How can I prevent a cross-connection?

There are a couple of easy ways you can prevent a cross-connection:

  1. Never place the end of a hose where it can suck contaminates into your home’s water system. For example, do not leave the end of the hose submerged in the swimming pool or a tank when filling. Always maintain at least a 1 inch gap between the end of the hose and the pool, tank or other source of potential contamination.
  2. Use proper backflow protection devices. Each spigot at your home should have a hose-bib vacuum breaker installed. This is a simple and inexpensive device that can be purchased at any hardware store and screwed directly onto each spigot (as easy as attaching your garden hose).


Show All Answers

1. What is a cross-connection?
2. How can I prevent a cross-connection?
3. What is backflow?
4. How can a backflow occur?
5. What is back-pressure?
6. What is back-siphonage?
7. Why do water suppliers need to control cross-connections and protect their public water systems against backflow?
8. How can backflow into the City water system be prevented?
9. How do I prevent a cross-connection with my recycled water or rainwater irrigation system?
10. What is a backflow prevention assembly?
11. Who is responsible for the testing and maintenance of the backflow prevention assembly?
12. How do I find a city recognized tester?
13. How do I get added to the city's recognized tester list?