Cross-Connection / Backflow

1. Contact an approved and certified tester. Testers are required to be registered with the City of Temple Environmental Programs Division. The City of Temple does not perform backflow assembly testing.

2. The tester will schedule a time to come to your location to test your assembly(ies).

3. The results of the test(s) must be on the city's approved Test & Maintenance form.

4. The owner, customer or designated representative of a location with a backflow assembly is responsible for all costs associated with the installation, maintenance, testing, record keeping and/or replacement of the backflow assembly. 

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between the public drinking water system and pollutants and/or contaminants, such as chemicals, bacteria, pesticides, or wastewater.

Examples of common residential cross-connections are:

• Garden hoses submerged in polluted/contaminated water (bucket of soapy water, hot tub, swimming pool, animal water trough)
• Lawn irrigation system

Examples of common commercial cross-connections are:

• Carbonator for soda machine
• Coffee and/or tea brewers
• Chemical dispensers

Backflow occurs when water flow is reversed from its intended direction and, buy way of a cross connection, is pushed or siphoned back into the public drinking water system. Backflow can occur by the following mechanisms:

• Backsiphonage - The pressure in the drinking water system is lowered. This type of backflow can result from water line flushing, fire suppression or water main breaks.
• Backpressure - The pressure in a customer's plumbing system is greater than that of the public drinking water system. This primarily occurs in commercial applications involving pumps, high rise buildings, or boilers.

Customer Service Inspections (CSIs) are routinely performed throughout the city's water distribution system to monitor protection against potential contamination hazards. City staff continually inspect connections with the water infrastructure to ensure proper backflow protection is installed in order to protect the health of our citizens and visitors.