Cross Connection Control Program
Houston Cross Connection Control Program
Houston’s Cross Connection Control Program (CCCP) strives to maintain the quality of water provided to all our customers by reducing the risk of contamination and/or pollution of the City of Houston’s public water systems. To accomplish this, the CCCP works to ensure that proper backflow prevention is set in place and maintained as required by state and local regulations for all cross-connections. The program conducts investigations at facilities where potential cross-connection hazards exist, educates the public about cross connection control, and enforces state and uniform plumbing code requirements regarding backflow prevention. The program requires the installation, maintenance, and annual testing of backflow prevention assemblies on cross connections or for proper air gaps to be in place to eliminate cross connections.
What is a Cross Connection?
A cross connection is a link that can either be direct or indirect between potable and non-potable water/plumbing systems. Contaminants and pollutants can enter the drinking water supply through cross connections when a backflow event occurs affecting the drinking water quality and presenting a serious threat to public health. Some cross connections can be eliminated through an air gap between potable water and non-potable water systems, but some connections can be inevitable. In situations where cross connections must exist, backflow prevention assemblies must be installed and maintained to protect from hazards entering the location's plumbing and the City’s drinking water supply. The type of hazard at hand will determine the type of backflow prevention assembly required to be installed. To learn more about cross connection control, its hazards, and the requirements for backflow prevention assemblies, click on the additional related information on the right panel of this page.
Water Customer’s Cross Connection Control Responsibilities
Houston water customers are required to have the proper backflow protection depending on the severity of the hazard. All cross connections must have the proper backflow prevention assemblies installed and properly maintained. State Rules and Regulations and the City of Houston Plumbing Code, mandate testing the backflow preventer assemblies at the time of installation, repair, relocation, and annually thereafter. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in citations being issued with fines of up to $2,000 per day and the risk of potential suspension of water services.
All backflow prevention assembly testing must be completed by a TCEQ-licensed tester listed on Houston’s Cross Connection Control Program Backflow Testing Company List. This is updated monthly and can be found on the right panel of this page.
- Address: 7101 Renwick Dr. Houston, Texas 77081
- Main Line: (832) 395-3800
- [email protected]
Backflow Tester Company List
Backflow Prevention Assembly Removal Form
Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Company Application
Transient, Small, and Large Meter Application Process (Domestic, Irrigation, Fire, etc.)
City of Houston Codes and Amendments
City of Houston Infrastructure and Design Model (IDM)
The undesirable reversal in flow in which contaminants or pollutants may enter the potable water drinking system through a cross connection. A backflow event may occur due to backpressure and back-siphonage.
Back-siphonage is the reversal in flow of potable water due to a negative pressure in the water supply. Back-siphonage may occur when there is an increase in water use in an area dropping the main supply pressure, repairs or breaks on the supply line, damaged fire hydrants, firefighting, etc.
Backpressure is the reversal in flow of potable water due to a higher pressure downstream from the water supply pressure. Backpressure may occur with pressurized tanks, reclaim systems outputting higher pressures than water supply, boiler systems, etc.
A cross-connection is a link that can either be direct or indirect between potable and non-potable water systems. Contaminants and pollutants can enter the drinking water supply through cross-connection when a backflow event occurs affecting the drinking water quality and presenting a serious threat to public health.
A backflow prevention assembly, also known as a backflow preventer, is a device that protects the drinking water supply from contaminants or pollutants from entering the potable water system when backflow occurs. The type of hazards to the water supply will dictate the type of device needed to be installed.
Test results must be uploaded by the testing company into the 3rd party software SwiftComply and pay associated fees to receive test result credit. Please ensure to keep test results onsite and communicate with the backflow testing company regarding their submission of the test report.
Some backflow preventer assemblies may have been previously replaced, removed, or duplicated. Please have your plumber, engineer, or backflow testing company email us a Backflow Prevention Assembly Removal Form at [email protected].
To become a certified backflow tester in Houston, you must hold a current TCEQ Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester license and submit a City of Houston Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Application. This application will be reviewed by the Cross Connection Control Program and testers must receive approval from the program before commencement.
Yes, if there is a cross-connection within your establishment you are required to have a backflow preventer at the cross connection. Depending on the establishment’s hazards you may also be required to have a backflow prevention assembly installed on the service water line. Per state code, a backflow prevention assembly installed at the service line is considered as additional protection and must not negate the use of backflow protection on internal hazards.
All testable backflow prevention assemblies must be tested at least once on annual basis, when relocated, when repaired, and immediately after installation. Assemblies must be in good working condition based on manufacture standards. Any missing or damaged parts must be immediately replaced or fixed.
Only backflow prevention assembly testers that are employed by a State of Texas approved fire line contractor may test and fix assemblies on fire lines. Please ensure to contact the proper company to test your backflow prevention assemblies, highlighted in red in the Backflow Testing Company List.
No, if the backflow preventer assemblies have been tested and failed, your location remains out of compliance until a passing test report is submitted.
The Cross Connection Control Program does not determine the final citation fine amount. Please have your citation number on hand and contact the City of Houston Municipal Courts to receive additional information regarding the fine amount.
The person that was issued the citation is responsible and must attend court or contact the courthouse to pay the fine prior to their court date. For additional questions about the citation please contact the City of Houston Municipal Courts.