In pursuit of the stated goals of the American Backflow Prevention Association of protecting the integrity of the drinking water being delivered to the public for consumption, the Board of Directors feel that a "Policy Statement" regarding cross-connections is necessary.

A cross-connection has been defined as any unprotected actual or potential connection or physical arrangement between a public or a consumer's potable water system and any other source or system through which it is possible to introduce into any part of the potable system any used water, industrial fluid, gas, or substance other than the intended potable water with which the system is supplied. Where a physical connection between a potable water system and a nonpotable environment exists, there is an opportunity to introduce contaminants into the potable system due to a backflow occurrence.

Therefore, in order to assure the continuing integrity of the drinking water served to the public, it will be the policy of the American Backflow Prevention Association that all cross connections either be eliminated or provided with the appropriate means of protection commensurate with the degree of hazard.

APPROVED: April 28, 1996

In pursuit of the stated goals of the American Backflow Prevention Association of protecting the quality and the integrity of the drinking water being delivered to the public for consumption, the Board of Directors feel that a "Policy Statement" regarding wet-charged fire suppression system backflow protection is necessary.

The drinking water system purveyor is charged with the responsibility of providing the public with safe drinking water. Several water quality studies have shown that the wet-charged fire suppression system piping (non-approved for potable use) leaches heavy metals (Lead, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, etc.) in such quantities that the water contained within the wet-charged fire suppression systems does not meet the drinking water quality standards set by the Environmental water system from possible contamination from the water contained in wet-charged fire suppression systems.

In order to assure the continuing integrity of the drinking water served to the public, it will be the policy of the American Backflow Prevention Association that all wet-charged fire suppression systems (both existing and those currently under construction) which have utilized nonpotable piping material and are fed by a public drinking water system, shall be protected from backflow with a properly installed, approved, testable backflow prevention assembly commensurate with the degree of hazard established by the local authority in conjunction with applicable laws, regulations, rules, codes and policies. A single check valve or fire alarm check valve, regardless of its listings or approvals, will not be construed to be an adequate backflow prevention technique.

APPROVED: January 12, 1992

In pursuit of the stated goals of the American Backflow Prevention Association of protecting the quality and the integrity of the drinking water being delivered to the public for consumption, the Board of Directors feel that a "Statement of Position" concerning backflow prevention at the customer's service connection to prevent water quality degradation or contamination from privately owned plumbing systems is needed.

The Environmental Protection Agency, in implementing the Lead/Copper Rule, requires first draw sampling at the consumer's tap to determine the extent of lead and copper in the drinking water. The results of this sampling could initiate corrosion control studies and possible implementation of corrosion control treatment within the distribution system, thereby injecting even more chemicals into the drinking water and creating an even more complex drinking water system.

The drinking water system purveyor has control of the quality of the source of supply of the drinking water and the components of the system's distribution system. The drinking water system purveyor, however, has no control or authority over the materials used in the privately owned plumbing systems, which have the potential of adding both lead and copper and contaminating or degrading the quality of the drinking water within the distribution system.

Should the results of the tap sampling show that the elevated levels of lead and copper are coming solely from the privately owned plumbing systems; then we feel that a backflow prevention program, initiated by the water purveyor and utilizing commonly accepted and approved backflow prevention assemblies and test procedures, in conjunction with the Public Education program already required by the Lead/Copper Rule, should be considered by EPA as a condition of an EPA/state variance with regard to the installation of corrosion control within the public drinking water system.

Therefore, it is the position of the American Backflow Prevention Association that, if the results of the required sampling for lead and/or copper exceeds the action level of either, and the elevated levels can be shown to be solely due to the privately owned plumbing systems, then the drinking water system purveyor should be allowed to initiate a system wide backflow prevention program at the customer's connection utilizing commonly accepted and approved backflow prevention assemblies and test procedures, which would then continually protect the public drinking water system from contamination by any privately owned plumbing system. The American Backflow Prevention Association feels that the intent of the Lead/Copper Rule, as published by the Environmental Protection Agency would be met, and that further treatment of the drinking water contained in the distribution system (required corrosion control) would then be redundant and unnecessary.

APPROVED: May 27, 1992