All water customers (residential and non-residential) connected to the public water supply are required to be inspected for cross-connections. Most programs strive to ensure that all water customers receive an initial inspection during their first 3-5 years of program implementation.
Interior Inspections: YES – if you received a letter informing you to call and arrange for an appointment, someone over 18 must be home to allow our inspector to enter the home and complete the inspection.
Exterior Inspections: NO – if the inspection is for the exterior of your home only, HydroCorp will not be entering your home and they will only require access to your front and backyard. Some states and local jurisdictions allow for a mail/electronic water use survey to be completed by the homeowner.
If your specific community program has the option that you can upload a photo of the work that was performed or the plumbing installation, use our online scheduler. Otherwise, call our office and let them know that you have completed the necessary requirements and are ready for a compliance inspection.
Yes. These inspections are conducted in order to ensure compliance with state regulations to maintain the safety of your drinking water.
Penalties for refusing to cooperate with inspections and/or refusing to make needed repairs are determined by your local water utility. These typically can include termination of water service, a fine, or both.
There are two components of a cross-connection control program: Testing of backflow prevention assemblies and onsite inspections. It is the responsibility of the assembly’s owner to have backflow prevention assemblies tested periodically by a certified tester. Your local water supplier is responsible for the inspection portion of the program. The inspection is to verify that the proper backflow prevention methods are in place to maintain drinking water safety.
(Varies by state and local authority)
It is recommended that all testable backflow preventers are tested annually, however, The City/Village/Township may require less frequent testing on residential lawn irrigation systems. (Consult your local Cross-Connection Control ordinance.) If you are injecting chemicals into your lawn irrigation system, most state regulations and plumbing codes require the backflow preventer to be tested on an annual basis.
In most jurisdictions, a lawn irrigation system is not a required component of the water system. Homeowners who choose to install a lawn irrigation system as a convenience are responsible to assure the backflow preventer is properly installed and maintained in accordance with State laws and regulations. It would be unfair for the City/Village/Township to require home owners who choose not to have a lawn irrigation system to absorb the financial burden of maintaining your privately owned system.
There are two parts to the Cross-connection Control Program. The first is an on-site inspection by a cross-connection control inspector to ensure that the proper backflow prevention devices and assemblies are in place to protect your drinking water. Some of the assemblies the inspector finds or asks you to install are testable assemblies, which are mechanical and can malfunction. The testing notice refers to testing the operation of these backflow prevention assemblies. These tests must be performed by a certified tester.
“Grandfathering” is not typically permitted due to the high importance of maintaining drinking water safety. Just like any other mechanical device, backflow prevention assemblies are prone to wear and tear, and do break down from time to time. Regular testing is required in order to ensure that your device remains in proper working order.
The anti-siphon fill valve device is located in the tank of your toilet. This device has a dual purpose: To fill the toilet and prevent backflow. This device must be placed at the proper height in order to insure that water from your toilet does not backflow into your drinking water. Proper placement is typically done during the installation process but can be easily overlooked. This device must be raised or the overflow pipe must be cut down in order to achieve a 1” air gap separation between the “critical level” of the assembly.
Click here to see an installation diagram.
Click here for 3 minute video overview.
Wisconsin Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS)
Cross-Connection Control (LINK – to Attached .pdf – FAQCCC)
#143 SPS 382.41(5)(h) – 2/25/04
The wild head must be sold as a turf sprinkler or a hole may be drilled in a pipe to serve as a wild head when the orifice is as large as a turf sprinkler orifice. The sprinkler may not include an automatic shut off.
Explanation: The purpose of a “Wild Head” is to release the pressure off the Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (ASSE 1001) after the systems shut down. If the pressure is not released, the ASSE 1001 would eventually fail. Your residence and city water system would be at risk for contamination if the ASSE 1001 has failed and the city water system would lose system pressure and backsiphonage would occur. Pressure loss can be caused by repair work, system flushing, water main failure, fighting fires, and more. For that reason, the Plumbing Code requires a Pressure Vacuum Breaker ASSE 1020 on lawn irrigation systems that have to be tested annually at an approximate cost of $75.00-$125.00 or more.
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Examples of Wisconsin “Wild Head” Installations | ||
Sample Backflow Prevention Devices and Assemblies:
Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly |
Reduced Pressure Principle |
5700 Crooks Road, Suite 100
Troy, MI 48098
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