Cross-Connection Information

Residential & Commercial/Industrial Cross-Connection Information

Your water can be contaminated if connections to your plumbing system are not properly protected! The purpose of the local Cross-Connection Control Program, as required by State Plumbing Code and Regulations, is to ensure that everyone in the community has safe, clean drinking water.

Contamination may occur when you turn on your faucet, you expect the water to be as safe as when it left the treatment plant. However, certain hydraulic conditions left unprotected within your plumbing system may allow hazardous substances to contaminate your drinking water or even the public water supply.

Water normally flows in one direction. However, under certain conditions, water can flow backward; this is known as backflow. Two situations can cause water to flow backward: back siphonage and back pressure.

Common Terms

  • Cross-Connection: This is an actual or potential connection between the safe drinking water (potable) supply and a source of contamination or pollution. State plumbing codes require approved backflow prevention methods installed at every point of potable water connection and use. Cross-Connections must be properly protected or eliminated.
  • Backsiphonage: May occur due to a loss of pressure in the municipal water system during a fire fighting emergency, a water main break or system repair. This creates a siphon in your plumbing system which can draw water out of a sink or bucket and back into your water or the public water system.
  • Backpressure: May be created when a source of pressure (such as a boiler) creates a pressure greater than the pressure supplied from the public water system. This may cause contaminated water to be pushed into your plumbing system through an unprotected cross-connection.

Do…

  • Keep the ends of the hoses clear of all possible contaminants.
  • Make sure dishwashers are installed with a proper “air gap” device.
  • Verify and install a simple hose bibb vacuum breaker on all threaded faucets around your home.
  • Make sure water treatment devices such as water softeners have the proper “air gap”, which is a minimum of one inch above any drain.

Don’t…

  • Submerge hoses in buckets, pools, tubs, sinks, or ponds.
  • Use spray attachments without a backflow prevention device.
  • Connect waste pipes from water softeners or other treatment systems directly to the sewer or submerged drain pipe. Always be sure there is a one-inch “air gap” separation.
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Public Safety

To avoid contamination, backflow preventers are required by state plumbing codes wherever there is an actual or potential hazard for a cross-connection. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires all public water suppliers to maintain an ongoing Cross-Connection Control Program involving public education, onsite inspections, and possible corrective actions by building owners if required.

Inspections

Inspections are performed on all commercial, industrial, public authority, multi–family, and residential buildings connected to the water supply in order to detect actual and potential cross–connections and to make recommendations for the installation of backflow prevention methods or devices, wherever necessary. This action ensures that contaminated water cannot backflow into our clean, drinking water supply.

Inspections occur on varying frequencies based on the hazard level of a given facility. Examples of the frequency may be, but not limited to:

  • Commercial, Industrial, Public Authority and Multi–Family – 2 Year Cycle
  • Commercial like Residential – 10 Year Cycle
  • Residential – 10 Year Cycle

The Cross–Connection Control Program shall include residential and non–residential properties. Residential surveys are coordinated with our water meter replacement program. When a water meter is replaced, a residential cross–connection inspection will also be performed. Most Commercial inspections will also be coordinated with the water replacement program.  High-risk Commercial and industrial are not coordinated with the residential inspection cycle. Rather, these higher–risk facilities are to have inspections completed every 2-years and provide the Village the inspection report.

More Information