YOU CAN AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER YOU DRINK Many public drinking water systems are contaminated each year by pollutants or contaminants that backflow into the water system through unprotected cross-connections. Identifying and eliminating or protecting cross connections is a matter of public health! WHAT IS A CROSS-CONNECTION? A cross-connection is a physical connection (piping configuration) between the public drinking water system and anything else, including another water supply that can allow pollutants or contaminants to backflow into the public drinking water system. WHAT IS BACKFLOW? Backflow is the reversal of flow from a residential or commercial water system back into the public drinking water system. A backflow incident could carry pollutants or contaminants into our public drinking water supplies making them unsafe to use. The Plumbing Code and the Utah Public Drinking Water Rules require that all cross connections be eliminated or protected against backflow by installing an approved backflow device or assembly. CAN I PROTECT MY HOME OR BUSINESS FROM THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH CROSS-CONNECTIONS AND BACKFLOW? Yes! Several common cross connections are described in the following paragraphs. Threaded Hose Connections (Hose Bibs) A large majority of backflow incidents are created by the common garden hose. Modern Plumbing Codes require that all threaded potable water outlets (hose bibs or sill cocks), except water heater drains and clothes washer connections, be protected by a non-removable hose bib vacuum breaker or an atmospheric vacuum breaker. The installation of a hose bib vacuum breaker is an inexpensive way to protect against contamination. Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets Kitchen and bathroom facets are generally designed with an adequate air gap between the end of the faucet and the flood rim of the sink. They are manufactured so that a hose can not be attached to the end of the faucet. Slip on hose connections can defeat the protection of the air gap and should not be used! Hand held shower sprayers and other similar hose attachments also pose a problem. If submerged in the water, back-siphonage can occur. This problem can be corrected by installing a special hose vacuum breaker. Laundry Rooms Your washing machine has air gaps built in at the factory. Utility sink faucets must be equipped with a hose bib vacuum breaker or atmospheric vacuum breaker.