2023 Cross Connection Control Survey
The following survey must be completed by all water service customers connected to our public water supply. This survey will help us prevent accidental contamination of our drinking water system. The purpose of this survey is to determine whether a cross‐connection may exist at your home or business and to protect public safety.
The Washington State Department of Health requires that all water purveyors protect the public water supply from contamination by eliminating actual cross‐connections and reducing the hazard of potential cross‐connections. It also requires all purveyors to report annually the potential for cross‐connection hazards to the water system. Your completion of this survey will assist the City in satisfying these requirements.
A cross‐connection is an unprotected or improper connection to the system that may cause contamination or pollution to enter the system. It can be a direct or indirect connection with any other water source, sewer, drain, conduit, pool, storage tank, plumbing fixture or other device which contains, or may contain, contaminated water, sewage or other liquid or waste of unknown or unsafe quality. The system water pressure can suddenly drop because of heavy usage, a fire in the area or a broken water main. When that happens, contaminated water could be siphoned back into your plumbing system from unprotected cross‐connections within your home. Even though the City has a very reliable water distribution system, these pressure drops can occur. All homes have potential cross‐connections. The water pipes and plumbing fixtures that make up cross‐connections can be the link for contamination to get back into the drinking water supply. They can be a serious health hazard. The reversing of the flow direction in the pipes is called backflow. The result of cross‐connection contamination is that chemicals, poisons and bacteria might find their way into the water you drink.
Examples of cross‐connections include:
1. Improperly installed irrigation systems which may allow backsiphonage of stagnant, bacteriologically unsafe water into the domestic piping system.
2. Improperly plumbed water‐using devices such as hot‐tubs, boilers or dishwashers, which may allow unsafe water back into the domestic piping system.
3. Irrigation systems served by an auxiliary source, such as a private well, lake, or canal. Such systems create a potential for major contamination of the public water system via inter‐ties with the domestic piping system.
4. Interconnections between the potable system and a non‐potable system.
Most modern plumbing systems have backflow devices built in (toilets, sinks, modern hose connections). For more information and detailed descriptions of cross connections, view the following link:
Every customer served by this system must be surveyed. This survey includes identifying what plumbing fixtures are present in the home or business. After we receive this survey back, we will review the data and determine whether an inspection of your plumbing is needed. If this is the case, you will be notified by phone or mail. Help yourself, your family and your community by eliminating unprotected cross‐connections. Help the Water Department and your neighbors by filling out this survey.
Thank you for your assistance.