Bartonville Water Supply Corporation

What is a CROSS-CONNECTION?
What are the associated dangers?
What can I do to prevent this?

In the water utility business, simply put, a cross-connection “is a connection that allows water of an unknown quality and/or source to mix with that of a known potable quality/source”.

The dangers associated with a cross-connection are many and the results may lead to sickness, poisoning, and others that may affect one or more individuals on a localized or even system wide basis. This can all happen simply through a “connection”.

You have probably seen numerous examples of cross-connections and in fact unknowingly created a few as we all have. This could be leaving a submerged hose running to fill or top off a swimming pool, stock watering tank, bucket of car wash solution or any other situation where such a link between the two sources exist.

In these situations, contamination or pollution of the drinking water supply in your home could possibly take place if there were a break in the water main or your service line down stream. The break can create a partial vacuum and like drawing water through a straw, siphon the contaminated liquid into other water lines.

Another method for creating a cross-connection is by way of the private water well. Many times this type of well is used for irrigation purposes to avoid high watering bills.

In these situations, an irrigator, possibly a plumber or the homeowner cross-connects the two water sources by failing to install the correct cross-connection/backflow device. The intended purpose for having the two connected is “just in case” one supply is needed to substitute for the other for irrigation purposes.

This type of connection, allowing a homeowner the ability to use one system or the other can be made IF the correct cross-connection/back flow device called an “RPZ” (Reduced Pressure Zone) back flow preventer is properly installed.

If installed improperly or if the wrong device (typically a double check valve) is installed, there are two negative possibilities. The first is that, if at a greater pressure, the water from the well or other (pond, lake) irrigation source could be pushed back into the homeowner’s service line, or possibly the public water supplies water main. Both are very bad situations. In addition, such an improper connection can also lead to water from the public system, if under greater pressure, pushing back in the opposite direction. As a result, the homeowner does not irrigate as intended using well water but with the public system water resulting in a horrendous water bill!

You can help us prevent such possible dangerous situations by being alert when using a hose around the house or doing plumbing repairs.
Also, don’t be mislead and assume that the licensed irrigator or plumber you hire is “up to speed” on current T.C.E.Q. (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) laws*. There have been actual instances this past summer when licensed irrigators installed an improper back flow device placing the homeowner and possibly our/your public water system in jeopardy. One particular irrigator touted that he had actually been on the State board of irrigators at one time after installing the incorrect device. In addition, he had failed to obtain the required town permit to even perform the irrigation work.

Therefore, the “professional” you have hired and are paying to do things properly is not and in fact, their work may not only harm you and your family and others but may cost you additional money as well.

Please feel free to call the BWSC office at 817-430-3541 if you have any questions about what is required regarding suitable back flow devices licensing, etc. and your town hall regarding required permits. Remember, if you are in the unincorporated portion of Denton County you are still required to have a permit issued by the county prior to drilling a personal or private well. You can also check the TCEQ website and their links to look up irrigators, or well drillers to see if they are currently licensed.

* Texas Administrative Code, Ch. 290, Section 290.47 (i) (Appendix I).
** 30 TAC 290.44 (h) (4) Must be tested annually by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester.