Cross Connection

KUB works hard to deliver safe drinking water. We need your help to be sure you don’t accidentally endanger the public water supply.

You may introduce a risk if you attach something that uses certain substances to your water pipes, fixtures, or even to a hose. The substances include chemicals, fertilizers – or anything else you wouldn’t want in your drinking water. If the water system loses pressure, water mixed with those substances can backflow into the water supply and end up flowing from faucets in your home or neighborhood.

Potential cross connections in your home can come from things like irrigation systems, pools, and spas. Some businesses that are a risk for cross connection include restaurants, car washes, and dry cleaners.

You can prevent backflow with a mechanical device or by keeping an air gap between the water source and the substances you use. For example, don’t place your garden hose in the water of a pool you’re filling or in a bucket with fertilizer. Leave space between the hose and the water in the pool or bucket.

State regulations require that you install a backflow prevention device if you connect a potential source of contamination to your pipes. You must also maintain the device, have it tested annually, and re-test it after any repairs.

Businesses must pay to have their devices tested annually by a certified tester. KUB tests devices annually for residential customers for a $30 fee.

For more information, see our backflow brochure, or KUB specifications. If you have questions about whether your plumbing system needs a backflow device, please call KUB's Cross Connection Control Program at 594-8333.