Cross Connection Control Program

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The goal of the Cross Connection Control Program (CCCP) is to protect your drinking water system and the city's distribution system from various forms of contamination.

As required by State Law (WAC 246-290-490), the City of Kent's Cross Connection Control Program (CCCP) ensures that all cross connections have a backflow prevention device installed.  Properly installed backflow prevention devices will keep contaminated water from reaching your water system. The CCCP is vital in allowing the City of Kent to continue to provide clean, drinkable water to our citizens, while at the same time maintaining an adequate water supply for domestic and fire protection needs.

Reach Public Works Engineering

  • telephone
    253-856-5500
  • Fax
    253-856-6500
  • envelope
  • location
    400 W Gowe St.
    Kent, WA 98032
  • clock
    Monday - Friday
    9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What is a "Cross Connection"?

sink cross connectionA cross connection is an actual or potential physical connection between the public water system and any source that could contaminate the public water supply.

Actual: open valve between potable and non potable

Potential: closed valve between potable and non potable

 

Where are Cross Connections Found?

Cross%20Connection%20Types

Whenever a plumbing fixture is connected to the drinking water supply, a potential cross connection exists. Most of the time these cross connections are controlled by the use of a backflow prevention device. These devices are usually installed by a plumber when the building is constructed and many of them need to be tested and maintained annually.

  

What is Backflow?

It's just what it sounds like; the water is flowing in the opposite direction from its normal flow. With the direction of flow reversed due to a change in pressures, backflow can allow contaminants to enter your drinking water system through cross connections.

mainbreak example

What Causes Water to Flow Backwards?

Backsiphonage

Backsiphonage is the reversal of normal flow in a system caused by a vacuum or partial vacuum within the water supply piping.

Backsiphonage Main Break

 

Backpressure

Backpressure is the reversal of normal flow in a system due to pressure higher than the supply pressure.

Backpressure Irrigation Example

 

What is Premise Isolation?

RPBA Erik PermitPremise Isolation is backflow prevention installed or created at the incoming source to the property (usually at the meter) with an air gap and /or Reduced Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA).  This will be required for service connections posing a high health cross connection hazard.

The level of protection required is determined by the degree of hazard as outlined in Washington Administrative Code (WAC 246-290-490). The general guidelines include:

High hazards

  • Agricultural (farms & dairies) 
  • Beverage bottling plants 
  • Car washes 
  • Chemical plants 
  • Commercial laundries, dry cleaners 
  • Premises where both reclaimed water and drinking water is provided 
  • Film processing plants 
  • Food processing facilities 
  • Hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary, medical, and dental clinics, and blood plasma centers
  • Premises with separate irrigation systems using the purveyor's water supply with chemical addition
  • Laboratories 
  • Metal plating industries 
  • Mortuaries  
  • Petroleum processing or storage plants 
  • Piers and docks 
  • Radioactive material processing plants or nuclear reactors 
  • Survey access denied or restricted 
  • Wastewater lift stations and pumping stations 
  • Wastewater treatment plants 
  • Premises with an unapproved auxiliary water supply interconnected with the potable water supply

Low hazards

  • Wash basins and service sinks
  • Hose bibs (inside and outside garden hose faucets)
  • Lawn irrigation systems
  • Auxiliary water supplies
  • Laboratory and aspirator equipment
  • Processing tanks
  • Boilers
  • Water recirculation systems
  • Swimming pools
  • Solar heat systems
  • Fire sprinkler systems

Resources for Property and Business Owners

“Per KCC 7.02 – Part 2, property and business owners are required to install and maintain backflow prevention assemblies where they are needed. Water utility customers are also responsible to have their backflow assemblies tested annually by a State Certified Tester.”

  1. Backflow Test Report Form
  2. "Find a Certified Tester"