Miscellaneous

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 our drinking water system through cross-connections.

A potentially hazardous cross-connection occurs every time someone uses a garden hose sprayer to apply insecticides or herbicides to their lawn. Another cross-connection occurs when someone uses their garden hose to clear a stoppage in their sewer line.

What is a "cross-connection"?

A cross-connection is a permanent or temporary piping arrangement which can allow your drinking water to be contaminated if a backflow condition occurs.

Cross connection

Without proper protection devices, something as useful as your garden hose has the potential to poison your home's water supply. In fact, over half of the nation's cross-connections involve unprotected garden hoses.

Miscellaneous FAQs