the September newsletter. Bill corrected and added additional information to a few sentences. Frank moved to accept the minutes. Passed. INFO.

Agenda Item #4. Treasurer’s Report: Jeff reported that there is $6,851.32 in the checking accounts. This includes all Home and Garden show expenses. He will give all treasurer related items to the new treasurer who will buy a new computer and software. Bill reported that the second quarter National reimbursement included 30 chapter members but we had 31. The report came from the new National management company in Philadelphia but the postmark was from the old management company in Connecticut. Bill thinks that not everything has been transferred to Philadelphia. INFO.

Agenda Item #5. Supply Officer Report: Troy bought some caps. INFO.

Agenda Item #6. Meal Sponsor: Safe-T-Cover sponsored the meal of pizza, a mixed lettuce salad with tomatoes and ranch dressing, cookies, and tea. INFO.

Agenda Item #7. Raffle Sponsor: Safe-T-Cover provided a $50 Academy gift certificate. Manny said that Miller Mays will provide a new gauge for the November raffle. INFO.

Agenda Item #8. Region 4 Report: No report. INFO.

Agenda Item #9. Irrigation Report: No report. INFO.

Agenda Item #10. COSA Plumbing Inspection Department Report: No report. INFO. .

Agenda Item #11. Hands-On Training: Brad read the first page newsletter article explaining that at least five meetings per year will be required to qualify for the free hands-on training. The 5 meeting requirements will start in 2019 with the first enforcement in 2021. The prior requirement of at least 16 meeting hours CEUs will be phased out by the 2021 hands-on. Fred and Troy will be here next month to lead a discussion. Bill said that you must be there before 8:30 or you won’t get certified. INFO.

Agenda Item #12. TCEQ Report: Jim Cantrell, SAWS Backflow Supervisor said he attended the September 6th TCEQ Cross Connection Control Subcommittee meeting in Austin. He said that Al Fuentes is stepping down to accept an “Enforcement” position. Another person will be taking over with irrigation enforcement and backflow. Jim said the trend is residential irrigation is not going to change to high hazard. The Irrigation Council was very quiet but is now very vocal as they want irrigation as high hazard. TCEQ performed 39 surveys on city backflow programs throughout Texas with about 46% being in compliance. Next year there will be only 6 to 9 surveys because of budget shortfalls. He said that a Type 2 assembly is now permitted on fire systems because of minimum pressure loss, lighter, and the engineers like them. The TCEQ is looking at getting potable and non-potable test and maintenance forms into one certification.

Agenda Item #13. SAWS Report: Jim reported that there are several SAWS code changes. The term device will be changed to assembly. The code will be amended to allow the property owner to designate the tester to sign their T&M. SAWS is waiving the fee for test reports. They will bring up the $5 fee for filing manually. SAWS will also update the city ordinance for the yearly test and maintenance reporting to be completed by June 30th for all submittals. This will give SAWS 6 months to work on the violations. The enforcement process will start in September. No backflow test notices will be sent out until the last one-fourth of the data is cleaned. TCEQ does not require notices, as the owners are ultimately responsible. Notices are a courtesy to the homeowner. Testers must submit T&M within 10 days of test. The owner is responsible for maintaining the T&M copy. SAWS turned in their new T&M, with only a few changes, to TCEQ. Agenda Item #14. SAWS On-Line Web App Training: Jim reported that only 8 of the 16 showed up for the SAWS training class. SAWS will be able to do on-site training for more than one. The members asked many questions on SAWS not sending out tasking letters – no letters – no work. SAWS is scrubbing down the data to eliminate 5,900 duplicates to help eliminate the flood of homeowner calls. INFO. 5

Agenda Item #15. Link to ABPA-SA Website: Joe said he had the San Antonio Irrigation Association (SAIA) basic bylaws. Joe will go from there and determine what will be put in the Associa/Town Square mobile application. It will guide the homeowners to the sites for information, questions, and work. This will promote the chapter website for homeowner education. Bill will e-mail Joe bylaws, mission statement, and code of ethics. OPEN. Agenda Item #16. Fishing Trip: Will be from Friday, October 26th to Sunday October 28th. More information will be in the September Chapter Chatter. See Fred, Troy, or Bruce if interested. INFO. Agenda Item #17. Alamodome Home and Garden: Dates are from September 14th to 16th. . The hours are: Friday – 2 pm to 7 pm. Saturday – 10 am to 7 pm. Sunday – 11am to 6 pm. Shifts will be four hour. Troy has a signup sheet. Troy said the chapter still has cozies and he ordered notepads from Terry for items to pass out to attendees. The Lot A parking will now cost more with no single passes. The lot A parking passes went from $30 to $45 for three days. Jeff bought 4 passes. If you use Lot C, pay the $10 and bring your receipt to get reimbursed. There is still room for more to sign up. INFO. Agenda Item #18. Training: Cary Wiley, Safe-T-Cover, National Sales Manager, Atlanta Georgia presented training on Best Practices in Backflow Preventer Installation. Cary said that all backflows must be installed in an appropriate location and need protection from the elements. He described how in the mid 1980’s, Hot Box, based in sunny Florida, started making heated enclosures for valves in the Carolinas and colder climates. In the Mid 1990’s Manufacturers teamed up with ASSE to enforce standards. This is a rapidly growing segment because of changes in economy, valve protection, and water standards. Cary showed many pictures of backflow owner constructed enclosures. There is now an ASSE 1060 standard that addresses freeze protection, structural strength, adequate drainage for RPZ relief conditions, access requirements for Testing and Maintenance, specified materials of construction, security, and vandalism protection. He then showed the creativity in many ASSE 1060 approved structures. He described why assemblies are put in places that are “out of sight and out of mind.” Also, “What could possibly go wrong if the assembly is put inside a building?” Included were pictures of bad backflow locations. Generally, there are a few reasons why anyone might want to install a backflow prevention assembly in a pit or a vault. First, to protect the assembly from freezing conditions; second, for aesthetic reasons; lastly, one may want to protect the assembly from vandalism. However, the USC Foundation recommends that all assemblies be installed above grade. Cary then went into the problems installing assemblies in vaults and pits. Installing an assembly in a pit or vault may inadvertently create cross-connections. Instead of preventing backflow, a cross-connection has been created. The USC Foundation recommends assemblies be installed 12” to 36” above grade. Cary said we should think about installing an assembly in an enclosure instead of a pit or vault. Cary then went through what OSHA classified as a confined space and the seven requirements to make it safe. He then compared the cost, materials, and labor of a pit versus an above ground enclosure. He showed multimillion dollar damages done when an RPA discharges in a building. Many municipalities are putting boilerplate enclosures into their contracts to get backflow assemblies out of vaults and buildings. Cary showed many attempts to protect backflow assemblies in an enclosure but came up short in implementation. Then he showed many assemblies, some very large and varied applications, where the enclosures met implementation criteria. The comparisons were laughable when they came up short and incredible when done properly. Manny moved the meeting be adjourned. Passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 for the raffle.

Greg Shean, Secretary ABPA San Antonio Chapter 6

2018 Election of Officers

The slate of officers for 2018-2019 to be voted into office at the October meeting:

President: Anthony Romero Directors for 2 Years Directors for 1 Year Fred Baird Gene Hinojosa Vice President: Joe Fazekas Mike Lopez Bruce Rathburn Timothy Sales Ron Renouf Treasurer: Kristen Parisher Robert Stricker Frank Snyder Keith Waldrep Secretary: Greg Shean

7 Master Food ChefMaster Bar-B-Que Chef

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(*Buy the popular ‘BAC-FLO-5’ test kit, see course schedule, and much more on our website. For gauge certifications, call 210-698-0411 for weekly test times in Boerne, TX!)

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ABPA-SA Board of Directors

2017 - 2018

1) President –Brad Harrell 2) Vice President – Anthony Romero 3) Immediate Past President – Troy Baird 4) Treasurer – Jeff Hoffman 5) Secretary – Greg Shean

Special Officers to the Association

6) SGT-AT-ARMS –Jeff Meeks 7) Liaison to SAWS – James Cantrell 8) Supply Officer – Troy Baird 9) Gauge Testing and Certification – Carl Michaud

Special Officer to Gauge T&C: Bill Hamrick 10) Public Relations/ Speakers/ Program Topics – Manny Hernandez 11) Webmaster – Matthew Wilgen

Directors at Large

Two-year term

1. Fred Baird 2. Gene Hinojosa 3. Frank Snyder 4. Joe Fazekas

One year term remaining

5. Robert Stricker 6. Ron Renouf 7. Bruce Rathburn

NOTICE: New Mail Address: ABPA-SA - P.O. Box 47820 - San Antonio, TX 78265 11

“The Direct Connection” is published monthly and may be obtained from the www.abpa-sa.org website. Opinions or facts within “The Direct Connection” are not necessarily representative ofthe opinions of the American Backflow Prevention Association and may or may not represent an official policy. Additionally, the opinions or facts of contributors or advertisers may or may not represent an official policy. Published by the ABPA-SA Chapter Editor: Bill Hamrick Assistant Editor: Bruce Rathburn Additional Editors: The entire Membership For further information about ABPA, contact:

Bruce Rathburn – Past ABPA President americanbackflowh2o@gmail.com Troy Baird – ABPA Region 4 Director troybaird@gvtc.com

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Thanks to our ABPA-SA Sponsors

APRIL 2018

MARCH 2018

FEBRUARY 2018

JANUARY 2018

NOVEMBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017

SEPTEMBER 2018

Miller Mays & Associates

AUGUST 2018

800-575-9618

JULY 2018

Backflow Test Gauges

JUNE 2018

MAY 2018

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OCTOBER 2018

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APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

US Membership $65 International Membership $79

Sustaining Membership $300.00 New Member

Renewal - Member #______________ To join the American Backflow Prevention Association, simply fill out the membership application form and mail it with your check to the address listed below, or if paying by credit card you may fax the completed form to 979.846.7607. Local chapters have additional fees. Below is a listing of chapters by region. To find out if there is a local chapter in your area, please review the chapter information on our website at abpa.org or call the National Office at 979.846.7606. Membership in the Association constitutes paying National dues.

Sustaining Member: • Must be a company or organization • Assign only one person as the member of ABPA • A Sustaining Member must submit a letter that

designates their Voting Representative.

Please Print Legibly or Type

Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc First Name MI Last Name (Include suffix)

Organization (Agency/Firm) Department/Division Title

Address:

City: State / Prov Zip + 4 Code/Postal Code Country

Daytime Phone Fax Email

ABPA-SA $ 60.00 Local Chapter (if joining a local chapter) Local Dues Amount

Method of Payment

Charge $ 125.00 to my Visa MasterCard American Express Discover Check Money Order Invoice Me

Credit Card Number Card Expires (MM/YYYY) CVC Number

Name as it appears on card Signature

Additional Information How would you like to receive your Membership Renewal Invoice Notification? Email US Mail (Not available for International Membership)

Local Chapter Dues Listed by Region

REGION 1 New England Rhode Island

REGION 2 Virginia

REGION 3 Carolinas Florida Suncoast Peach State “1788” Tennessee

REGION 4 Arkansas Central Texas Corpus Christi Lower Rio Grande Valley North Texas San Antonio

$12.00 18.00

$25.00

$10.00 12.00 30.00 20.00

$10.00 20.00 23.00 25.00 23.0060.00

REGION 5 Colorado Southeastern Colorado Utah

REGION 6 Arizona Central Coast Central Valley California Hawaii Silver State Southern California

REGION 7 Big Sky Idaho Oregon SRC4

REGION 8 (USD) BCBPA (British Columbia)

$15.00 15.00 12.00

$20.00 10.00 10.00 23.00 23.00 15.00

$10.00 10.00 20.00 20.00

$26.00

REGION 9 (USD) Ontario REGION 10 Wisconsin

REGION 11 Indiana Indiana BPA Michigan Northern Illinois Ohio

REGION 12 Central Missouri Eastern Nebraska Heart of America Panhandle Western Nebraska

$50.00

$10.00

$ 5.00 25.00 40.00 23.00 10.00

$20.00 10.00 12.00 5.00 8.00

Please make checks payable to: ABPA 10 N 20th St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19103979.846.7606 . Fax: 979.846.7607 Email: membership@abpa.org

05.2018