Inkster water customers may receive HydroCorp notices: here's why

INKSTER, Mich. If a letter about "cross-connection control" or "backflow testing" shows up in your mailbox, it is probably not junk mail. The City of Inkster announced on Sept. 8 that it is launching a cross-connection control program and has hired a company called HydroCorp to run it. HydroCorp is mailing notices to water customers.

Here is what the program is, what it may cost you, and how to make sure the person or letter in front of you is the real thing.

What a cross-connection is

A cross-connection is any link between your drinking water and something that could contaminate it. Common examples in a house: a garden hose left in a bucket or a pool, a lawn sprinkler system, a utility sink, a boiler, or a water softener.

Normally water flows one way, into your home. But if pressure in the city's lines drops, during a water main break or when firefighters open a hydrant, water can be pulled backward. That is called backflow. Without protection, whatever the hose or sprinkler line is sitting in can be pulled into your pipes, and potentially into your neighbors' water.

A backflow preventer is a valve that stops water from flowing backward. Some types have to be tested regularly to make sure they still work.

Why Inkster is doing this now

It is not optional for the city. Michigan's Safe Drinking Water Act rules require every community water system to run a cross-connection prevention program covering inspections, testing, recordkeeping and education, according to the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). EGLE says that includes homes, not just businesses, and that water systems may hire a private contractor to help.

Inkster's notice, signed by the city's Director of Public Services, lists three parts to the program:

• Annual testing of existing backflow preventers
• On-site surveys to find cross-connections nobody knew about
• Corrective action where a property does not comply

The city says not every part applies to every home.

What the notice might ask you to do

There are two different kinds of letters. Read yours to see which one you have.

1. A survey (inspection) notice. HydroCorp inspects your plumbing on the city's behalf, looking for unprotected connections. According to HydroCorp:

• The inspection is free.
• It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
• An exterior inspection only covers outdoor faucets, sprinklers and similar. You do not need to be home, and the inspector will not come inside.
• An interior inspection requires an appointment, and an adult 18 or older must be home. Your notice will say which type you need.
• Not every home is inspected at once. HydroCorp says first-round inspections are usually spread over three to five years, so your neighbor may get a letter before or after you.

2. A testing notice. If your property already has a testable backflow preventer, most often on a lawn sprinkler system, you will be asked to have it tested by a deadline. HydroCorp says it does not do this testing. You hire a licensed plumber or certified backflow tester, who then submits the results online. HydroCorp says mailed, faxed or emailed results are not accepted.

Who pays

This is the part residents will care about most.

• The inspection: free, according to HydroCorp.
• Testing an existing device: paid by the property owner. EGLE says the cost of installation and testing "is often paid by the water customer." HydroCorp's own FAQ says the same.
• Repairs, replacements or new devices found to be needed: the property owner's responsibility, according to HydroCorp. A licensed plumber can do the work and pull any permits.
• Renters: HydroCorp says to check your lease to see whether you or your landlord is responsible.

Prices for a test vary by plumber and by how many devices you have. Get more than one quote. Many homes without a sprinkler system or other testable device may never need a test at all.

HydroCorp says refusing an inspection or required repairs can lead to penalties set by the local water utility, which typically means a fine, a water shutoff, or both. The city's announcement does not spell out Inkster's deadlines or penalties; your individual notice should list your deadline. If you are unsure, call City Hall.

How to tell a real notice from a scam

Utility programs like this attract impostors. Bloomfield Township, in Oakland County, has warned residents about a text claiming to be from a backflow company that demanded payment be left under a doormat. The township pointed out that it uses HydroCorp and that no legitimate company asks for that.

A real HydroCorp notice or visit in Inkster should fit this pattern:

• It refers to the City of Inkster's cross-connection control program and points you to WaterCustomer.com or HydroCorp at 844-493-7641.
• The inspection itself is free. No one should ask you to pay an inspector on the spot.
• HydroCorp does not test devices or sell repairs. If someone at your door says they are from HydroCorp and offers to test or fix your backflow preventer for cash, be suspicious.
• Inspectors wear clothing with the HydroCorp logo and carry photo ID badges, according to the company. Ask to see the badge.
• Exterior inspectors do not need to come inside. If someone insists on entering for an "exterior" inspection, do not let them in.
• Interior inspections are scheduled appointments. A surprise visitor demanding to see your basement is a red flag.

When in doubt, verify it yourself. Do not use a phone number from a suspicious letter, text or visitor. Look up the number on your own: City Hall is 313-563-4236, and HydroCorp's customer line is 844-493-7641. Never pay with cash, gift cards, wire transfers or payment apps to someone who contacted you first.

If you get a notice

1. Read it carefully to see whether it is a survey notice or a testing notice, and note the deadline.
2. For a survey, schedule if it says an appointment is required. HydroCorp takes calls at 844-493-7641.
3. For testing, call a licensed plumber or certified backflow tester before the deadline and make sure they submit the results online.
4. If something does not add up, call City Hall before you do anything.

Have you received a HydroCorp notice, or a letter or visit you think was fake? Tell us. We are tracking how the program rolls out in Inkster.