A newsletter dedicated to Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention www.abpa-sa.org

March – April Vol. 21 Issue 3-4

Contaminated Water Fountain Sickens Dozens Of Queens Students

By: Michelle Park 06/01/2010

Dozens of Queens students became ill at a Flushing elementary school Tuesday, according to fire officials, and investigators believe it may have been the result of contaminated water fountains.

Department of Education officials say the school staff contacted 911 after the children developed stomach aches at P.S. 20 John Bowne Elementary School. Fire officials say 74 students complained of nausea after drinking the pink-colored water.

About 20 of the stricken children were treated in area hospitals and released. "It looks to be an internal condition in the plumbing. The plumbing company that was working for the Department of Education, building facilities people, were working on their refrigerant and cooling system," said Jim Robbins of the Department of Environmental Protection.

"Antifreeze can be very sweet. And sometimes it's a problem. So when I spoke to some of the children as to how much they drank, and when did they stop drinking, probably because it was sweet they kept drinking," said Glenn Asaeda of the New York City Fire Department. "So not knowing exactly what the substance might be and how much they had consumed, we really precautionary transported all children who had ingested this water."

None of the children are expected to be admitted into the hospital overnight, according to the DOE. The parents of the affected children were notified. Some students told NY1 that other nauseated children were assessed in the auditorium.

"I heard that the water's contaminated. So like, all the children that drank water from the fountains, their stomachs started hurting. They threw up, and they're all sick," said one student.

"The staff, the principal did a wonderful job. They all came together to make sure that every went smoothly and went in an orderly fashion," said a bystander. "They had the EMS come in, check everybody out, give them vomiting bags. So everyone was very calm, I must say." The Department of Environmental Protection is still determining the cause of the incident.

Douglas Wayne Rohan May 9, 1968 – March 20, 2011

Doug Rohan was a previous SAWS employee and a member of ABPA-SA Chapter. His friends, co-workers, and family will miss him. P.S. There will be additional discussion about the Conference planning at the next two monthly meetings.

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Dear ABPA-SA members, The convention committee, chaired by Michael Aldrup, met on March 17th for another planning session at El Taco Tote on IH-10 West and was able to finalize several pending matters. There will be another planning session in April. The meeting on April 14th will be held at the usual Leon Valley Community Center location and will start at 6:00 pm with a meal, followed by our general membership meeting, followed by a backflow trouble-shooting program by David Trousdale of Trousdale, Inc. I am hoping many of you members are planning to attend the National ABPA Conference being held here in San Antonio next month, May 23-25. You can earn up to 15 CEU credits towards your BPAT license renewal requirements. Sincerely, Daniel Fernandez President ABPA-SA

April Meeting Details Meetings of the San Antonio Chapter ABPA are usually held the second Thursday of every month except December. Dinner and refreshments are served at 6:00 p.m. sharp with the meeting starting at 6:30. The next meeting is: Date: Thursday, April 14, 2011 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: 6425 Evers Rd. (Leon Valley Community Center) Program: David Trousdale – Troubleshooting backflow problems Meal: ACT Pipe and Supply

No alcoholic beverages allowed by

Leon Valley Next Meeting: March 10, 2011

Director’s Meeting April agenda 5:00 p.m. General discussion and quorum

confirmation 5:15 p.m. Call Meeting to order. 5:16 p.m. Secretary’s Report. Read and approve the

minutes of the previous meeting. 5:20 p.m. Treasurer’s Report. Discussion and

approval of the treasurer’s report. 5:25 p.m. Supply Officer’s Report 5:30 p.m. Vice President’s, Directors, and any other

reports for the good of the chapter. Comments, new business, any discussion.

5:40 p.m. Training Report. Training & Meal Sponsors 5:45 p.m. Webmaster Report 5:50 p.m. President’s Report. New & old business 6:00 p.m. Meal is served. 6:30 p.m. General Membership Meeting

1. Gauges to be tested. Bill Hamrick-Carl Michaud 2. Irrigator’s Report. Ron Renouf 3. Anything from the Directors Meeting. Mark

Ochoa 4. City, regional and national reports. Robert

Stricker, and Bruce Rathburn 5. First time attendees or visitors (get w/Troy for

member-ship) 6. Supply Officer Report. Troy Baird 7. Raffle prize announcement. 8. Training program for the evening.

