Cross Contamination/Backflow Prevention

What is cross-connection?

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between the public or consumer’s potable water system and any non-potable source or substance that present a hazard to the quality of the public or consumer’s potable water system. Therefore, cross-connection control is the management or “control” of these cross-connections to protect public safety by preventing backflow incidents within the public or water consumer’s potable water system.

What is backflow?

Typically, water will flow from the public water supply to the consumer’s plumbing distribution system. Backflow is the undesirable reversal of this flow of water and undesirable substances from the non-potable source to the potable source.

Why do we need a cross-connection control/backflow prevention program?

As required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, every drinking water system must have a cross connection control program, more commonly known as a backflow prevention program. Backflow prevention is designed to protect the public water supply from contamination from non-drinkable sources. For this reason, the City of Seminole created a cross-connection control program with the goal of ensuring the quality of supplied water and protecting water customers.

Administering the Program

Backflow Solutions, Inc. or BSI Online is North America’s leading cross-connection control/backflow data management and program administration firm. BSI Online has partnered with over 550 water purveyors to develop and manage effective cross-connection control programs to help protect all our water resources. BSI helps water purveyors by sending notifications, assists with customer service inquiries, and manages required data on behalf of the City of Seminole.