Cross Connection Control Program   

Under the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, the federal Government has established, through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), national standards of safe drinking water.

Water Works, Inc. works very hard to ensure that all customers are provided with safe, healthy drinking water and therefore have put in place a standard cross control connection program that is ongoing and should be complied with by each and every water customer. Please pay close attention to your water bills as they will contain notification about what is required and reporting deadlines.

CROSS FLOW CONNECTION
A cross-flow connection system (sprinkler system) connected to the water distribution system, requires documentation that a back flow prevention device is installed and has been tested by an American Water Works Association (AWWA) certified tester. The back flow prevention device must be tested each year (annually) thereafter by a certified tester. A copy of the compliance certificate must be provided to the water system prior to the expiration of the previous certificate. Annual testing is required regardless of whether you use the sprinkler system or not.

Reason for notice: In accordance with the State of Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), all public drinking water systems are required to maintain a cross flow connection monitoring and compliance program. This includes a record of properties that are connected to the distribution system that do or do not have cross-flow connections (sprinkler systems) and hose bib vacuum breakers. This requirement is stated in the Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water (IDAPA 58.01.08)

Back flow Device: A device installed at or near the water meter to prevent reverse flow from normal direction in a water or plumbing system caused by back flow or back siphonage.

What this means to you: If you have a sprinkler system connected to the water distribution system, and the water pressure drops significantly, (for example a break in the water main or an electrical or pump failure) any stagnant water on the ground may be drawn through the sprinkler heads into sprinkler lines and into the distribution system. This occurs due to the absence of a back flow device (or a malfunctioning device) allowing the water to back-flow into the distribution system due to a reverse pressure, possibly contaminating the water in the distribution lines. This occurrence would affect everyone, not just homes with sprinkler systems.

A back-flow prevention device is required by state plumbing codes, the DEQ and the Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water. Annual testing of this device is required by AWWA certified testers. ALL backflow devices to be tested before the sprinkler system is put into use each season. If you do not have a sprinkler system on your property, but install a sprinkler system in the future, you are required to contact the water system. The homeowner will provide proper documentation that a back-flow device was installed, tested by a certified tester and provide a copy of that test. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to have the back-flow prevention device tested annually and provide the system with the current test certificate. The back flow device may be tested prior to the annual expiration date, but at no time can the device be out of certification.

Other REQUIREMENT: All properties will have a sill cock hose bib vacuum breaker installed on each sill cock, since April 30th, 2004. If your current sill cock is a design that has the vacuum breaker built into it (more modern sill cocks, on most of the homes) you do not have to install the after market vacuum breaker. This is a requirement in the Idaho Rules for Public Drinking Water. A “sill cock” is the outside water faucet you connect a garden water hose to. Frost-Free Hydrants also need a backflow device.

A garden hose can be extremely hazardous because they are left submerged in buckets, troughs, lay in elevated locations watering shrubs, chemical sprayers are attached to the hoses for weed killing, etc., and hoses are often left laying on the ground which may be contaminated with fertilizer and garden chemicals.

CROSS-FLOW CONNECTION SURVEY