The Cross Connection Control Program eliminates the possibility of contamination within our system. In order to protect the potable public water supply, appropriate backflow prevention devices need to be in place.

The City of Pickens Public Works staff work to locate and eliminate unprotected cross connections through our cross connection control program. We maintain records pertaining to the location of existing backflow prevention assemblies, types and sizes of each assembly and test results.

SCDES classifies cross connections in four main categories:

• Low Hazard Cross Connection
• Residential Lawn Irrigation System
• High Hazard Cross Connection
• Fire Sprinkler Systems.

Each connection has different requirements and users are required to consult with the Public Utilities Director before any new connections are allowed.

Backflow Preventions Devices shall meet the requirements of SCDES. The City of Pickens requires routine testing of backflow prevention devices according to State Primary Drinking Water Regulation R.61-58. Testing results should be sent to the City of Pickens at:

City of Pickens
Public Works Department
PO Box 217
Pickens, SC 29671

A List of common places that require a backflow prevention devices is shown below:

• Car Washes
• Funeral Homes
• Hospitals/Health Clinics
• Doctors
• Dentists
• Veterinarians
• Laundromats
• Chemical plating facilities
• Schools
• Chiropractors
• Lawn Sprinklers
• Restaurants
• Dry Cleaners
• Hair Salons or Barbers
• Photo Processing labs
• Chemical Facilities
• Public Swimming Pools

The City provides a check valve at each water customer’s connection to prevent backflow into the public drinking water system. In addition, any residential or commercial irrigation connection must have an approved testable backflow device maintained by the customer.

Review and approval for fireline plans and inspection of fireline installations are an integral part of this program. Contact the City of Pickens Fire Department with questions.

For any question regarding the cross connection control program please email Trey Adams.

• General Testers
• Backflow Test Form

All meters installed by the City send a radio signal to a receiver in the meter reader’s vehicle allowing water consumption to be read as they drive by.

Consumption & Billing

Water bills are calculated based on thousands of gallons of water used. All new meters allow the customer to track consumption. The first white dial from the right is the thousands column. For every value change in that column signifies 1 thousand gallons used.

Leaks

Older meters use a black and white wheel in the center—if it’s spinning, that indicates a leak on your side. For newer digital meters, a leak is indicated if the numbers continue to increase even when no water is being used.

As infrastructure ages it is often hard to decide where and how to make improvements in your system. To help the decision process, the City of Pickens continuously updates its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Our CIP identifies projects that need to be addressed in the next 5 to 10 years. These projects are outside the scope of daily routine maintenance such as line and pump repairs. A CIP also helps us decide how the City will pay for the improvements.

In 2014, the City entered into an agreement with Energy Systems Group (ESG). ESG helped the City utilize a new funding mechanism called a performance contract. ESG identified items on our capital improvements plan that would also generate large energy or operational savings for the City. An example of this would be the water treatment plant distribution pumps. Replacing these pumps would save the City thousands of dollars a year in energy cost; nonetheless, due to the age and wear on the pumps they were also on our CIP to be replaced in the next few years. This made the distribution pumps a prime candidate for replacement in a performance contract. All areas of the water and sewer system will see improvements through this project. The total project cost is approximately $5 million. A project completion breakdown is shown below:

• Water Meter Change Out – 30% Complete
• Sewer Treatment Plant Improvements – 100% Complete
• Water Distribution System Improvements – 100% Complete
• Sewer Collection System Improvements – 50% Complete