Public Works Department

Cross Connection Control Program

What is the Cross Connection Control Program?

The Cross-Connection Control Program works hard to protect your drinking water from contamination by ensuring that all cross connections are protected.

What is a Cross Connection?

A cross connection is an actual or possible pathway between our drinking water supply and a source of contamination or pollution.

Why is this important to me?

Cross connected plumbing may put your drinking water in contact with contaminated water.

How does the water become contaminated?

In our homes and businesses, water is often used to dilute, mix, cool and clean. This water may come into contact with dangerous chemicals and substances.

Sometimes water that passes through a meter into a home or business has the possibility of being pulled or pushed back into the water main and then has the potential for polluting the potable water supply.

You could cause backflow in your own home by: Submerging a garden hose in a swimming pool, hot tub, aquarium or any other tub of water to fill it Putting a hose down a drain to flush out debris Connecting your garden hose to plant fertilizer or bug spray Connecting another source of water such as a private well or surface water like a pond or creek to your plumbing system in any way Having other plumbing cross connections, like a toilet flush valve without an anti-siphon device Using a hose without a backflow prevention device is the most common cause of a hazardous backflow event. Use a hose bibb vacuum breaker to prevent backflow. This allows a garden hose to vent to the atmosphere if the water supply loses pressure. These are inexpensive and available at local hardware stores. A hose bibb vacuum breaker attaches easily by simply screwing them on to your hose bibb.

What is backflow?

Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of a liquid, gas, or other substance in a potable water system as a result of a cross connection. To prevent backflow from occurring, a backflow preventer must be installed.

What is the City of Durango doing to help?

The City of Durango surveys plumbing to identify cross connection hazards and to determine if the required cross connection control devices are installed and maintained.

The City of Durango will contact you to schedule a survey. If a water service line is unprotected, the proper type of protection will be determined. Types of protection: Dual check backflow preventer at the meter - City provides and maintains when the hazard is low. In order to install a dual check, a tank-style water heater must have an expansion tank. The installation of the expansion tank is the responsibility of the property owner. Testable backflow preventer - property owner must purchase, install and test yearly.

Why was this law enacted?

There are many documented cases of illness, injury and even deaths each year in the United States. Recognizing this hazard, the State of Colorado and the City of Durango, guided by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, have enacted laws requiring that our public water system is protected from backflow.

The law states that:
◊ Each connection to the potable water supply must be protected with adequate backflow devices.
◊ Testable backflow devices must be tested by a licensed certified tester at least once a year.

Other Resources:

Brochure protect your water heater.pdf

Forms:

Field Test Form.pdf

Contact us:
We are here to help you obtain the goal of having a safe connection to the City’s water supply. You can contact the Cross Connection Control Program by:

Phone (970)375-4883 or

E-mail cccp@ci.durango.co.us

Do you want to become a tester? You must be certified by either: √ ASSE: www.ASSE-plumbing.org (ASSE certification requires 5 years experience in a water related field) √ ABPA: www.abpa.org √ ABC: www.abccert.org (even though the State of Colorado designates ABC as an approved organization for certification, they are not currently issuing certifications) You must have a City of Durango cross connection control technician license. Submit the following requirements for this license to the City Clerk’s Office: √ A City of Durango business license. Application for license: http://www.durangogov.org/licensing/index.cfm √ A copy of your current Colorado Certification as cross connection control technician √ A copy of your current test gauge calibration certificate √ A certificate of insurance as described in the City of Durango Ordinance √ Sign a statement that the City Clerk will provide that affirms you have read and understand the Ordinance.