Your water utility operates a program to enhance the safety and quality of your drinking water through monitoring and correcting hazardous cross-connections.


What Is a Cross-Connection?

A cross-connection is an actual or potential connection between the safe drinking water supply and a source of contamination or pollution. State plumbing codes require approved methods, called backflow prevention, be in place to prevent contaminated water from mixing with drinking (AKA potable) water at every point of potable water connection and use.


How Does Contamination Occur?

Water normally flows in one direction. However, when water flows backward, backflow or contamination can occur. There are two causes of backflow: backsiphonage and backpressure.

Backsiphonage may occur due to a loss of pressure in the water system. This creates a siphon which can draw contaminants back into your water or the system.

Backpressure may be created when a source pressure is greater than the supply pressure. This can cause contaminated water to be pushed into your plumbing system through an unprotected cross-connection.


What Is a Cross-Connection Control Program?

Cross-connection control programs serve as a proactive, preventive approach to securing water systems. It is the method through which your utility ensures safe, potable water throughout your community. Cross-connection control is a comprehensive process that involves identifying cross-connections and preventing the backflow of pollutants and contaminants into the water supply.
- On-Site Surveys: Visual on-site surveys of piping systems throughout your community ensure there are no unprotected cross-connections that could lead to water contamination. Your local cross-connection control program may require external and/or internal surveys of your home.
- Corrective Actions: Cross-connection control programs include enforcement for non-compliant cross-connections. If a survey identifies problems in your system, correct them in a timely manner to avoid penalties or the temporary loss of water service.


How Can You Protect Your Home’s Drinking Water?

Do’s
- Do verify and install a simple hose bibb vacuum breaker on laundry tubs and sink faucets around your home.
- Do make sure water treatment devices like water softener drain lines have the proper air gap—a minimum of one inch above any drain.
- Do ensure your lawn irrigation system has proper backflow protection. Test backflow prevention assemblies at appropriate intervals and as required by your utility.
Don’ts
- Don’t submerge hoses in buckets, pools, tubs, sinks, or ponds.
- Don’t use spray attachments without a backflow prevention device.
- Don’t connect waste pipes from water softeners or other treatment systems directly to the sewer or submerged drainpipe.


Support Public Health & Safety

Remember, we’re all in this together – and together we can work to keep your drinking water safe from the hazards of backflow.

Your participation in your local water service provider’s cross-connection control program is vital! Protect the drinking water in your own home, while keeping your community’s supply safe, too.

For more information, additional resources, and any questions, contact your water utility or visit watercustomer.com