Cross Connection and Backflow
A cross connection is a permanent or temporary connection between
potable drinking water and anything which can pollute or contaminate the
water supply.
List of Certified Testers
List of Certified Backflow Testers
In order to become registered with the City of Tallahassee as an approved
Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester, a person must meet the following requirements:
- Complete and file a registration application with the City of Tallahassee Office of Cross Connection Control.
- Furnish evidence, satisfactory to the City of Tallahassee, that they have attended and successfully completed a comprehensive training program approved by the City and sanctioned by the American Water Works Association for testing backflow prevention assemblies.
- Demonstrate that they have available the necessary tools and equipment to properly test backflow prevention assemblies.
- Identify all test gauges, approved by the city, they will use in testing backflow prevention assemblies.
Please call at 891-1248 if you have any questions about Cross Connection or Backflow Testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Cross Connection Control?
A. Cross connection control is, simply a program that
is designed to take the safeguards necessary to protect one of the worlds
most essential assets... water. Only through education and the combined
cooperation, of the public and the water purveyor, can we insure a safe
supply of drinking water.
Q. What is backflow?
A. Tallahassee's Water distribution system is designed
to keep the water flowing from the distribution system to you the customer.
However, when hydraulic conditions within the system deviate from the "normal" conditions,
water flow can be reversed. When this backflow happens, contaminated water
can enter the distribution system.
Q. What causes backflow?
A. Backflow is possible in two situations, backsiphonage
and backpressure. Backsiphonage occurs when there is a sudden reduction
in the water pressure in the distribution system, such as during firefighting
or when a water main breaks, water flow can be reversed. This can create
a suction effect, drawing the non potable substance into the potable water
system. Backpressure is created when pressure in a non-potable system,
such as in a re-circulating system containing soap, acid, or antifreeze,
exceeds that in the potable system that provides make up water to the system.
This can force the potable water to reverse its direction of flow through
the cross connection. Non-potable substances can then enter the potable
water system.
Q. How can backflow be prevented?
A. The City of Tallahassee recognizes four methods of
backflow prevention: Air Gap Double Check Valve Assembly Reduced Pressure
Principal Assembly Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly The Cross Connection
Control Section of the Water Quality Division will determine which type
of protection is required based on the degree of hazard that the property
represents to the potable water supply.
Cross Connection Control Section
The purpose of the Cross Connection Control Section is to prevent waterborne diseases and contaminants from entering the City of Tallahassee's distribution system and thus the water we drink. More exactly, the program is intended to prevent delivered water - water that has passed beyond the City of Tallahassee's distribution system and into your private plumbing system - from reentering the public water system and being delivered to other consumers.
The program aims to protect the City of Tallahassee and its consumers from those water-using facilities which could possibly harm the quality and safety of the City of Tallahassee water supply by backflow conditions through cross connections.