What is the purpose of flushing?

The purpose of flushing is to maintain the water quality and reduce disinfectant byproducts. By flushing, we are maintaining our water distribution lines to ensure good quality water. The process that the City of McAllen–Transmission & Distribution Department follows is a required process by the TCEQ {290.46(I)} state law: “All dead end mains must be flushed at a monthly interval”. After the flushing has been done the water has to be tested to measure the level of chlorine in the water which has to be as per state regulation from a 0.5–4.0 mg/L Cl2.

Now if you as the customer experience any type of bad odor, bad taste, color in water, and/or debris in your water please notify the Water Laboratory Department at (956)-681-1720. The Water Laboratory Department will notify the field technician to grab a sample from the residence/business. The technician will transport the sample back to the laboratory to perform bacteriological, analytical, and wet chemistry analysis. The test which takes the longest to report is the bacteriological testing, from the initial analysis it takes 24 hours to observe a result.

Once all analysis is completed it is composed into a customer report and a lab technician will notify the customer of the results, plus take any further action by notifying the Transmission and Distribution Department whom will immediately dispatch a unit and flush the nearest fire hydrant to the customers home or business.

Here in the City of McAllen our highest priority is to maintain and deliver high quality potable water for our citizens.

Backflow and Cross Connection Control Program

Water distribution systems are designed with the intention of the water flowing in a certain direction from the distribution system to the consumer. However, hydraulic conditions within the system may alert these “normal” conditions, causing water to flow in the opposite direction in unprotected systems. This is called backflow.

What is backflow?

Backflow occurs when the pressure in the distribution system drops, siphoning water from the consumer’s system into the distribution system. This would also siphon any substance which may be in contact with the water system through a cross-connection. This type of backflow is called Backsiphonage and may occur when there is an unusually high use of water or undersized piping in area. For example, during fire fighting, or when a main water line breaks, water is “sucked “to the point of high usage, possibly drawing non-potable substance with it, filling the water line these substances.

Backsiphonage may occur through cross-connection such as a hose from a maintenance sink in a mop bucket, or a below-rim water inlet to a tank containing a toxic solution.

Cross Connections and backflow at your home

A garden hose submerged into a hot tub or swimming pool, or inserted into your car’s radiator to flush out the antifreeze, or attached to an insecticide sprayer could siphon that material back into our water mains. An underground sprinkler system could cause a problem if the piping used is not drinking water quality, if the water stagnates in the system, or if pesticides or herbicides are used in the irrigation system in any way.

MPU and TCEQ

Federal law requires water suppliers to protect their water system from contamination or pollution by cross-connections. To do this, water suppliers diligently conduct surveys of various facilities on their systems. This allows the water or health authority (which may be working in conjunction with water agency) to determine which type of backflow protection is necessary to protect the water system.

It is very important McAllen public utility maintain a strong cross-connection control program in order to protect the purity of our drinking water.

Annual Backflow Testing

Backflow devices assemblies must be tested for proper operation annually. This testing must be done on site by a certified backflow tester, and a maintenance report must be submitted to the McAllen Public Utility.

All consumers must be aware of cross-connection and prevent them, or protect such connections with the appropriate backflow preventer. These backflow prevents must be tested at least once each year to ensure that they are performing properly in preventing backflow.

Backpressure

When necessary they must be repaired in order to assure proper operation. Backpressure backflow is caused by a downstream pressure that is greater than the upstream or supply pressure in a public water system or consumer’s potable water system.

Backpressure can result from an increase in downstream pressure, a reduction in the potable water supply pressure, or a combination of booth.

Increases in downstream pressure can be created by pumps, temperatures increase in boiler, etc. Reductions in potable water supply pressure occur whenever the amount of water being supplied increases dramatically, such as during water line flushing, fire fighting, or breaks in water mains.

Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Policy

The City of McAllen is required by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) to eliminate any cross-connection from our system. The City must also maintain a Cross Connection Control Program for the potable water distribution system servicing your home or business.

Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers List

Important Disclaimer: You do not have to use any of the testers on this list. This list has been provided for your convenience only. The City of McAllen/McAllen Public Utility makes no representation regarding the abilities, performance, or quality of service of the testers listed above. Further, the City of McAllen/McAllen Public Utility does not assume or accept any responsibilities for the actions or performance of such testers. It is always your responsibility to ensure that the person you select is certified by TCEQ to test backflow prevention devices. You may go to TCEQ’s Web site to verify a person’s eligibility if you are uncertain they are certified, http://www.tceq.state.tx.us.

Contact Us

The City of McAllen is committed to enhancing the quality of our community by taking a leadership role in the care of water resources consistent with the highest standards and customer expectations. Water customers know best how their water is being used, so your support and assistance is very important in achieving our goal of providing a safe dependable, clean supply of water for all citizens.

For more information regarding low pressure, the backflow program, traveling meters, low pressure, no water or leaks at your home, school, or business contact:

Transmission and Distribution Department
2524 Colbath Street, McAllen, TX 78504
P.O. Box 220, McAllen, TX 78505
Office (956)681-1660
Fax (956)681-1669
mpubackflow@mcallen.net

For after hour emergencies please contact our standby crew at 956.681.1717.