Cross-Connection Control Control Program

What is a Cross-Connection?

A Cross Connection is a connection between a public water supply system and a non-potable (non-consumable) source of potentially contaminated fluid or gas. The contaminated fluid or gas could enter your home’s piping, and the public water supply system if a backflow occurs.

Some examples of cross-connections include:

• Commercial kitchen equipment
• Commercial laundry equipment
• Fire suppression systems
• Outdoor irrigation/sprinkler systems
• Outdoor pools

Cross-Connection Control Program

What is backflow, and how does it occur?

            Backflow occurs when the water in a home or business flows in the wrong direction back into the city maintained water distribution system. It is possible for backflow to occur when there is a significant loss of pressure in the city’s water distribution system, such as during a large fire when multiple fire hydrants are in use, when there is a leak on a water main, or when a house or business has a higher pressure than that in the city’s water distribution system.

What is a backflow prevention device/assembly?

A backflow prevention device is used to stop contaminated fluids or gasses from entering your home or business, and to stop those fluids or gasses from eventually making their way into the city’s public water supply. These devices are necessary to ensure the water we are all consuming is safe.

Common backflow prevention devices are the Testable Double-Check Valve and a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) Valve.

These devices protect the public water supply by allowing water to pass through the device to provide the water necessary to it’s delivery point (i.e. your fire suppression system, lawn irrigation system, boiler, etc.), however, preventing it from returning back into your piping, and eventually the City’s public water supply, should an emergency or failure occur.