The Tarheel Pipeline, Spring 2016

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12 | Spring 2016
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class location in Asheboro to keep up with the growing demand to
certify more people. The city of Asheboro is very pleased to work
with us. Andrew Connor with the City spoke about the partnership
saying, “we wanted to team up with Rural Water because it’s leading
the way in the backflow & cross connection industry, and we wanted
to jump on board.” Connor also talked about the convenience of
having classes in Asheboro, “it helps out the local plumbers and utility
contractors, and it helps them get the most bang for their buck because
they don’t have to travel. We are kind of a smaller town and we do the
best we can for our residents and business owners, and if they have a
leak or a problem, we do our best to help them.”
I recently talked with the instructor of the new classes, Mac Merritt.
I asked him to explain what sets these classes apart. He said the
experience the instructors have and the hands-on instruction is what
makes the classes successful. I saw exactly what he meant by hands-
on when I attended the 4th class held so far in this new location. By
lunch time the class was troubleshooting repairs on a water table
which simulated a real life backflow & cross connection problem.
Merritt would rig the table and the students had to figure out how to
fix it. If they made a wrong move, we all got wet. I have to admit, I
got sprayed a couple of times! Sunny Wright traveled to the class all
the way from Oak Island. He says he has been in the business for 38
years and it is classes like this that are important. “I’ve seen backflow
& cross connection devices hooked up upside down and backwards,”
he said. The classes cover all the basics from the hydraulics of a
water distribution system and the internal plumbing of commercial
buildings to the plumbing inside a home. The classes cover what
makes a backflow preventer work and how to test them to make sure
that they are working properly. Students also learn how to set up a
program to protect their water system.
Shannon White with the City of Asheboro was part of the 3rd class
at this new location and said, “I have taken many other courses and
finished feeling nervous about taking my test, thinking the instructors
did not provide enough information to cover everything. I attended
the testers course for backflow prevention and the ORC course for
backflow prevention that Mac Merritt with NCRWA instructed and I
completed both courses very confident…he covered everything. It was
a fun learning experience”. Slade Harvin from the Wooten Company
was also in the same classes. He said, “I feel very prepared for the
state certification exam.”
Classes in this new location are held at the City of Asheboro Public
Works Center at 1312 North Fayetteville Street. This location is close
to hotels and restaurants. There is also plenty to do and see. There
is the Asheboro Zoo, Randleman Lake and historic sites such as the
Pisgah covered bridge, which is one of only two remaining covered
bridges in the state of North Carolina. For class times and dates, check
our website, and click on the training tab.
Resources:
Ritland, Robin L. Backflow Prevention: Theory and Practice. University of Florida Treeo Center.
2nd ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing. 1990. Print.
United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Cross-Connection Control Manual. University of
Southern California. 10th ed. Print.