After the boil water advisories last fall, Mercer Island and the state Department of Health started looking at ways to improve the safety of the Island’s water system. They found that the city’s cross connection control program hadn’t been updated in years.

The goal of the program is to protect the water system from the risk of contamination due to backflow through cross connections.

The city will encourage property owners to install and test backflow preventers that are commensurate with the degree of hazard posed by property features.

The City Council was set to adopt an ordinance updating the program on June 1, after the Reporter deadline.

According to the Council agenda, the city will send out “certifications”—questionnaires asking Island residents and businesses about certain property features—in three phases: first lakefront properties, then commercial properties and then all other properties.

Consumers must return the certification within 30 days, or face penalties. For a first violation, the penalty is a written notice, and there is a $50 fine for all subsequent violations.

For failure to install backflow preventers and inspect and test those devices, consumers will receive a warning letter asking them to correct the violation.

Then, cumulative monetary penalties will be imposed: $100 for a second violation and $150 and water service termination for a third violation.