Why Do We Care About Cross-Connections?

In Chicago 1933 an outbreak of amebic dysentery associated with the Chicago World’s Fair results in 1,700 people ill and 98 deaths. Faulty plumbing at a Chicago hotel polluted the hotel’s drinking water supply causing the illnesses.

We care about cross-connections because they are threat to the public health and they are the missing link to providing safe water to the consumers at the tap where is used.  Education is essential for individuals involved in the delivery and consumption of water.  Drinking water is a precious product and the requirements for the delivery of water to the tap where is consumed should be the responsibility and priority of all individuals involved or working in the drinking water industry. Homeowners should be educated on the danger of cross-connections because they use the water freely taking for granted that it is safe to drink. The consumers are relying on the public water system to do what is needed to protect the public health.  In some cases, a mixed message is given to the consumers because the public water system submits documentation to the consumers regarding the quality of the drinking water but does not include any information regarding cross-connections.  It is not a requirement of the Federal National Primary Drinking Water Regulation to include any information about cross-connections in the public water system’s Consumers Confident Report (CCR). However, it should be the responsibility of the public water system to include such information. The public water system should include a statement in the CCR about cross-connections. The information should mention how they can create a public health treat and how they can be controlled to eliminate the public health treat. Controlling cross-connection where they exist ensure tap water is safe to drink.