The Tarheel Pipeline, Fall 2015

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14 | Fall 2015
feature
If you have been in the water industry for any
length of time you have heard of backflow
cross connection. BUT, do you have a good
understanding of why you need it, when you
need it or how to go about getting started
with it? The answer to that question for many
is probably no.
I have asked Ronnie West our cross
connection instructor to answer these very
important questions for you. It is our hope
that after reading Ronnie’s answers you
will see the need for understanding this
very important part of any water system. If
you have questions afterward for Ronnie
or would like to explore getting your
certification, please contact us or visit our
website to view the schools and classes we
have available at and look
under backflow training.
So Ronnie, why do systems
need backflow cross connection?
Backflow into a public water system can
pollute or contaminate the water in that
system (i.e., backflow into a public water
system can make the water in that system
unusable or unsafe to drink), and each water
supplier has a responsibility to provide
water that is usable and safe to drink under
all foreseeable circumstances. Furthermore,
Consumers generally have absolute faith
that water delivered to them through a public
water system is always safe to drink. For
these reasons, each water supplier must take
reasonable precautions to protect its public
water system against backflow.
When and what type of assembly do we need
for the various things that may be connected?
Water suppliers usually do not have the
authority or capability to repeatedly
inspect every consumer’s premises for
cross connections and backflow protection.
Alternatively, each water supplier should
ensure that a proper backflow preventer is
installed and maintained at the water service
connection to each system or premises that
poses a significant hazard to the public water
system. Generally, this would include the
water service connection to each dedicated
fire protection system or lawn irrigation
system and the water service connection to
each of the following type of premises: (1)
premises with an auxiliary or reclaimed water
system: (2) Industrial, medical, laboratory,
marine, or other facilities where objectionable
substances are handled in a way that could
cause pollution or contamination of the public
water system: (3) premises exempt from the
State Plumbing Code and premises where an
internal backflow preventer required under
the State Plumbing Code is not properly
BACKFLOW
CROSS CONNECTION,
WHY, WHEN & HOW?
By Alan Oldham and Ronald West