All businesses within the City of DeFuniak Springs must renew their business license before September 30. Notices were sent to all registered businesses the first week of August to allow business owners time to schedule the mandatory inspection of their Backflow Preventer device. A list of recommended state-certified inspectors was sent to each business with the cautionary note to schedule immediately as inspectors’ schedules are full and are booked weeks ahead of time.
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), all commercial businesses must have their Backflow Preventer device tested annually. A business owner is defined as the entity operating the business activity on the property; this is not necessarily the owner of the property, and thus each business entity will be held responsible. DEP has the primary role of regulating public water systems in Florida.
What is a Backflow Preventer and why do you need it? A backflow prevention device is used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of non-potable water or other substances through a cross-connection and into a public water system or the public’s potable water system. A backflow preventer is designed to keep this from happening.
Every business owner has the responsibility to ensure that a proper backflow preventer is installed and maintained at their business location. Annual inspections are the responsibility of the business owner not the property owner. Penalties include fines and having the water turned off at the business. For questions on your business license renewal, contact Planning Assistant at 850-892-8500, ext. 1116 or planningassist@defuniaksprings.net and for questions on your Backflow Preventer, contact Lynn Cox at 850-790-1836 or backflow@defuniaksprings.net