Cross-connection control management is a complex job.
Our Backflow Academy is here to help answer your questions.

Cross-connection control management is a complex job.
Our Backflow Academy is here to help answer your questions.
What is Backflow?
Typically, water will flow from the public water supply to the consumer’s plumbing distribution system. Backflow is the undesirable reversal of this flow of water and undesirable substances from the non-potable source to the potable source.
What is Cross-connection?
A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between the public or consumer’s potable water system and any non-potable source or substance that present a hazard to the quality of the public or consumer’s potable water system. Therefore, cross-connection control is the management or “control” of these cross-connections to protect public safety by preventing backflow incidents within the public or water consumer’s potable water system.




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How are cross-connections protected to prevent backflow incidents from occurring?
Cross-connections are protected either through containment or isolation. Ideally, for an effective cross-connection control program, there will be a mix of both containment and isolation protection working in correlation.


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How to Prevent Backflow Incidents
Backflow prevention methods can be implemented either at the service meter, called containment protection, or at the point of water use at the fixture, called isolation protection. These backflow prevention methods can be divided into 4 basic categories – elimination, backflow devices, backflow assemblies, and air gap.
Who has responsibility for an approved and effective cross-connection control program?
EVERYONE!
The water purveyor, local plumbing authority, water consumers and all individuals performing backflow prevention assembly installation, testing and repairs have some level of responsibility for ensuring an effective cross-connection control program.
The individuals performing backflow prevention assembly installation, testing and repairs are responsible for following all codes and regulations as outlined by the local cross-connection control program. This should include the following:
The local plumbing authority is responsible for implementing and enforcing the local plumbing codes. The water consumer is responsible for preventing unprotected cross-connections and maintaining protected cross-connections within the water consumer’s facility. This should include the following: