Welcome to Toquerville City's Cross Connection Control Program!
Toquerville strives to maintain the quality of water provided to all our customers by reducing the risk of contamination and/or pollution of the City’s public water systems. To accomplish this, our Public Works department works to ensure that proper backflow prevention is set in place and maintained as required by state and local regulations for all cross connections. The program conducts investigations at facilities where potential cross connection hazards exist, educates the public about cross connection control, and enforces state and uniform plumbing code requirements regarding backflow prevention. The program requires the installation, maintenance, and annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies on cross connections or for proper air gaps to be in place to eliminate cross connections.
By engaging our customers in understanding these dangers and implementing preventive measures, we strive to maintain the highest standards of water quality for our community.
Recognizing Cross Connections:
Every location that connects to the water supply carries potential cross-connections, so it's crucial for you to identify any that may exist. If you notice that your water is discolored or has an unusual taste or odor, please call (435) 635-1094 to report it. Common examples include garden hoses submerged in contaminants, in-ground lawn irrigation systems, swimming pools, private wells, fire suppression systems and various business or residential setups using chemicals or equipment that can contaminate water.
Backflow Prevention:
Toquerville City water customers are required to have the proper backflow protection depending on the severity of the hazard. This could be as simple as a hose bib vacuum breaker (on every hose bib around your home) but some cross connections must have the proper backflow prevention assemblies installed and maintained. The Utah State Rules for Public Drinking Water Systems, the Plumbing Code as adopted by the state of Utah, and Toquerville City Code, mandate testing the backflow preventer assemblies at the time of installation, repair, relocation, and annually thereafter. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the risk of potential suspension of water services.
Definitions:
Cross Connection: Any real or potential connection between the public water system or your drinking water and a source that could contaminate or pollute that water.
Backflow: The undesirable reversal of water flow caused by backpressure or backsiphonage, which can contaminate the public water supply. It can occur due to factors like heavy water use, water main breaks, or fluctuations in water pressure.
Air gap: The unobstructed vertical distance between the water supply pipe's free-flowing end and the flood level or overflow rim in a non-pressure receiving fixture. It is crucial for preventing backflow incidents.
Backpressure: Occurs when the pressure within a customer’s system exceeds the water supply pressure, leading to backflow. Common causes include pumps, pressurized irrigation, and elevation differences.
Backsiphonage: Created by a reduction in water supply pressure, causing a sub-atmospheric pressure in the water system and resulting in backflow. Common causes include broken water lines, flushing fire hydrants, and inadequate piping size.