Local resident Stan Clark says he’s disconnected his back-flow system because not enough people were being required to install it.

Clark installed a back-flow prevention valve when he installed his underground sprinklers. He didn’t require a building permit, but he was told he would need a back-flow preventer and it would have to be certified and inspected once a year. His costs were $300 to have the system installed and $80 per year for inspection.

However, he said he heard from a city employee that only a few residential customers had the system, and when he asked a local water company how much “blow out” maintenance they do per year on underground systems the numbers didn’t add up.

“It’s up to the city to start pushing the rest of the people to follow the bylaw,” he said.

Grand Forks Chief Administrative Officer Lynne Burch said its possible that not everyone with a sprinkler system has complied with Bylaw 1817 because a building permit is not necessary to install underground sprinkler systems.

“The building permit process is usually where we become aware of them,” she said.

However, she added that eventually every home would require a backflow prevention system. Initially the bylaw enforcement focused on industrial and commercial properties. However, the bylaw is still being phased in for residential customers.

“The bylaw is in place simply to protect the water system,” she said.

Clark said he isn’t opposed to the bylaw, but he wants to raise awareness about it and what he sees as lack of compliance.

“It’s the principle of the thing,” he said. “We don’t need another Waterton.”