Belleview businesses that fail to comply with the city’s backflow prevention requirements could find themselves without running water beginning February 1, 2027, following a decision by the Belleview City Commission on Tuesday, October 20.
The requirement is rooted in a Florida law which mandates cross-connection control programs to protect public drinking water supplies, with Belleview enforcing those requirements.
The Commission agreed with a recommendation from city staff to begin disconnecting water service to commercial customers who have not installed required backflow prevention assemblies, following a final grace period extending through January 31.
The decision comes approximately nine months after the city began mailing notices to commercial customers, informing them of the requirements and an October 31 installation deadline.
According to information presented to commissioners, more than 300 notices were mailed in February, July and September, yet only about half of the affected customers have complied.
That leaves a substantial number of businesses facing potentially expensive plumbing work, with the possibility of losing water service if the requirements are not met.
The devices, known as backflow prevention assemblies, are designed to prevent potentially contaminated water from flowing backward into the city’s drinking water supply. The goal is to keep what’s coming out of a business’s plumbing from finding its way back into everybody else’s drinking water.
But that protection comes with a price tag. During Tuesday’s meeting, Public Works Director Bob Titterington estimated the cost to affected businesses at approximately $1,500.
Actual expenses can exceed that estimate. The Voice of South Marion, which operates an office in Belleview and received the same notices as other commercial customers, paid more than $1,800 to meet the requirements.
And installing the device is only part of the process.
A September 28 letter sent by the city’s Public Works Department, marked “FINAL REMINDER,” informed recipients that all dedicated domestic and irrigation service connections must have a reduced-pressure backflow prevention assembly installed by a licensed plumber.
The letter also explained that businesses must obtain the appropriate plumbing permit and have the newly installed equipment tested by a certified backflow tester.
While the September notice emphasized the October 31 deadline, commissioners agreed Tuesday to allow additional time before shutting off water service.
Under the approved direction, businesses that remain out of compliance will receive hand-delivered notices, with water disconnections scheduled to begin February 1. Businesses whose water service is disconnected will be required to satisfy the applicable permitting, inspection and testing requirements, along with any outstanding balances, before service is restored.
For those who have already complied, the expense is behind them. For those who have not, the clock is ticking.
