The Trenton City Council on Aug. 4 authorized staff to proceed with a proposed five-year contract with HydroCorp to administer a residential cross‑connection control program required by state law.

Kevin Sargent, the city’s director of public services, told the council that Michigan Public Act 399, Part 14 requires type 1 public water supplies to establish a comprehensive program to eliminate unprotected cross connections that could compromise the public water supply. Historically the city and Eagle (the water authority) had focused inspections on commercial accounts; the rule requires residential inspections at a rate of 10% per year, which Sargent said equates to roughly 660 households.

Under the contract HydroCorp would notify residents, schedule inspections, perform exterior and mechanical-area inspections, manage required re‑inspections and submit documentation to Eagle for compliance. Sargent said HydroCorp has inspected the city’s commercial accounts since February 2014 and the company proposed a five-year contract with a starting annual cost of $72,527.40 and a 4% increase each year.

Council members moved and supported authorization for the mayor to sign the contract following city‑attorney review; the motion passed unanimously. Sargent explained the inspection is mostly exterior and mechanical‑area checks and that inspectors would not enter private living spaces such as bedrooms or bathrooms. He said common findings include hose‑spigot backflow preventers and basement slop sinks; required backflow prevention devices would be noted and residents instructed on testing or remediation.

Funding for the work was identified in the water contractual services account, according to the presentation.