While the city of North Port is pushing forward with a program that requires homeowners to install backflow prevention devices, the city of Venice is scaling back its federally mandated program, hoping to save residents millions.

Revamped state guidelines, the product of litigation a few years ago, are still on the back burner, said Venice’s Utilities Director Len Bramble, but he’s now ready to move forward to meet what he believes the state will ultimately approve, which give local programs more leeway.