Public Awareness
Everyone plays a role in protecting City of Fond du Lac’s water system. A core aspect of cross-connection control is helping residents and businesses understand the risk of backflow and how to keep their buildings compliant. Learn how you can help protect our water supply from contamination.
Cross Connection Control Tri-Fold
What is Cross-Connection?
Cross-Connection is an actual or potential connection between the safe drinking water supply and a source of contamination. State plumbing codes require backflow prevention to be in place to prevent contaminated water from mixing with drinking water.
How Does Contamination Occur?
Water normally flows in one direction, however when water flows backward backflow/contamination can occur. There are two causes of backflow:
Backsiphonage occurs due to a loss of pressure in the water system. This creates a siphon which can draw contaminants back into your water or the utilities distribution system.
Backpressure may be created when a source of pressure is greater than the supply pressure. This can cause contaminated water to push into your interior plumbing system through an unprotected cross-connection point.
COMMON CROSS-CONNECTIONS
• Hose bibbs • Boilers • Cleaning/Mop Stations • Lawn Irrigation Systems • Fire Protection Systems
• Lab & Medical Equipment • Restaurant Equipment • Power Washers/Sprayers • Water Softener Drains
WATCH OUT FOR CROSS-CONNECTIONS IN:
Bathtub & Shower Fixtures: Maintain an air gap of at least (1) one-inch above the top of the flood level rim of the bathtub when the shower head is hanging freely.
Sink Faucets: All faucets must be installed so the end of Faucet is above the overflow level. The air gap prevents contents from being sucked or “backsiphone” into the water line during a loss of water pressure.
Toilet Tanks: Look for the ASSE #1002 standard symbol on the fill valve device and packaging to ensure it is compliant and suited for this use.
Boilers: Ensure boilers with chemical additives have an ASSE #1013
reduced pressure principle backflow prevention assembly.
Home Exterior: Verify all outside faucets are protected with an ASSE approved hose bibb vacuum breaker.
Your degree of hazard influences the type of backflow prevention your
Business requires. Businesses commonly use five basic methods: Air Gap, Atmospheric vacuum breakers, Pressure-type vacuum breaker assembly ( PVB), Double Check-valve assembly (DCVA), Reduced-pressure principle backflow preventer assembly (RPZ)