2023 Cross Connection Control Program: The Essentials

Delaware Rural Water Association, in partnership with HydroCorp, will be hosting a free online workshop and open discussion covering the essential elements for any community’s cross-connection control program. Anyone interested in the quality of their water and the health of their community is warmly encouraged to attend:

  • Public Water System Professionals
  • Water Operators
  • Utility Staff
  • Building/Facility Management
  • Government Officials
  • Council/Board Members

Even if you are familiar with cross-connection and backflow prevention, this workshop will present the latest information and potential new regulations will be reviewed.

Register For Your Free Workshop Today: View the CCC Program summary video and for more information, visit the DRWA/HydroCorp Cross-Connection Control website.

Purpose of the Workshop

To provide attendees with a better understanding of requirements, methods and resources available to enable a Cost-Effective Cross-Connection Control Program for small and large public water supply systems.

Workshop Speakers
  • Bill Hague, Technical Services, DRWA
  • Gary McLaren, HydroCorp, Inc.

Duration: approximately 3 hours

Workshop Agenda
  • Introduction to Backflow Prevention
  • Fundamentals of Backflow
  • Methods of Preventing Backflow
  • Regulations and Code Overview
  • Surveying/Assessments and Corrective Action
  • Components of a Comprehensive Program
  • Next Step Actions and Recommendations

View Upcoming Events

Backflow Prevention and Regulatory Compliance

The State of Delaware, through its Division of Public Heath, Office of Drinking Water, requires public water suppliers to implement a Cross Connection Control Program, to help address the risks of backflow. DRWA- The Delaware Rural Water Association- can assist with any and all phases of the implementation process.

Backflow and Cross- Connection Control

Prevention

Plan Development

Includes up to four hours of meetings with program administrators, decision makers, council, etc. as well as public education materials.

Program Management

                DRWA can manage your entire program, from implementation to day-to-day program administration including                            inspections/ surveys, backflow testing monitoring, and overall program reporting

  • Ordinance
  • Surveys/ Inspections
  • Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing
  • Backflow Software
  • Backflow Test Gauge Calibration
  • Backflow test Gauge Sales
  • Documentation and Reporting
  • Public Education

Training

Onsite

Mobile hands-on Training

Formal Classroom Training

ASSE Certifications Training

Cross Connection Overview-

Theory, Ordinance, Plan, Public

DRWA Training Center

Our Milford, Delaware Training Center has been created to provide water professionals with an ideal environment for learning a range of critical water systems skills. Our training center brings together state and federal agencies, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, with equipment and technologies you need for in-depth, hands-on instruction in cross connection control and many other water systems courses. These sessions allow water professionals to upgrade their skills, improve the quality of their utility’s service, and protect their community’s health.

ASSE Certification

The DRWA Training Center has received recognition and accreditation from the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE), from Cross Connection Control Certification, ASSE 5000 Standard. These nationally recognized ANSI accreditation courses include:

  • ASSE 5110- Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester
  • ASSE 5120- Cross Connection Control Surveyor
  • ASSE 5130- Backflow Prevention Assembly Repair
  • ASSE 5150- Backflow Prevention Program Administrator

Delaware Pluming Code/ Regulations require all Backflow Prevention Assembly testers and Repairers to have appropriate ASSE certification. ASSE courses are also approved for CEC’s and for Water Operators. For detailed courses information, schedules and fees, please visit DRWA.ORG.

Cross Connections are points within a water system that can allow the flow of potentially dangerous non-portable water into portable drinking water. This is called backflow, and it is caused by two types of pressure changes: backsiphonage and backpressure.

BACKFLOW

Compromising Your Portable Water System

Backsiphonage is caused by the negative pressure of a vacuum or partial vacuum, in the supply piping- just as drinking water through a straw draws liquid from glass. Backsiphonage can be created when there is a stoppage in the water supply pressure due to repairs or breaks in the public system; an increased demand at one location, such as firefighting; or even undersized piping. Backsiphonage reverses normal flow in the system and can pull contaminants into drinking water.

Backpressure occurs when downstream water pressure is greater than the water supply pressure. This can occur in any pressurized system such as boilers, elevated tanks, or recirculating systems.

Both situations act to change the direction of water, which normally flows in one direction- from the water treatment plant/ distribution system to the customer. Cross Connections must be eliminated or properly controlled in all Delaware public water systems.