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This is an artificial-intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to provide general information about various city topics. If you are having an emergency of any kind, please call 911 immediately. The chatbot is still learning about all of our services and may occasionally provide an incorrect answer.

A cross connection is a permanent or temporary piping arrangement which can allow your drinking water to be contaminated if a backflow condition occurs. For example, if a garden hose is left in a bucket of soapy water and there is a change in water pressure, the soapy water could flow back into your drinking water system. Whenever a plumbing fixture is connected to the drinking water supply, a potential cross connection exists. Most of the time these cross connections are controlled by the use of a backflow prevention device. These devices are usually installed by a plumber when the building is constructed and many of them need to be tested and maintained annually. Drinking water systems may become polluted or contaminated through uncontrolled cross connections. Cross connections are installed each day in the United States because people are unaware of the problems they can create. Death, illness, contaminated food products, industrial and chemical products rendered useless are some of the consequences of such connections.

It's just what it sounds like; the water is flowing in the opposite direction from its normal flow. With the direction of flow reversed due to a change in pressure, backflow can allow contaminants to enter your drinking water system through cross connections. Backsiphonage is the reversal of normal flow in a system caused by a vacuum or partial vacuum within the water supply piping. Backpressure is the reversal of normal flow in a system due to pressure higher than the supply pressure. If you have an irrigation system for your yard, boiler, pool/spa, water feature, fire sprinkler system or photo development equipment, state law requires that you get a backflow prevention assembly to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into your drinking water--a serious health hazard. Many businesses are also required to have backflow prevention. Even the best backflow assembly can fail because of freezing, debris, improper installation and unapproved plumbing connections. That's why state law requires that backflow assemblies be tested annually by a certified backflow assembly tester to ensure that the assemblies will function if there is a backflow event.

WattsBackflow Preventer 009Repair Kit

In compliance with Washington State Administrative Code 246-290-490, which regulates the city’s Cross Connection Control Program, Bellevue Utilities inspects drinking water systems on properties to protect against contamination. We do this by using backflow prevention assemblies.

Watts009 Backflow Preventer

Project pricing at Plumbing-Deals is tailored to meet your specific project. The size of a plumbing job that qualifies as a project can vary, generally its larger than a single bathroom or kitchen remodel. By submitting the form or calling, you're taking the first step towards receiving a customized quote that considers your project's scope, timeline, and budget, ensuring a seamless and cost-effective solution for your plumbing parts and supplies.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Office of Drinking Water is responsible for administering the cross connection control rules for Group A Public Water Supplies, such as the city’s, under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) section 246-290-490. Washington established cross connection control reduction programs in 1970. The purpose is to protect the public water system from contamination via cross connections of plumbing systems. The DOH and public water utilities within Washington State have worked collaboratively to revise our codes and program priorities as we learn more about the dangers of cross connections as they apply to public and private plumbing systems. As a result, the city is required to develop and implement a Cross Connection Control Program which must be included in the our Water System Plan. The provisions establishing its cross connection program are codified at BCC 24.02.190, and were adopted in 2010 (Ordinance No. 5693). The ordinance includes the state’s program requirements and the most recent version of the Uniform Plumbing Code, and is enforceable consistent with BCC 24.02.280.

These assemblies vary in size, shape, value, and location; however, they all do the same thing -- they prevent dangerous backflow. Our goal is to protect your drinking water and the city’s drinking water distribution system.

State law requires all properties with cross-connections - systems connected to the public drinking water system - to install a backflow device and test it annually. This ensures it continues to function properly to protect the drinking water supply.

Premise Isolation is backflow prevention installed or created at the incoming source to the property (usually at the meter) with an air gap and/or Reduce Pressure Backflow Assembly (RPBA). This will be required for service connections posing a high health cross connection hazard including, but not limited to, the following: