Temporary Jumper / Backflow

[CivInspAZ]

Several municipalities utilize a temporary jumper for the connection from existing main to say in this instance a large private commercial lot.

Contractor of course is trying to save money anyway he can, especially by not building or even reading the plans and details for the project.

My supervisor has 11 months to retire and frankly can do or say whatever he pleases.

Water dept very adamantly against swabbing even per AWWA guidelines.

Contractor is attempting to utilize a dual check backflow preventer in lieu of the temp jumper. Water dept main objection is chlorine attack on the internal stops/gaskets. Granted it is functioning and certified, it shouldn't allow the chlorine to make it's way back inside the backflow especially with a gate valve isolated the loading new 8" main for, pre-flushing, pressure, high chlorination, flushing, Bacteria sampling, etc.

Why do some municipalities have this as an absolute requirement, versus the contractor and my supervisors opinion that it's just no big deal.

Either case, I am in a pickle, because, per the Water Dept. instructions, they were hell bent on doing it the right way, my way from the beginning. But of course, the contractor is complaining and now is sidestepping all standard procedures including NOT chlorinating 2000lf of 2" domestic copper lines, which is debatable.

Very dire state the inspection world is, it is no surprise at all how people can become sickened by contaminated water these days.

Do, I just sit back and not stir up trouble and keep my kushy job? Or do I press the nuke attack button and call the Water Dept up and spill the beans. Who has more to lose? Me of course, and everything I know and have learned and continue to learn through professionals like yourselves means nothing. Empty, sick feeling at the end of the day.

 

[bimr]

Please explain your role in this contract.

If you are providing inspection services, your responsibility is not telling the contractor what to do, but documenting what is being done. If the contractor is aware that you are fully documenting what he is doing or not doing, one would think the contractor would not do something that is going to end up costing him money and perhaps jail time.

 

[CivInspAZ]

No instruction has been given from me, however the Water Dept has full authority, written or not to inform of what is going to be required to permanently connect to their water.

They have pre-warned the contractor that if swabbing or no temporary jumper is installed, they will NEVER turn the valve on to feed the site.

My role is defined as performing on/offsite inspection of the private development, per the permit notes, per the plans Water Note #1, all lines shall be inspected by the city inspector prior to backfill. The plans include city specific standards and details.

From what my supervisor tells me, because it is private property, I basically can't enforce anything, but I do document everytime they build outside of the plans/standards/specifications and inform the developer, and we are basically an extra set of eyes for the final owner. Everytime, it makes it way back to my boss who from my impression, not very well versed on his job. This morning, he didnt even know what a temporary jumper consisted of, specifically it's backflow prevention assembly. This varies from city to city, because the last city I worked for, didn't care if it was private or not, everything was enforced or the certificate of occupancy wouldn't be issued.

I will revel the day that the water department shows up to open the valve, because I will answer all of their questions truthfully, and then tell them my supervisor said so, and he even said to call him up if they disagree, and videotape it. I'm not doing that today, I am done helping this crybaby contractor by printing out approved plans for them, detail sheets, instructions, advising them ahead of time of what it is I will be using to "inspect". $375 is all they are saving by gambling with this mixture of bravado/foolishness...

 

[bimr]

You may already know who the city inspector is because you would have submitted the plans. You could ask the inspector if certain design changes will be acceptable and ask him to give a pre-inspection walkthrough. If the inspector is not going to approve it, it may eliminate some of the problems by having the inspector involved earlier.

 

[amlinerrichard]

The inspector can also cancel the permit for faulty work and shut down the job. and cancel any plumbing permits for the job. I did it a few times when I was an inspector in an earlier life. then watch the fur fly.

 

[amlinerrichard]

Water Dept. Inspector I should have said

 

[itsmoked]

I agree that getting the word to the slob contractor via a pre-inspection soonest will get the $375 correction done as even a moron can eventually see it's going to cost them more *, verses a huge sh*t storm later with splatter everywhere.

* See this thread - same garbage - different slime-ball.
thread164-437347

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[CivInspAZ]

Precisely, and when the water dept rep showed up, these were his instructions, which they have chosen NOT to follow. The city code states the purveyor has full authority to instruct which device will be acceptable to connect to the main. I'm just going to mention it when they show up to turn the valve on to feed the site for pressure testing, probably the last time the valve gets turned on for them, oh well.