Cross-connection
Any point where the potable water supply can come into contact with a source of contamination.
What is Cross-connection?
What is Cross-connection?
A cross-connection is the physical arrangement that makes backflow possible. Classic residential examples include a boiler make-up line without a backflow preventer, a water softener drain piped directly into a sanitary line without an air gap, an irrigation system tied to house supply without protection, and a laundry tub with a submerged hose. Inspectors report cross-connections because they present a health risk that is usually cheap to fix. The distinction worth explaining to clients is that a cross-connection is the opportunity, and backflow is the event.