Secondary Water

Requirements before using secondary water:

• Customer must call for an inspection of their sprinkler connection to the secondary service line. (See instructional video below)
• Customer must have a current backflow assembly test report if using culinary and secondary (swing line connection) for irrigation.
• Customer must request secondary water meter to be set after they have passed inspection and have a current backflow assembly test report.

Secondary Water Rates

Water Rate Informative Flyer
Secondary Water Rate Ordinance

Secondary water will be accessible to residents in the available area of the city beginning towards the end of April. Below you will find information to assist residents in preparing to connect to secondary water.

If you have questions, comments or concerns about installation or parts, please contact Herriman City Water Department at (801) 446-5323 or [email protected]. Also see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Herriman City Secondary Water Connection Diagram
Herriman City Secondary Water Facts

Safety and Awareness

Remember to wear the appropriate safety equipment for each task, operate any tools in a safe manner and in the way they are intended to be used. Follow all safety guidelines and protocols of all manufactures.

General Installation

Follow all manufacture recommendations and installation instructions. Blue Stakes should always be called at least 48 hours prior to any excavation.

Explanation of Components and Parts

Stop & Waste Valve – The stop & waste valve serves two basic purposes. It is used for turning water on or off and for draining water out of the sprinkler system. The valve must be fully open or fully closed to operate properly.

Filter (optional) – We recommend using a filter. The secondary water will be filtered before it enters the distribution system. We are filtering it down to 200 microns. Check with your sprinkler professional for their recommendation on filtration for your particular sprinkler system.

Swing-line – A swing-line is only needed if you plan on using both culinary and secondary for irrigation. It is not needed if you choose to use only secondary for irrigation. A swing-line is used to ensure only one supply of water is being used for irrigation. In a swing-line box you have two supply lines coming in (culinary & secondary) each with a shut off valve and you have one line going out (sprinkler feed line). There is one flexible line that is permanently fastened to the sprinkler feed and a quick connector that can be connected to either the secondary or the culinary depending on which supply will be used.

Backflow Assembly – The recommended backflow assembly type is a Reduced Pressure Zone assembly (RPZ). A backflow assembly is needed anytime culinary water will or may be used for irrigation. If using culinary only for irrigation, the backlow assembly must be installed on the main sprinkler feed line before the tee, junction or the first set of control valves. If you are using culinary and secondary, the backflow assembly must be installed before the swing-line box. A backflow assembly is not required if secondary will be the only supply for your irrigation system. Backflow assemblies must be tested by a certified backflow technician within 10 days of initial use and annually thereafter.

Homeowners Parts List

Supplies Needed for Connections

List of Suppliers

Local supply houses that carry the necessary materials, we recommend you call around for the best pricing. This is intended to assist you in acquiring the necessary parts, we do not endorse them.

• Sprinkler Supply
• Sprinkler World
• Mountain States
• John Deer Landscapes
• Ewing Irrigation
• Home Depot
• Lowes

Certified Landscape Contractors

The following link provides a list of local landscape contractors that have been certified through the Irrigation Association. This should assist you in finding a qualified contractor to connect your sprinkling system to the secondary connection. We recommend you call several to find one that best suits your needs. This is only intended to assist you in finding a contractor, Herriman City does not endorse them.
www.irrigations.org/hirecertified/
Certified Backflow Technicians
Local Certified Backflow Technicians

Secondary Water Laws & Regulations:

Federal Law
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, Public Law 93-523, Water purveyors are responsible for the quality of drinking water delivered. This required that contamination from backflow be eliminated.

State Regulation and Code
Utah Code, Section 19-4-112 states “there shall be no cross connection between the potable (drinking water) and non-potable (auxiliary water) systems”.

Utah Public Drinking Water Rule R-309-105

1. Unprotected cross-connection that may affect water quality, are not allowed. Approved backflow prevention assemblies must be used.
2. Backflow assemblies must be tested on an annual basis by a certified tester.
3. Drinking water systems shall be protected for cross-connection from an pressurized irrigation system.

Utah Plumbing Code

1. Prohibits Corss-Connections.
2. Requires annual testing on all backflow assemblies.

The following story is an actual backflow case that was reported:
Unwanted guests October 1991 (Residents find parasites in tap water).
Parasitical worms were found in the water at two homes after a malfunctioning lawn sprinkler coupled with a water main break sucked the nematodes into the water system. The nematodes first showed up in the evening of October 1, after the backflow prevention system malfunctioned. When the water pressure dropped, the vacuum in the system sucked some water from the sprinkler into the city water. A homeowner found the worms swimming around in his bathtub when he started filling the tub for his child. He said he was appalled to find the critters, as well as rust and other debris in his water.

Sprinkler System Winterization with Secondary Water Connection

Winterizing your sprinkler system when connected to the secondary system is not much different than winterizing when connected to the culinary system.

In both cases, you want to shut off the source of water. If using Culinary water, this could be located inside your home in the area of where the waterline enters the exterior wall. Or it could be a stop & waste valve connected to the main water supply line on the outside of your home. When using Secondary water, the shut off or “Stop & Waste” valve, could be located between the secondary meter box (located in the park strip, or directly behind the sidewalk) and the connection point to your sprinkler system. If a “Stop & Waste” valve was installed at the connection point to the secondary system, the water should drain from the first set of sprinkler control valves or swing line to the “Stop & Waste” valve. If a normal shut off valve was installed.

After the source has been shut off, you should drain the water from the sprinkler system at the lowest point of each sprinkler zone (in most cases, drains are put in at time of installation).

If a filter was installed with the connection to the secondary system, you should remove filter completely or remove the internal parts of the filter to minimize the risk of freezing and damaging the filter.

Backflow assemblies should also be removed to minimize damage from freezing. Backflow assemblies must be installed when connected the culinary water system in any manner.