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feature
installed or maintained: (4) classified or
restricted facilities: and (5) tall buildings.
Within the Rules Governing Public Water
Systems; Appendix B are the North Carolina
Guidelines Cross Connection Control In
Water Distribution Systems. These guidelines
are intended as a minimum requirement.
Public water suppliers may adopt more
stringent requirements. Each supplier of water
shall conform to the minimum requirements
established in these guidelines. The guidelines
list facilities that require the installation of a
backflow preventer based upon the degree of
health hazard.
How do I know what I need as far as
training to start a program or get certified?
Backflow Prevention & Cross
Connection Control ORC Certification
The North Carolina Rules Governing Water
Treatment Facility Operators has mandated
ORC certification for those managing a
Cross Connection Control Program.
15A NCAC 18D .0206
CERTIFIED OPERATOR REQUIRED
Effective July 1, 2003 there must be an
operator in responsible charge for the
cross-connection-control facilities of the
distribution system for all public water
systems required by 15A NCAC 18C to have
five or more testable backflow prevention
assemblies. This operator must possess
a valid Grade Cross-Connection-Control
certificate issued by the Board.
Those desiring to obtain State certification as
an ORC for Cross Connection Control must
attend a State approved Backflow Prevention
& Cross Connection Control ORC School.
Upon successful completion of the ORC
School the applicant must pass a written
exam that is given by the State of North
Carolina Water Treatment Facility Operator
Certification Board.
Objectives of Backflow Prevention &
Cross Connection Control ORC School
The Backflow Prevention &Cross Connection
Control ORC School is an intensive five-day
course. The course is designed to provide
the essentials of developing and managing
an effective backflow prevention & cross
connection control program. Course Topics
Include: Federal/State Laws and Regulations,
Backflow Prevention Terminology,
Mechanical Equipment for Cross Connection
Control, Various Agencies Responsibilities,
and the Seven Elements of a Cross Connection
Control Program, Field Investigations,
Record Keeping, and Confined Space
Safety, Testing & Troubleshooting Backflow
Prevention Assemblies.
Backflow Prevention Assembly
Certified Tester Certification
Those desiring to obtain certification as a
Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester must
attend a Backflow Prevention Assembly
Certified Tester Course. Upon successful
completion the applicant will receive a
certificate as a Certified Tester.
Objectives of Backflow Prevention
Assembly Certified Tester Course
The Backflow PreventionAssembly Certified
Tester Course is a rigorous five-day course.
The course is designed to provide guidelines
for acceptable practices of annual inspection/
testing and troubleshooting backflow
prevention assemblies. Time is spent in the
classroom and working in a wet lab – hands
on testing backflow prevention assemblies.
Course Evaluation
Student must successfully pass a written
examination and a practical examination to
gain tester certification. No student will be
allowed to take the practical examination until
successful completion of the written exam.
Wrapping it all up
So in summary it is very important that all
systems have a backflow cross connection
program, but you may still be wondering how
I get start?Well we can help with this. Through
our cross connection training program
at NCRWA we can assist with providing
guidance either through assistance with
developing an ordinance or providing schools
for the ORC or Tester certification. We offer
schools throughout the year at our facility in
Carthage or through our partnership with the
City of Asheville, Cape Fear Public Utilities,
the City of Kinston and our newest location
at the City of Asheboro. We also offer a three
day repair school and continuing education
classes that focus on cross connection issues.
For more information on our schools and
other classes visit our website at www.
and look under the backflow/
cross connection training page for
upcoming training opportunities.
In August the NC Rural Water Association and the City of Asheboro entered into an agreement that will allow NCRWA to offer backflow cross
connection training at the city’s public works complex. Look for school announcements on our website soon as we begin to schedule training. We
plan to offer ORC, Tester, and other cross connection related training as we go forward.
Also another exciting development at NC Rural Water is the development of a mobile training unit for backflow cross connection. Due to requests
by several entities across the state we have realized a need for a mobile unit to meet these needs. By having a mobile test unit we will be able
to bring backflow ORC and Tester classes to systems that cannot travel to us. This will not replace our Carthage facility or any of our other
partnerships but will provide another opportunity for this specialized training. Please feel free to contact us to learn more about this program.
ANNOUNCING SOME EXCITING NEW ADDITIONS TO THE NCRWA BACKFLOW CROSS CONNECTION PROGRAM!