Residential Cross-Connection Information

Your water can be contaminated if connections to your plumbing system are not properly protected! The purpose of the local Cross-Connection Control Program, as required by State Plumbing Code and Regulations, is to ensure that everyone in the community has safe, clean drinking water.

Contamination may occur when you turn on your faucet, you expect the water to be as safe as when it left the treatment plant. However, certain hydraulic conditions left unprotected within your plumbing system may allow hazardous substances to contaminate your drinking water or even the public water supply. 

Water normally flows in one direction. However, under certain conditions, water can flow backward; this is known as backflow. Two situations can cause water to flow backward: back siphonage and back pressure.

Common Terms

• Cross-Connection: This is an actual or potential connection between the safe drinking water (potable) supply and a source of contamination or pollution. State plumbing codes require approved backflow prevention methods installed at every point of potable water connection and use. Cross-Connections must be properly protected or eliminated.
• Backsiphonage: May occur due to a loss of pressure in the municipal water system during a fire fighting emergency, a water main break or system repair. This creates a siphon in your plumbing system which can draw water out of a sink or bucket and back into your water or the public water system. 
• Backpressure: May be created when a source of pressure (such as a boiler) creates a pressure greater than the pressure supplied from the public water system. This may cause contaminated water to be pushed into your plumbing system through an unprotected cross-connection.