What is Backflow?
What
is a Cross Connection?
How
can backflow be prevented?
Cross
Connection Control Staff
Resident
- Notice
of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies
- List
of Town-Approved Backflow Testers
Tester
- Tester
Information Form
- Backflow
Preventer Test and Maintenance Report
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to protect the public health by regulating the nation’s public water supply. Since 1974, the law has been amended in 1986 and 1996 to incorporate needed actions to protect the public’s water supply. Under this law, the Town of Apex (the water purveyor) is prohibited from installing or maintaining a water service connection to a consumer’s water system within its jurisdiction, unless the public potable water supply is protected against backflow by an approved prevention assembly(s) installed at the service connection or point of delivery.
The Town of Apex, the water purveyor, expects their water to be clean and safe for all Apex residents. The Town goes to great lengths to ensure that the water delivered to our citizens is of the highest quality. When water leaves the Apex/Cary treatment plant, it is in its freshest and purest state. However, during delivery, there is a danger that the water may become contaminated or polluted from sources out of our control. This can happen when the water supply main, pipe, or service line is connected to equipment containing a substance not fit for drinking. These "cross connections" may be permanent or temporary and could cause the delivery of an unusable product, cause illness, or even death.
Backflow is the reversal of the flow of water or mixtures of water and other unwanted substances from any source (such as used water, industrial fluids, gasses, etc.) into the distribution water mains or pipes of the water system.
Water distribution systems are designed to flow in one direction from the main to the customer. When the direction of flow is reversed due to pressure differences, (such as fire fighting efforts, a water main break, or consumer high side pressure (pumped)) , backflow can allow contaminants to enter the potable drinking water system through cross-connections. When this happens, any substance that may be in contact with the water supply main or line could be siphoned into the public water system.
A single backflow incident can potentially affect hundreds or even thousands of people. Preventing the backflow of contaminants and pollutants in the water system is absolutely essential if health and property are to be protected.
A Cross connection is the physical link that allow backflow incidents; permanent or temporary piping arrangement which can allow your drinking water to be contaminated if a backflow condition occurs.
A potentially hazardous cross-connection occurs every time someone uses a garden hose sprayer to apply insecticides or herbicides to their lawn or by placing the hose in a bucket of car wash solution while washing their car. Another cross-connection occurs when someone uses their garden hose to clear a stoppage in their sewer line.
How can backflow be prevented?
Federal law requires the Town of Apex to protect the water supply from potential contamination or pollution. The Town has developed and implemented an ordinance that requires all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to install approved backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies must be installed on the customers' property before branching to a private system.
Different types of backflow prevention assemblies are required depending on the degree of hazard. A high hazard exists when there is danger that backflow could create a health threat. Examples of this classification include: lawn irrigation systems with chemical injection, hospitals, and manufacturing plants where dyes or chemicals are mixed. Moderate hazards occur when there is not a health threat, but backflow could cause discolored, smelly, or objectionable water. Retail stores and offices are examples of this classification. The Cross Connection Control staff evaluates both new and existing customers to determine which hazards, if any, exist and the type of backflow prevention assembly that is required.
Backflows due to cross-connections are serious plumbing problems; however, they can be avoided by using the proper protection devices. Be involved in keeping your water safe from contamination. Without proper protection devices, something as useful as your garden hose has the potential to poison your home's water supply. In fact, over half of the nation's cross-connections involve unprotected garden hoses. Without a backflow prevention assembly between your hose and hose-bibb (spigot or outside faucet), the contents of the hose and anything it is connected to can backflow into the piping system and contaminate your drinking water. This hazardous situation sometimes can affect more than a single home. Each spigot at your home should have a hose-bibb vacuum breaker installed. This is a simple, inexpensive device which can be purchased at any plumbing or hardware store. Installation is as easy as attaching your garden hose to a spigot.
The Town of Apex administers a cross connection control program to minimize contamination of the potable water supply and makes every effort to ensure the safety of the drinking water. Customers have the prime responsibility for preventing contaminants and pollutants from entering the water supply system.
Cross Connection Control Staff
Steven Miller
ORC, Cross Connection Control
Environmental Programs and Operations Support Division
Office: (919) 249-3427
Direct: (919) 249-3357
Fax: (919)367-2808
E-Mail: steve.miller@apexnc.org
Michael Deaton, P.E.
Environmental Programs Manager
Environmental Programs and Operations Support Division
Office: (919) 249-3427
Direct: (919) 249-3413
Fax: (919) 367-2808
E-Mail: michael.deaton@apexnc.org