Ongoing Goals of ABPA-SA Chapter

1. Educational Outreach with public by presenting at PHCC meetings, engineering firms, schools, and neighborhood associations. Continuing goal.

2. Greater use of TCEQ website. Tracking of

CEUs, Services available. Personal education.

3. Increase member awareness of importance of chapter meetings. Increase attendance and public awareness.

4. Increase website resource information. More

detailed links to more information like TCEQ, COSA, and any place that would be helpful to our members

Big Thanks to

Bac-Flo Unlimited for the February training session and the $50 raffle prize. Region 4 Director, Frank Snyder, and ABPA President, Bruce Rathburn for the March training session about the workings of ABPA National.

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ABPA-SA Board of Directors

Executive Officers

2010 - 2011

1) President –Daniel Fernandez

2) 1st Vice President – David Smith

3) 2nd Vice President – Mike Aldrup

4) Treasurer – Troy Baird

5) Secretary - Scott Okland

Special Officers to the Association

6) SGT-AT-ARMS – Hector Flores and Jeff Meeks

7) Supply Officer – Troy Baird

8) Gauge Testing and Certification – Bill Hamrick, Special Officer to Gauge Testing and Certification: Carl Michaud.

9) Public Relations/ Speakers/ Program Topics – Manny Hernandez

10) Webmaster – Matthew Wilgen

Directors at Large

Two year term

1) Fallon Foster 2) David Hadley 3) Jim Holt 4) Ron Renouf 5) David Trousdale 6) Greg Shean 7) Mark Ochoa

One year term remaining

8) Fred Baird 9) James Franco 10) Johnnie Ivy, Jr. 11) Robert Stricker 12) Jeff Hoffman 13) Frank Snyder 14) Brad Harrell

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TIP OF THE MONTH

To help keep your gauge working properly, disconnect ALL of the hoses and drain them. Open ALL valves on the gauge and shake out ALL of the water entrapped in the gauge. Getting in the habit of doing this after the last test of the day will help keep the gauge in proper working order and prevent moisture buildup in the case.

The ABPA video is now on You Tube

The video that ABPA produced for the Profile Series on the Discovery Channel was presented on September 17th at 6:00am and can be seen by going to www.abpa-sa.org and clicking on “Resources” to view the video. It is a very professional and well done video and would be a very good tool for the backflow preventer testers to provide to customers who question the need for backflow preventers, many of who think it is only a “Big Brother is Watching You” tactic by the City. You as testers can provide the above URL to your customers so they can see why backflow preventers need to be tested and maintained. The video will make a terrific training tool since it is geared towards the people who don’t speak backflow. Everyone needs to check disk this out. The San Antonio Chapter of the ABPA made a healthy money and man hours contribution to the production of the video, thanks to our own Bruce Rathburn who happens to be the National President of ABPA.

THE ABPA 2011 NATIONAL CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN SAN ANTONIO

Have YOU volunteered YET?

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Newsletter Information

You can e-mail any information for the

newsletter to:

newsletter@abpa-sa.org

STOLEN In Houston

CONBRACO 40-200TKP backflow test kit, Serial # 306631 Call: Glenn Pourteau 713 875-8891

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“The Direct Connection” is published monthly and may be obtained from the website. Due to the expenses associated with printing a mailing, future editions will be available only on the website, www.abpa-sa.org. Opinions or facts within “The Direct Connection” are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the American Backflow Prevention Association and may or may not represent an official policy. Additionally, the opinions or facts of contributors or advertisers may or may not represent an official policy. Published by the ABPA-SA Chapter Editor: Bill Hamrick Assistant Editor: Bruce Rathburn Additional Editors: The entire Membership For further information about ABPA, contact: Bruce Rathburn 2800 US Hwy 281 North San Antonio, TX 78212

PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM INJURY Typical eye injuries occur by rubbed or abraded foreign matter, such as metal chips, dirt particles, flying rocks, and splinters, or by an object striking the eye. Other hazards include, but are not limited to chemicals, high pressure liquids, radiation, steam, tools, tree branches, and equipment.

ON-THE-JOB EYE PROTECTION You may be exposed to several hazards at the same time. The right equipment can protect your eyes against irritation and injury. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, use safety glasses with prescription lenses and side shields or wear extra protection over your regular prescription glasses. Spectacles with side shields – Provides primary protection against impact and optical radiation. Goggles – There are many different kinds and they vary in protection.

• Cushioned, rigid body: protects against impact, chemical splashes, irritating mists, & dust. • Welding goggles, eyecup type, filter lenses – protects against glare, sparks & welding flash. Face Shield – designed to protect the whole face; must be supplemented with safety glasses.

OFF-THE-JOB EYE PROTECTION Four out of ten accidents causing blindness occur off-the-job with the injuries occurring because: Cooking accidents. Do-it-yourself work on cars and homes. Chemical splashes from pesticides, fertilizers, drain cleaners and cleaning sprays. Sports injuries while playing such sports as tennis, racquetball, and baseball. Yard work from cutting grass, using a lawn trimmer, and trimming trees/bushes.

WEAR THE RIGHT PROTECTION FOR THE JOB YOU ARE DOING Wear eye protection while working with chemicals and doing repairs at home. Wear eye protection when playing ball sports. Wear eye protection over contact lenses and prescription eyeglasses. Wear sunglasses that offer protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY Chemical Splash Don’t squeeze eyes closed but hold them open with thumb and index finger. Flood eyes with cool, clean water for 15-20 minutes. Get medical attention as soon as possible and take the labeled, chemical container. Do not use another chemical to neutralize the spilled chemical.

Flying Particles Do not try to remove anything embedded in the eye because you could cause further damage. Do not pull or squeeze the eye. Cover both eyes to prevent movement. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Blows to the Eyes Apply ice packs to control swelling and relieve the pain. Cover both eyes to prevent movement. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE PAIR OF EYES SO PLEASE PROTECT THEM!

If you are an ABPA-SA member and have read this newsletter, go to page 5 and click on the link in the “Newsletter Information” box and type “I have read the newsletter” to find out what will happen. You may be surprised. Midnight, April 13th is the deadline.

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POST OFFICE BOX 3051 . BRYAN, TX 77805-3051 . 979-846-7606 . 979-846-7607 FAX www.abpa.org

AMERICAN BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION To join the American Backflow Prevention Association, simply fill out the membership application form and mail it with your check to the address listed below, or if paying by credit card you may fax the completed form to 979.846.7607. Annual dues for individual membership is $60.00. Local chapters have additional fees. Below is a listing of chapters by region. To find out if there is a local chapter in your area please review the chapter information on our website at abpa.org or call the National Office at 979.846.7606. Membership in the Association constitutes paying National dues.

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ Employer:______________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________State:_____________________Zip:_______________ Work phone:(____)____________________________Fax:(_____)_________________________________ E-mail address:__________________________________________________________________________ Local Chapter (if joining one) :__________________________________ Local Dues:_______________ Total Amount Paid:______________________ New Member Renewal Please make checks payable to: ABPA, PO Box 3051, Bryan, TX 77805-3051. If paying by credit card include the following:

Credit Card No.:______________________________________________ Expiration Date:_____________

Name as it appears on the card:_______________________________________________

ABPA Federal ID # 74-2395100 LOCAL CHAPTER DUES LISTED BY REGION:

REGION 1 Maine New England Western New York Rhode Island REGION 2 Delaware Penn State REGION 3 Carolinas Florida Suncoast Georgia Gold Coast Peach State “1788” Tennessee REGION 4 Arkansas Corpus Christi Gulf Coast Lower Rio Grande Valley

$18.00

8.00 13.00 18.00

$ 5.00 10.00

$10.00

12.00 31.00 10.00 30.00 20.00

$10.00

23.00 23.00 25.00

North Texas San Antonio

REGION 5 Colorado Southeastern Colorado Utah

REGION 6 Arizona Central Coast Central Valley California Hawaii Silver State Southern Arizona Southern California REGION 7 Idaho Oregon Spokane

$23.00 20.00

$15.00

15.00 12.00

$20.00

10.00 10.00 23.00 23.00 23.00 15.00

$10.00

20.00 20.00

REGION 8 No Local REGION 9 (USD) New Brunswick Ontario REGION 10 Wisconsin REGION 11 Central Illinois Indiana Michigan Northern Illinois Ohio Southern Illinois REGION 12 Central Missouri Eastern Nebraska Heart of America Panhandle Western Nebraska

$50.00 50.00

$10.00

$25.00

5.00 37.00 23.00 10.00 23.00

$20.00

10.00 12.00 5.00 8.00

ABPA-S.A. Chapter P.O. Box 1113 Boerne, TX 78006