What is Backflow?
What is a Cross-Connection?
How can backflow be prevented?
Cross-Connection Control Staff

Customer Information
Notice of Approved Backflow Prevention Assemblies
List of Town-Approved Backflow Testers

Tester Information
Tester Information Form
Backflow Test and Maintenance Report

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to protect public health by regulating the nation’s public 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 goes to great lengths to ensure that the water delivered to 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 have the potential to result in serious illness or even death.

What is Backflow?

Backflow is the reversal of the flow of water or the mixing of water and other unwanted substances into the water distribution 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 (pumps), contaminants can enter the potable drinking water system.  A single backflow incident can potentially affect hundreds or even thousands of people.

What is a Cross-Connection?

A cross connection is a permanent or temporary piping arrangement  between potable water and a non-potable source.

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?

The Town of Apex administers a cross connection control program to ensure the safety of the drinking water.  The Town has developed and implemented an ordinance that requires all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to install approved backflow prevention assemblies on their property before branching to a private system.  Annual testing of backflow preventer(s) is required.

Different types of backflow prevention assemblies are required depending on the degree of hazard. A high hazard exists when there is danger that a backflow incident could create a health threat. Examples of this classification include: lawn irrigation systems, hospitals, and manufacturing plants where dyes or chemicals are mixed. A moderate hazard can occur when there is not a health threat, but a backflow incident could cause drinking water to be discolored or have an odor. Retail stores and offices are examples of this classification. Cross-connection control staff evaluate both new and existing customers to determine which hazards, if any, exist and the type of backflow prevention assembly that is required.

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 (e.g. bucket of sudsy car wash water) can backflow into the piping system and contaminate the drinking water in your own h0me. Each spigot on your house 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 threading it onto the spigot.

Please contact the staff listed below for more information.

Cross-Connection Control Staff

Steven Miller
ORC, Cross Connection Control
Environmental Programs and Operations Support Division
Office: (919) 249-3357
E-Mail: steve.miller@apexnc.org

Michael Deaton, P.E.
Environmental Programs Manager
Environmental Programs and Operations Support Division
Office: (919) 249-3413
E-Mail: michael.deaton@apexnc.org