Florida Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Requirements

Florida public water systems must protect the potable water supply from contamination caused by cross-connections and backflow.

Rule 62-555.360, Florida Administrative Code, is the central Florida rule for cross-connection control at public water systems.

What Is a Cross-Connection?

A cross-connection is a temporary or permanent connection between a potable water system and a source or system containing nonpotable water or other substances.

Examples can include connections involving:

• reclaimed water;
• auxiliary wells;
• irrigation systems;
• fire protection systems;
• industrial processes;
• laboratory equipment;
• boilers;
• chemical feed or process piping.

What Is Backflow?

Backflow is the undesirable reversal of flow of nonpotable water or other substances into the potable water system.

Florida recognizes the two basic backflow mechanisms:

• backpressure;
• backsiphonage.

Backpressure

Backpressure occurs when downstream pressure becomes greater than the potable-water supply pressure.

Possible causes include:

• pumps;
• pressurized process systems;
• boilers;
• elevated equipment;
• reduction in public water system pressure.

Backsiphonage

Backsiphonage occurs when negative or reduced pressure in the potable water system draws nonpotable material backward through a cross-connection.

Conditions that can contribute include:

• water main breaks;
• firefighting demand;
• large flushing events;
• pump failure;
• other low-pressure conditions.

Community Water Systems Must Have a Cross-Connection Control Program

Under Rule 62-555.360, each community water system must establish and implement a cross-connection control program.

The purpose of the program is to use backflow protection at or for service connections so that contamination on customer premises does not enter the public water system.

The Program Must Include a Written Plan

The community water system must maintain a written cross-connection control plan.

The plan must include the minimum components specified by Florida Rule 62-555.360.

Key elements include:

• legal authority for the program;
• a policy identifying where backflow protection is mandatory;
• minimum protection required for different customer categories;
• procedures for inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and recordkeeping;
• procedures for correcting prohibited or improperly protected cross-connections.

Service-Connection Protection Is Central to the Florida Program

Florida's community water system program focuses on protecting the public water system at or for the customer service connection.

The utility is not expected to rely only on internal plumbing protection inside every customer premises.

Where the customer category presents the required hazard, the community water system must ensure the appropriate backflow protection is provided at or for the service connection.

Customer Categories Requiring Protection

Florida requires or expects service-connection protection for categories that can create significant backflow hazards.

Examples include premises with:

• auxiliary water systems;
• reclaimed water systems;
• industrial or manufacturing processes;
• medical or laboratory operations;
• marine facilities;
• dedicated irrigation systems;
• dedicated fire protection systems;
• other conditions capable of contaminating the public water system.

Air Gap

An air gap is a physical separation between the potable-water outlet and the receiving vessel or nonpotable system.

Because there is no direct hydraulic connection, a properly maintained air gap is one of the most fundamental forms of backflow protection.

Reduced-Pressure Principle Assembly

A reduced-pressure principle assembly, or RP, provides mechanical backflow protection and can protect against both backpressure and backsiphonage when properly applied.

RPs are commonly used where a significant health hazard exists.

Double Check Valve Assembly

A double check valve assembly, or DC, provides protection in appropriate nonhealth-hazard applications.

It should not be treated as equivalent to an RP for every hazard.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker

A pressure vacuum breaker, or PVB, is designed primarily to protect against backsiphonage under appropriate conditions.

Because it does not provide the same protection against backpressure as an RP assembly, device selection must match the actual hazard.

Residential Dual Check Devices

Florida allows residential dual check devices in specific service-connection situations addressed by the current rule.

Operators should not assume that a residential dual check is appropriate for every commercial, industrial, health-hazard, or high-risk connection.

Device Selection Depends on the Hazard

The correct backflow protection depends on:

• whether the hazard is health-related or nonhealth-related;
• whether backpressure can occur;
• whether only backsiphonage is possible;
• the type of customer premises;
• the service-connection configuration;
• Florida rule requirements.

