Central Coast Council is inviting the community to have their say on proposed amendments to the Backflow Prevention Policy, which is now on public exhibition.

Council maintains a Backflow Prevention Policy to ensure property owners with a medium to high hazard of backflow contamination understand their responsibility to install and maintain backflow prevention devices when connecting to Council’s drinking water system. 

The proposed amendments provide clearer guidance on property owners responsibilities, including:

• The installation and management of backflow prevention devices. 
• The requirement to register containment backflow devices with Council. 
• The annual submission of test results for these registered containment backflow devices.

Council Director of Water and Sewer, Danielle Hargreaves reinforced the importance of backflow prevention and reassured residents that the policy applies only to properties identified as medium to high hazard by an accredited plumber.   

“A backflow prevention device is generally not required for typical water service connections providing drinking water to a single, low hazard residential dwelling.

“A sudden loss of pressure in the water supply system such as a burst water main, can cause water to flow back into the supply, potentially carrying contaminants.

“To prevent this, backflow prevention devices are required for properties identified during the development approval process as having a medium to high hazard of contamination. These policy updates are about improving clarity and ensuring the ongoing safety of our water supply.

“These proposed amendments ensure property owners clearly understand their responsibilities while maintaining our high water quality standards. We encourage all relevant stakeholders to review the policy and have their say,” Ms Hargreaves said.

The draft Backflow Prevention Policy is available for public review and feedback on Council’s Your Voice Our Coast website.

For more information and to have your say, search 'backflow prevention' at yourvoiceourcoast.com

ENDS