The Public Water System Cross-Connection Control Program

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The public water system shall have a program for surveying all commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. The public water system shall have a program for the protection and elimination of cross-connections found during the cross-connection survey, conducted by a certified individual. The public water system personnel or facility owner can conduct the cross-connection survey. In the event that experienced survey personnel are not available within the water authority to conduct the survey, consideration should be given to having a consulting firm perform the survey on behalf of the water department.

To control cross-connections, backflow prevention devices will have to be installed. Some of these devices will have to be tested once installed, after repairs and annually. Therefore, the public water system shall have a program for requiring the testing of backflow prevention devices. A cross-connection education program is essential for a cross-connection control program to be successful this would include the proper staffing and education of public water system personnel as well. A complete cross-connection control program requires a carefully planned and executed initial action plan followed by aggressive implementation and constant follow-up.

The Cross-Connection Control Plan of Action includes:

  • Establishing local cross-connection control ordinance
  • Conducting public information meeting
  • Notification
  • Training
  • Providing equipment
  • Conducting meetings
  • Prioritizing the degree of hazards
  • Reviewing plans
  • Establishing residential education programs
  • Addressing thermal expansion and other plumbing code requirements
  • Maintaining a list of devices
  • Submitting reports

Surveying all commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. The owner or owner’s representative should be questioned as to the use of water within the facility. The hazards associated with the processes or operation of the facility should be assessed. The certified cross-connection control surveyor shall evaluate both use of water and the process hazards. Do the hazards present issues to the potable water system in the event that a backsiphonage or backpressure condition were to occur?

A recommended plan of action for a cross-connection control program should include the following characteristics:

  • Establish a cross-connection control ordinance at the local level and have it approved by the water commissioners, town manager, etc., and insure that it is adopted by the town or private water authority as a legally enforceable document.
  • Conduct public informative meetings that define the proposed cross-connection control program, review the local cross-connection control ordinance, and answer all questions that may arise concerning the reason for the program, why and how the survey will be conducted, and the potential impact upon the industrial, commercial and residential water customers. Have state authorities and the local press and radio attend the meeting.
  • Place written notices of the pending cross-connection control program in the local newspaper, and have the local radio station make announcements about the program as a public service notice.
  • Send employees who will administer the program, to a course, or courses, on backflow tester certification, backflow survey courses, backflow device repair courses, etc.
  • Equip the water authority with backflow prevention device test kits.
  • Conduct meeting(s) with the local plumbing inspection people, building inspectors, and licensed plumbers in the area who will be active in the inspection, installations and repair of backflow devices. Inform them of the intent of the program and the part that they can play in the successful implementation of the program.
  • Prior to initiating a cross-connection survey of the established commercial and industrial installations, prepare a list of these establishments from existing records, then prioritize the degree of hazard that they present to the water system, i.e., plating plants, hospitals, car wash facilities, industrial metal finishing and fabrication, mortuaries, etc. These will be the initial facilities inspected for cross-connections and will be followed by less hazardous installations.
  • Insure that any new construction plans are reviewed by the water authority to assess the degree of hazard and insure that the proper backflow preventer is installed concurrent with the potential degree of hazard that the facility presents.
  • Establish a residential backflow protection educational program.
  • If backflow prevention devices are installed on the service line, thermal expansion provisions shall be provided pursuant to the plumbing codes.
  • Prepare a listing of all testable backflow devices in the community and insure that they are tested by certified test personnel at the time intervals consistent with the local cross-connection control ordinance and plumbing code.
  • Prepare and submit testing documentation of backflow devices to the State authority responsible for monitoring this data if appropriate.
  • Survey all commercial and industrial facilities and educational facilities. Follow up to insure that the recommended devices are installed and tested on both an initial basis and a periodic basis consistent with the cross-connection control ordinance.

It is recommended that consideration be given to the following objectives when performing a cross-connection control survey:

  • Determine if the survey will be conducted with a prearranged appointment or unannounced.
  • Upon entry, identify yourself and the purpose of the visitation and request to see the plant manager, owner, or maintenance supervisor in order to explain the purpose of the visit and the benefits of cross connection survey.
  • Ask what processes are involved within the facility and for what purpose potable water is used, i.e., do the boilers have chemical additives? Are air conditioning cooling towers in use with chemical additives? Do they use water savers with chemical additives? Do they have a second source of water (raw water from wells, etc.) in addition to the potable water supply? Does the process water cross-connect with potentially hazardous chemical etching tanks, etc.?
  • Request “as-built” drawings of the potable water system.
  • Initiate the survey by starting at the water service line at the water meter, the fire sprinkler system and then proceed with the internal cross-connection survey.
  • Survey the plant facilities with the objective of looking for cross-connections at all potable water outlets such as:
    • Hose bibbs
    • Slop sinks
    • Wash room facilities
    • Cafeteria and kitchens
    • Fire protection and
    • Siamese outlets
    • Irrigation outlets
    • Boiler rooms
    • Mechanical room
    • Laundry facilities
  • Make a sketch of all areas requiring backflow protection devices.
  • Review with the host what have been found and explain the findings to the facility owner or representative. Inform the owner or representative that a written report documenting the findings will be forthcoming with correction deadlines.
  • Document all findings and include as many sketches or photos with the final report as possible.
  • Submit a copy of the cross-connection survey to the plumbing code enforcer.
  • Review cross-connection control recommendation with code enforcers.