1. Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register
June 2017
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 1

2. 229,072 hectares 292,990 population 11,000 Devices 8 BFD Acres
Boundary of our sunshine coast area run form Peregian Beach in the north down to Coochin Creek in the south.
Our land area is 229,072 hectares.
Sunshine Coast as of 2016 census has a population of 292,990.
Sunshine Coast currently have registered 11,000 Devices and growing.
Which looks like around 8 Back Flow Device per Arce.
8 BFD
Acres

3. Backflow Management Objectives
The Sunshine Coast Councils backflow management strategy is designed to protect clients, assets and infrastructure by managing and controlling risks caused by potentially harmful contaminants back-flowing into the water mains from clients’ private properties.
The Sunshine Coast Councils backflow management strategy
is designed to protect clients, assets and infrastructure
by managing and controlling risks caused by potentially harmful contaminants back-flowing into the water mains from clients’ private properties;

4. Sunshine Coast Council will:
Identify properties that pose a backflow risk
Implement & maintain a cost-effective management system
E.g. hospitals, refuse areas, commercial & industrial properties
Sunshine Coast Council will:
Identify properties that pose a backflow risk to the drinking water supply including Sunshine Coast Council assets –
for example hospitals, refuse areas, commercial and industrial properties as well as class 1 buildings;
consult clients throughout the implementation process, demonstrating due diligence and duty of care to clients;
implement and maintain a cost-effective management system, including a database, reporting system and management control procedures;
Consult clients throughout the implementation process
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 4

5. Sunshine Coast Council will promptly:
Identify
Record
Rectify
Report
Sunshine Coast Council will:
promptly identify, record, report and rectify non-compliant properties.
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 5

6. Implications if not implemented
01| Due Diligence
Expected level of due diligence would not be achieved
02| Contaminate Exposure
Clients could be exposed to contaminated water sources from cross connections from properties
Implications, if not implemented
Sunshine Coast Council would not demonstrate the expected level of due diligence;
Sunshine Coast Council clients could be exposed to contaminated water sources from cross connections from properties;
Loss of history of installed or removed devices;
Loss of compliance or installation issues; and
Loss of income to manage an efficient system.
04| Loss of History
Loss of history of installed or removed devices
05| Installation issues
Loss of compliance or installation issues
06| Income Loss
Loss of income to manage an efficient system
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 6

7. Benefits if implemented
01| Less risk
Minimisation of risk to client
02| Due Diligence
Due diligence requirements met
Benefits
Minimisation of risk to clients;
Due diligence requirements met;
Active regulatory role within customers’ properties;
No contamination of drinking water from backflow; and
Minimising administration costs to Sunshine Coast Council.
04| Auditing
Active regulatory role within client properties
05| No Contamination
No contamination in drinking water
06| Income Gain
Minimises administration costs to council
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 7

8. Backflow Model SCC Initiates Backflow Program Backflow Management
System
11 mths after test, SCRC auto
sends client notification
Council staff
sends letter to client
Customer receives
letter
Client
Council staff
Sends audit letter
Plumber fills out
paper report
Plumber sends
In report
Council staff processes
any rejections
Customer hires
plumber
Technical Officer
Audits results if
required
BFS Reject Form is
sent to Plumber
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 8

9. Moving forward
Moving toward a fully online lodgement system by approximately 2018, rejecting paper-based lodgement except in exceptional circumstances
Endorsed Plumbers could retrieve all reports lodged under their name
Monthly audits conducted on companies and endorsed plumbers would be, as it is now, a key function of the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Management Program
Moving Forward
Sunshine Coast Council is moving toward a fully online lodgement system by approximately 2018, rejecting paper-based lodgement except in exceptional circumstances;
Endorsed Plumbers could lodge and store test reports for containment, zone and individual devices into the system;
Endorsed Plumbers could retrieve all reports lodged under their name;
All annual requested retest, installation and non-compliance letters would be sent through the online data base;
All annual requested retest, installation and non-compliance letters would be sent through the online data base
Endorsed Plumbers could lodge and store test reports for containment, zone and individual devices into the system
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 9

10. Moving Forward cont.
Sunshine Coast Council officers continue with industry education by attending Registered Training Organisation backflow accreditation classes, Backflow Prevention Association Australia (BPAA) meetings and other plumbing industry groups meetings.
Sunshine Coast Council Officers would continue with industry education by attending Registered Training Organisation backflow accreditation classes,
Backflow Prevention Association Australia (BPAA) meetings and other plumbing industry groups meetings;
Monthly audits conducted on companies and Endorsed Plumbers would be, as it is now, a key function of the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Management Program.
Process begins again

11. Conclusion Backflow database is an essential management system
Accurately and reliably manages incoming and outgoing data
The backflow database is an essential management system which allows Sunshine Coast Council to accurately and reliably manage incoming and outgoing data.
Sunshine Coast Council are continuously improving systems to benefit endorsed plumbers and to ensure updated property information is available with accurate device information, changes to serial numbers as well as changes to locations if required.
Overall efficiency benefits will reduce manual adjustment errors in the data base. The six-month consultation period with relevant industry groups and associations, including hydraulic engineers, major and minor plumbing businesses will ensure that the system will be efficient and effective once implemented.
Consultation with all relevant industry groups ensure an efficient and effective system when implemented
Continuous improvements on systems to benefit endorsed plumbers
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 11

12. = Educate Maintain Notify Safe Points to take away
Maintaining a register requires a lot of work for your staff as their will be constant communication between all stakeholders and clients.
Maintain
Not all decisions will be acceptable to all parties so clear explanations and education is very important.
Educate
Council will need to keeping plumbers up-to-date with the constant changes in industry improvements.
Notify
Keeping a register needs lots of work your staff, the plumbers and clients require to be in constant communication.
There will be times that decision will not make all parties happy the need to explain and educate is so important.
Keeping the plumbers up with constant change in industry improvements.
Yes it is hard work; after all we expect our water be clean, pure, and safe. =
Yes it is hard work!
After all we expect our water to be clean, pure and safe. Do you?
Safe
Managing the Sunshine Coast Council Backflow Register 12

13. Thankyou
Thanks