The City of Rogers City is moving forward with having inspections done on residential homes to locate possible contamination points, known as cross-connections.

Water customers who have cross connection points, or irregularities that could cause contamination to the city’s water system, will have to pay for them to be corrected.

The Rogers City City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to sign a three-year contract with CCRA Professional Services L.L.C. to do the inspections to appease the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, which is pressuring municipalities to conduct them.

Rogers City inspects commercial and industrial properties several times a year to once every three years, depending on if there are any issues, Rogers City Water Superintendent Chuck Kieliszewski said.

The inspections aren’t expected to begin until next year, Kieliszewski said.

City Manager Joe Hefele said the city wanted to start the inspections last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a monkey-wrench into the plan. He said there are many ways cross connection could occur in people’s homes, and if located, there would be a cost to residents to address the concerns.

“There are a multitude of types of cross-connections,” Hefele said. “The cost would depend on what the issue is. It could be a couple hundred dollars, or it could cost more. This is a state issue, and not a Rogers City issue.”

A cross-connection is a connection in a plumbing installation through which non-potable backwash could pass into, or come in contact with, water in a movable water system like a municipal water delivery system.

Non-potable water is water that is untested, and deemed unsafe for people to use.

A backflow can happen if there is a sudden loss of water pressure, such as when a water main pipe breaks.

Kieliszewski said when the inspections are near, there will be a mass mailing done to collect information about residents’ homes.

Most often, little issues are found that need correcting, like adding a hose bib in areas where a hose is used,” Kieliszewski said.

“Most are easily fixable for the homeowner, but if it is something like a boiler, then they would probably have to call a plumber,” Kieliszewski said.

Residential inspections in Alpena haven’t started yet or planned yet, Suez Utility Manager Mike Glowinski said when an employee enters a customer’s home for maintenance, they quickly check for possible cross-connection issues, and work with the property owner to have the issue rectified.

Suez is contracted through the city of Alpena to manage water and sewer operations.

“We are in the process of assessing every home in Alpena,” Glowinski said. “The inspections are not something we have to do now, but we are showing EGLE we are making progress in assisting residential customers, just like we are with lead and galvanized steel.”

Glowinski said if those materials are found, even if it is a customer’s house, the municipality is liable to cover the cost of replacement.

Kieliszewski said he doesn’t anticipate an issue with a large amount of lead being found.

Rogers City will pay CCRA approximately $4,500 a year for their work, Hefele said.