Any physical or potential connection between a potable water supply and any potentially hazardous material. This connection can be created when plumbing is incorrectly installed or even by simply attaching a hose to a faucet.

Any cross-connection without the appropriate backflow prevention device/assembly for the risk level and business type.

The reverse flow of water from its normal direction through a cross-connection and into the piping of a public water system or consumer's drinking water system. There are two types of backflow — back-siphonage and back pressure.

• Back siphonage is backflow caused by a negative pressure (i.e., a vacuum or partial vacuum) in a public water system or a consumer's potable water system. The effect is similar to drinking water through a straw. Back siphonage can occur when the water supply is stopped due to nearby firefighting, a break in a water main, or other hydraulic conditions.
• Backpressure backflow occurs when the downstream side of the piping system is greater than the supply pressure in a public system or customer’s potable water system. Backpressure can result from an increase in downstream pressure, a reduction in the potable water supply pressure or a combination of both.

These devices are installed onto a pipe to only allow water to flow in one direction. Think of it as a one-way gate that allows water from the city's public water supply to flow into your building or home's piping but stops water if it ever tries to flow backwards into the main water supply. These devices are required in any location where contamination could occur. Systems not protected with approved backflow prevention devices could endanger the health of building or home occupants or the entire city water supply.

A Reduced-Pressure Principle Assembly (RP) is the most protective assembly for both low and high hazards protecting from back siphonage and back pressure. The City of Englewood recommends an RP device for full containment of commercial and multi-family buildings. Currently, the City’s BPCCC policy requires an RP to be installed at high-risk sites immediately downstream of the water meter to achieve full containment. (See installation examples under How to Comply section below.)

The City maintains a list of certified backflow testers and plumbers. Please verify a tester is currently certified before scheduling your test.

• Click here for a list of certified backflow testers that currently work with BSI Online.
• The American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) website provides updated lists of backflow assembly testers, plumbers and cross connection control specialists certified to test your backflow assembly.

• Once testing is complete, the backflow prevention assembly tester will upload a tester report to Backflow Solutions, Inc. (BSI’s) online portal here.
• Customers can contact BSI at:

• Testing Company Support:
  • Phone: 800-414-4990
  • Fax: 888-414-4990
  • Email: bsionline@backflow.com
  • Website: https://bsionline.com
• Water Customer Support:
  • Phone: 888-966-6050
  • Email: support@backflow.com

• If the City receives an alert that water usage has changed at a commercial or multi-family structure, then a re-survey inspection will be scheduled.
• The inspection will verify the water meter, service connections, downstream plumbing, and points of water use. The inspection will help determine the hazard (or risk) level of water use and business type, check for compliance with City of Englewood Municipal Code 12-1-1 and state regulations, and identify if any uncontrolled cross-connections exist.  
• The inspection requires access to the building, water meters, fire service connections, and all plumbing systems and points of water use at the location. The type, size, serial numbers, and locations of all identified backflow prevention assemblies will be documented in the survey. 

• If an uncontrolled cross-connection is identified, or the risk-level requires protection, the city will notify you of additional actions required to install a backflow prevention device.  The initial notice requires resolution within 45 days, however an extension is available upon request. To request an extension due to financial impacts, back order of parts, service technician scheduling constraints, or seasonal delays, please download and submit an Extension Request form.

• If you receive a notice and need further clarification, please email: backflow@englewoodco.gov. 

At this time, the cross-connection control regulation only applies to commercial and multi-family buildings; however, all buildings and homes have the potential to contain cross-connections. You should determine if there are potential cross-connections in your home or business where your water supply does (or could) contact non-potable liquids and make sure they are protected. A local plumbing inspector or cross-connection control technician can assist in this determination.  

If the cross-connection cannot be avoided, be sure to use the proper plumbing device to prevent any liquid from back-flowing into the potable water system.  

• For example, a hose bib (outside faucet) vacuum breaker is a simple, inexpensive plumbing device you can attach to the faucet before attaching the hose. These devices can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
• Check to make sure that anything you hook up to your water supply has the appropriate backflow prevention device, such as a pressure washer, swamp cooler, or lawn and garden chemical applicator. If you don’t know, be sure to ask a plumbing professional.
• See American Water Works Association (AWWA) table of Backflow Prevention & Cross-connection Control – Recommended Practices.

To help protect the quality of tap water in your building/home, follow these guidelines:

Infographic Description:

Do

• Keep the end of hoses off the ground and clear of all possible contaminents.

• Install hose bib vacuum breakers on all spigots (indoor and outdoor).

• Hire a licensed plumber of contractor to install an approved backflow device on an underground lawn irrigation system. 

• Have each backflow device tested annually by a certified backflow tester. 

• Make sure toilets have anti-siphon ballcock assemblies. 

• Have your plumbing system surveyed for cross-connections.

• Contact the city if you see any suspicious or unauthorized use of a fire hydrant.

Don't

• Submerge hoses in buckets, sinks, tubs, swimming pools, ponds or standing water.

• Use spray attachments (such as chemical solution aspirators to fertilize lawns and shrubs) without a backflowprevention device (such as a hose bib vacuum breaker).

• Create a cross connection between an auxiliary water system (well, cistern, body of water, etc) and your water system.

• Use a hose to unplug blocked toilets or sewer pipes.