CROSS-CONNECTIONS CAN CONTAMINATE OUR SAFE WATER

We are all aware that certain organic and chemical substances can contaminate the safe water coming out of our faucets. Citizens, through their utility bills, contribute considerable money every year to provide and protect a safe public water supply. Cross-connections are one of the factors that threaten the safety of our water.

What is a cross-connection? A cross-connection occurs when a pipe designed to carry safe drinking water is connected at some point to unsafe water or other liquid material. You may not think of your home as having such hazards, but if you have a hose that is submerged in a pool, carwash bucket, bathtub or laundry sink, or if you have a pesticide sprayer connected to a garden hose, you've created a cross-connection. If a water main breaks, the potential exists for unsafe substances to be siphoned back into the water supply. This means that contaminated water in a pool, carwash bucket, laundry sink, or pesticide sprayer could be drawn into the water system. Once there, the contamination could effect many.

How can I prevent cross-connections from occurring? Backflow preventers can reduce the risk and protect our community from widespread illness and disease. They are devices that prevent water from moving backward into the water system through combinations of check values or hydraulic breaks. Backflow preventers come in many sizes, specifications and degrees of complexity, depending on the problem being addressed.

What is the City doing to prevent cross-connections? Federal and State Laws require all water utilities to establish and implement cross-connection control programs. City ordinances have been adopted giving the utility the authority to inspect all occupancies and order removal of cross-connections found. Non compliance will result in the disconnection of water service to the user. This includes the largest industrial plant and the smallest individual home. Protection of the water supply is critical to the health of our families. The Appleton Public Works Department takes the responsibility very seriously.

Will my home be inspected? Homes are already being inspected. New or remodeled homes are always inspected for cross-connections during construction. In existing homes, water meters are tested and repaired on a 10 year cycle. During the meter inspection, technicians also inspect the basement for cross-connections. The most common cross-connection in basements is a laundry with a threaded faucet for a hose connection. The hose could be submerged in a sink containing a toxic liquid, resulting in a health threatening cross-connection. For that reason, meter technicians will install a backflow preventer at unprotected laundry sinks at the time of meter inspections. The meter technicians will not inspect other areas of the home unless there is a water leak in another area. Cross-connections found during the investigation of water leaks will need to be corrected, usually by a licensed plumber at the owner's expense.

Ordinances Sec. 20-41. Cross connections.

(a) Definition. A cross connection shall be defined as any physical connection or arrangement between two (2) otherwise separate systems, one (1) of which contains potable water from the City Water Utility, and the other containing water from a private source, water of unknown or questionable safety, or steam, gases or chemicals, whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.

(b) Cross connections prohibited. No person shall establish or permit to be established or maintain or permit to be maintained any cross connection. No interconnection shall be established whereby potable water from a private, auxiliary or emergency water supply other than the regular public water supply of the City may enter the supply or distribution system of the City, unless such private, auxiliary or emergency water supply and the method of connection and use of such supply shall have been approved by the City Water Utility and by the State Department of Natural Resources in accordance with Wisconsin Administrative Code, §NR 111.25(3).

(c) Inspections. It shall be the duty of the City Water Utility to cause inspections to be made of all properties serviced by the public water system where cross connection with the public water system is deemed possible. The frequency of inspections and reinspection, based on potential health hazards involved, shall be as established by the City Water Utility and as approved by the State Department of Natural Resources.

(d) Right of entry. Upon presentation of credentials, the representative of the Water Utility shall have the right to request entry at any reasonable time to examine any property served by a connection to the public water system of the City for cross connections. If entry is refused, such representative shall obtain a special inspection warrant under W.S.A. §66.122. On request, the owner, lessee or occupant of any property so served shall furnish to the inspection agency any pertinent information regarding the piping system on such property.

(e) Authority to discontinue service. The Water Utility is hereby authorized and directed to discontinue water service to any property wherein any connection in violation of this section exists, and to take such other precautionary measures deemed necessary to eliminate any danger of contamination of the public water system. Water service shall be discontinued only after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing under W.S.A. chapter 68, except as provided in subsection (f) of this section. Water service to such property shall not be restored until the cross connection has been eliminated in compliance with the provisions of this section.

(f) Emergency discontinuance of service. If it is determined by the Water Utility that a cross connection or an emergency endangers public health, safety or welfare and required immediate action, and a written finding to that effect is filed with the City Clerk and delivered to the customer's premises, service may be immediately discontinued. The customer shall have an opportunity for hearing under W.S.A. chapter 68, within ten (10) days of such emergency discontinuance. (Code 1965, §12.13)