Water utilities operate on tight budgets, often relying on grants to fund critical infrastructure upgrades, technology improvements, and safety initiatives. But what happens when a utility’s cross-connection control (CCC) program is underdeveloped, poorly enforced, or nonexistent?
The answer: it can cost you—big time.
What’s at Stake?
Cross-connection control is more than just a compliance box to check. It’s about protecting drinking water from backflow contamination, and protecting your utility from liability, regulatory penalties, and financial loss.
Grant providers want to invest in stable, forward-thinking systems. An effective CCC program signals that your utility takes water quality, public health, and long-term sustainability seriously. It shows you’re minimizing risks not just for your customers, but for the dollars they’re trusting you with. Many state and federal funding agencies now evaluate CCC programs as part of their risk assessments when reviewing grant applications. If your program is weak or out of date, it can trigger red flags and jeopardize your eligibility for current and future funding.
Potential Financial Implications
- Loss of Grant Eligibility
Agencies like the EPA, USDA, and state-level departments often require utilities to demonstrate they follow industry best practices. A missing or non-compliant CCC program can be a disqualifier. In some cases, funding already awarded can be revoked if the utility is found to be out of compliance. - Fines and Legal Liability
A backflow incident tied to a preventable lapse in cross-connection control opens the door to lawsuits, environmental fines, and public health investigations. Legal costs alone can drain already limited resources—let alone the financial and relational costs of damage to the utility’s reputation. - Increased Insurance Premiums
A weak risk management profile, including inadequate CCC, can lead to higher insurance premiums, or worse, difficulty obtaining coverage altogether. - Costly Emergency Response
Without proper controls, backflow events are more likely. These incidents often require immediate, expensive responses: public alerts, system flushing, lab testing, and, in some cases, free bottled water for customers. These costs add up fast, and they’re rarely budgeted for.
What You Should Do
Cross-connection control programs are crucial for the safety of your water system and the ongoing success of your utility. If you don’t have a CCC program, create one. If you already have a program, ensure it’s up to date and in compliance with state regulations.
- Audit your current CCC program: Are records current? Are inspections and tests being done on schedule?
- Update policies: Make sure policies align with state regulations and reflect industry best practices.
- Train staff: Everyone from the field crew to administrative staff needs to understand the importance of CCC and how the program works.
- Communicate with and educate customers: Backflow prevention is a shared responsibility—and transparency builds trust. It’s your responsibility to educate your customers about the risks of backflow, how your CCC program mitigates that risk, and what they can do to protect their water supply.
The Bottom Line
Skipping or skimping on your cross-connection control program isn’t just a technical oversight, it’s a financial liability. In a funding environment that’s more competitive than ever, utilities can’t afford to appear careless with risk. An effective CCC program is no longer optional, it’s foundational to keep your water safe and your funding secure.
Interested in learning more about how HydroCorp can support your utility’s cross-connection control program?
