Culinary Water Cross Connection Control and Backflow Education
Many public drinking water systems are contaminated each year by pollutants or contaminants that backflow into the water system through unprotected cross-connections. Identifying and eliminating or protecting cross connections is a matter of public health!
What is a Cross Connection?
A cross-connection is a physical connection (piping configuration) between the public drinking water system and anything else, including another water supply that can allow undesirable pollutants or contaminants to backflow into the public drinking water system.
What is Backflow?
Backflow is the reversal of flow from a residential or commercial water system back into the public drinking water system. A backflow incident could occur if the water systems pressure decreases, or the customer’s water pressure is higher than the water systems pressure. A backflow incident could carry pollutants or contaminants into our public drinking water supplies making them unsafe to use.
Can I Protect my Home or Business From the Dangers Associated with Cross Connections and Backflow?
Yes! Several common cross connections are described below:
Threaded Hose Connections (Hose Bibs): A large majority of backflow incidents are created by the common garden hose. Hoses can be connected to most anything that may contain undesirable substances such as chemical sprayers, buckets and pools, stock troughs. Plumbing Code requires that all threaded potable water outlets (hose bibs or sill cocks), except water heater drains and clothes washer connections, be protected by a nonremovable hose bib vacuum breaker or an atmospheric vacuum breaker. The installation of a hose bib vacuum breaker is an inexpensive way to protect against contamination.
Landscape Sprinkling System: The Plumbing Code requires that all landscape sprinkling systems connected to the public drinking water system be equipped with an approved backflow prevention device or assembly. Landscape irrigation systems could subject the drinking water supplies to things such as fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste. Any sprinkling system that can utilize both public drinking water supplies and secondary water supplies must follow specific plumbing regulations to prevent raw water from entering the drinking water system!
Where Can I get More Info or Have my Questions About Cross Connections Answered?
For specific requirements regarding landscape irrigation systems and which type of backflow prevention is appropriate for your landscape irrigation system, or regarding cross connection control and backflow prevention requirements in your area consider contacting the resources below or a local plumbing inspector.
Washington Terrace City
- 801-393-8681
Weber Basin Water Conservancy District
- 801-771-1677
- customerservice@weberbasin.gov
Pineview Water Systems
- (801) 621-6555
- support@pineviewwater.com
Utah Division of Drinking Water
- 801-536-4200