What is the Cross Connection Control Program?
The Lincoln Water System is implementing the following components:
- Public education program
- Educating our water customers using this brochure, a video program and group presentations.
- Survey of each water customer's facilities
- Evaluating the plumbing system by the water customer to determine if cross connections exist.
- Installation of protective devices
- Installing backflow prevention devices where known unprotected cross connections exist.
- Annual testing of backflow preventers
- Testing by a certified tester of all testable backflow prevention devices once each year.
What are Cross Connections?
Technically, a cross connection is defined as an actual or potential connection between a public water supply and a source of possible contamination or pollution.
All homes have potential cross connections.
The water pipes and plumbing fixtures that make up cross connections can be the link for contamination to get back into the drinking water supply. They can be a serious health hazard. The reversing of the flow direction in the pipes is called backflow.
The result of cross connection contamination is that chemicals, poisons and bacteria might find their way into the water you drink.
Help yourself, your family and your community by eliminating unprotected cross connections. Help the Lincoln Water System and your neighbors by filling out the attached Residential Cross Connection Survey and return it to LWS.
What Goes Wrong?
Water pressure can suddenly drop because of heavy usage, a fire in the area or a broken water main. When that happens, contaminated water could be siphoned back into your plumbing system from unprotected cross connections within your home. This is referred to as backflow. Even though Lincoln has a very reliable water distribution system, these pressure drops do occur somewhere in the city almost every day.
The Residential Cross Connection Survey is designed to identify some common residential cross connections.
Be Water-Wise About Cross Connections
The Lincoln Water System delivers safe, high quality water to your home. The goal is to keep it that way -- right into your glass of drinking water.
That's why the Lincoln Water System has adopted a Cross Connection Control Program. Its goal is to protect the public health -- yours and that of families throughout the city. That is also why the Nebraska Department of Health requires each water system to have such a program. Lincoln Water System has conducted a Backflow Prevention Program with business and industry for almost 30 years.
In addition, Lincoln's Plumbing Inspectors in the Building and Safety Department check all new building construction for proper protection. And the City-County Health Department Inspectors check restaurants and food preparation areas for cross connections.
Help is Available
Our Cross Connection Control Program technicians or your plumber can tell you what type of backflow prevention devices you may need.
Help is as close as your telephone. Call 441-5929 during regular business hours. (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday).
