SUGAR GROVE – The Sugar Grove Village Board received an informational presentation Aug. 16 from Michelle Bever, BSI Online marketing manager,

Bever’s presentation explained the new backflow prevention tracking program that will be implemented to insure the quality of drinking water within the village.

A routine evaluation and report from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency required the Village Board to establish a cross-connection survey for all water customers every other year.

After examining how other municipalities in the area are surveying and keeping track of their drinking water quality, the village decided to utilize services from BSI Online. The new program will allow the village to complete a survey with all water customers, and also manage all its water data within BSI Online’s system.

Bever explained how BSI Online helps municipalities in 26 U.S. states, in addition to Canada, organize data centered on the quality and purity of their drinking water.

BSI Online is able to manage their information with mechanical devices provided for new builds – homes or businesses. These mechanical devices prevent cross-contamination and block chemicals from entering the drinking water, Bever said, adding that water testing has to be completed by a licensed individual to determine if the water is pure or if cross-contamination has occurred.

"We are able to add the device to our system," Bever said. "We don't do the testing of the water. We ask the homeowner or business owners to hire a confident plumber to complete the testing. The person doing the testing has to be a licensed professional. We have a list of professionals on our website who can do the testing. We will notify all the Illinois testers that Sugar Grove is now on their list. The bill from the testing will be completely separate from their water bill. This won't affect the general public."

Customers will be able to receive real-time data, along with information on their water, in custom letters from BSI online. Customer service will also be provided by BSI Online.

There are currently 300 homeowners and businesses who will be affected by these program, and will need their water to be inspected by a professional, said Brad Merkel, the village's utilities supervisor.

Residents will receive a survey containing questions about their water in their next water bill, he said.