CCRI
All businesses within City limits and some City residents will have received information from CCRA Professional Services, LLC. This is a company contracted by the City to conduct a Cross Connection Control Inspection. This is designed to assess the risk of cross-contamination in the event of a backflow incident. This inspection helps to keep our drinking water safe from contamination and is mandatory for those contacted by CCRA.
What is a cross connection control inspection?
Who is CCRA?
What is backflow and how can it occur?
What hazards threaten the homeowner?
What are the typical causes of backpressure backflow?
What is the law?
What can be done?
What are CCRA's recommendations?
Who do I contact for more information?
What is a cross connection control inspection?
A cross connection is an arrangement of piping that could allow undesirable water, sewage, or chemical solutions to enter your drinking, also known as potable, water system as a result of backflow. Cross connections with potable piping systems have resulted in numerous cases of illness and even death. Historically, cross connections have been one of the most serious public health threats to a drinking water supply system and many times are present in a residential water system.
Who is CCRA?
CCRA, Professional Services has been contracted by our local water department to do the CCR inspections and help to keep our drinking water safe from cross contamination.
What is backflow and how can it occur?
Backflow is the reversal of normal flow in a system due to what is known as backsiphonage or backpressure.
Backsiphonage backflow occurs when a vacuum is induced on a piping system, just like drinking from a glass with a drinking straw. A garden hose or a hose connected to a laundry tub can act as a "drinking straw" allowing undesirable liquids to be drawn through it by backsiphonage. Some typical situations that cause backsiphonage action include:
- Water main breaks or repairs occurring in the system at a point of lower elevation than your service point.
- High water flow rates exerted on a water main due to fire fighting, hydrant flushing, large system demands, or major piping breaks.
- Booster pumps taking direct suction from potable water supply piping.
- Undersized piping.
What hazards threaten the homeowner?
Many common household uses for water pose a public health threat to the potable water supply system whether the home is supplied by municipal water or by a private well. Principal areas of water use in the home that pose a threat due to cross connections are:
- Lawn irrigation systems, without backflow devices, installed or devices that are not tested for mechanical soundness.
- Chemically treated heating systems.
- Water softeners.
- Hose connections to a water outlet or laundry tub.
- Swimming pools.
- Solar heating systems.
- Private non-potable water supplies.
- Non-code (siphonable) ball cock assemblies in toilets.
- Water-operated sump drain devices.
- Boilers (Hot Water Heating).
What are the typical causes of backflow?
The typical causes of backpressure backflow include, but are not limited to:
- Non potable piping systems equipped with pumping equipment - an irrigation well interconnected with a potable system, for example.
- Stam or hot water boilers.
- Heat exchangers
What is the law?
Cross connections with potable piping systems are prohibited by state plumbing codes. Additionally, Michigan water utilities are required to have a cross connection control inspection program of their water customers to eliminate and prevent cross connections. Common commercial and industrial users posing a public health threat include:
- Industries with private wells.
- Industries with chemically treated boilers.
- Plating operations and chemical processing plants.
- Funeral homes and mortuaries.
- Marina facilities.
- Hospitals and nursing homes.
- Research laboratories.
- Car washes and laundromats.
- School facilities.
What can be done?
Homeowners, as well as plant managers, business persons, administrators, and school officials, must share the responsibility to protect potable water piping systems from contamination through cross connections. CCRA will be conducting inspections to locate and correct these cross connection hazards. In many instances involving residential cross connections, the installation of a hose bib (faucet) vacuum breaker can prevent backsiphonage of contaminants and provide adequate protection of the homeowner's water system, and consequently the utility's water system. But Residential/Commerical water users may need more elaborate protective devices to be installed. For those situations, CCRAand your water department will assist you in determining what device is appropriate.
What are CCRA's Recommendations
CCRA recommends you have your device(s) tested annually to protect your drinking water.
To test your device(s) go to www.ccra4safewater.net
Who do I contact for additional information?
For additional information call City Hall at (231) 734-2181
Contact CCRA directly at (630) 450-7781