Program Description
The Cross Connection and Water Pollution Control Program is responsible for field surveys of industrial, commercial, and medical facilities to ensure that no hazardous conditions exist between plant equipment, process waters, plumbing fixtures and the potable water system.
This program also provides technical assistance to many County and State agencies, local water utility companies and building inspection agencies, certifies over 700 backflow prevention device testers, and maintains a data base of over 51,000 backflow prevention devices as well as the corresponding test and monitoring results.
The Cross Connection and Water Pollution Control
Program identifies cross connections through the
inspection and evaluation of a consumer’s water supply
to determine whether solid, liquid or gaseous pollutants
or contaminants are allowed to enter the potable water
system. When a hazard to the potable water system is
found, the consumer is required to install an approved
backflow prevention assembly at a key location within
the system to circumvent the contamination. The type and
location of the backflow prevention device is dependent
upon the nature of the hazard and complexity of the
onsite piping. The backflow prevention assembly is
approved based upon specifications developed jointly by
regulatory agencies, plumbing official and the
manufacturing industry. The laboratory work of the
Foundation for Cross Connection Control at the
University of Southern California and the Mechanical
Testing Laboratory of the City of Los Angeles,
Department of Building and Safety are essential elements
of this program.
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