Morton partners with Secretary of Health Mary Selecky to better protect public water supplies

January 29, 2009

Olympia…Sen. Bob Morton, R- Kettle Falls, has joined with state Department of Health Secretary Mary Selecky and the chairman of the Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee to ensure public water supply systems are better protected. 

At Selecky’s request, Morton and Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, are sponsoring Senate Bill 5199 to require backflow assembly testers and cross-connection control specialists to be certified in the same manner as certified water supply system operators. 

A backflow assembly tester inspects, tests, and monitors backflow assemblies that protect a public water supply from contamination. 

A cross-connection control specialist develops and implements cross-connection control programs. 

Systems that store, transmit, pump or distribute water to consumers are at risk if there is a failure in backflow assemblies and cross-connections. 

“I support Mary’s concern that we need to make sure people are doing their jobs properly,” Morton said. “Contaminated drinking water can be very serious.” 

SB 5199 won the support of the Environment, Water and Energy Committee on Jan. 27, and is now in the Senate Rules Committee, the last stop before a full Senate vote.

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov