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; 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 an
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.