Backflow Preventers Must Be Maintained and Tested

Mechanical backflow preventers contain seals, springs, check valves, relief valves, and other moving parts that can wear, foul, or fail.

Testing is required because the presence of a device does not prove that the device is still functioning correctly.

Air Gaps Are Inspected Differently

An air gap does not require the same gauge testing as a mechanical assembly.

Operators should verify that the physical separation remains intact and has not been bypassed or altered.

Residential Testing Can Differ From Nonresidential Testing

Florida's adopted cross-connection rule allows different testing intervals for some residential service-connection assemblies than for certain nonresidential protection.

Operators should use the current written CCC plan and Rule 62-555.360 rather than assuming every backflow assembly has the same test frequency.

Discovery of a Prohibited Cross-Connection Requires Action

If a public water system discovers a prohibited or improperly protected cross-connection, the system must take corrective action.

The system must either:

• ensure the cross-connection is eliminated;
• ensure appropriate backflow protection is installed; or
• discontinue water service.

Internal Protection May Not Eliminate the Service-Connection Requirement

For customer premises in categories requiring service-connection protection, Florida can still require the community water system to provide appropriate protection at or for the service connection even when an internal backflow preventer exists.

This is an important Florida-specific distinction.

Backflow Incidents Must Be Taken Seriously

A suspected or confirmed backflow incident can represent a contamination threat.

Operator response can include:

1. isolating the affected connection or area;
2. protecting system pressure;
3. notifying the appropriate utility personnel;
4. identifying the contaminant or hazard;
5. collecting appropriate samples;
6. flushing or disinfecting where required;
7. documenting the incident;
8. following applicable regulatory reporting and customer-notification requirements.

Annual Reporting for Larger Community Water Systems

Community water systems serving more than 10,000 persons must submit a Cross-Connection Control Program Annual Report.

Florida uses Form 62-555.900(13).

The report covers the calendar year and must be submitted within three months after the end of that calendar year.

What the Annual Report Tracks

The annual report collects information such as:

• whether the written CCC plan contains the required components;
• service-connection inventory;
• types of required backflow protection;
• numbers of devices inspected;
• numbers of assemblies tested;
• numbers of devices refurbished or replaced;
• program status and corrective actions.

Records Are Essential

A functioning cross-connection control program depends on accurate records.

Useful records include:

• customer hazard classification;
• required device type;
• device make, model, size, and serial number;
• installation location;
• test dates;
• test results;
• repairs;
• replacement history;
• inspection results;
• customer notices;
• enforcement actions.

Reclaimed Water Requires Special Attention

Florida has extensive reclaimed-water use, making separation between potable and reclaimed water systems especially important.

Cross-connections between reclaimed water and potable water are prohibited.

Operators should pay close attention to:

• purple-pipe systems;
• irrigation connections;
• dual-plumbed properties;
• construction modifications;
• customer-installed piping changes.

Fire Protection Systems Can Create Backflow Hazards

Dedicated fire service connections can contain stagnant water, fire-suppression chemicals, or auxiliary supplies.

Required protection depends on the configuration and hazard.

Operators should follow the utility's approved CCC plan and the Florida rule rather than assume every fire connection receives the same device.

Irrigation Systems Can Create Hazards

Irrigation systems can connect to fertilizers, pesticides, auxiliary wells, or reclaimed water.

Backflow protection is therefore an important part of protecting the public water supply at irrigation service connections.

Cross-Connection Control Is More Than Device Testing

A complete CCC program includes:

• hazard identification;
• service-connection inventory;
• device selection;
• installation requirements;
• inspection;
• testing;
• maintenance;
• recordkeeping;
• enforcement;
• incident response.

Testing a device is only one part of the overall program.

Common Florida Cross-Connection Mistakes

• Assuming internal plumbing protection always eliminates the service-connection requirement.
• Using a device that does not match the hazard.
• Treating all backflow assemblies as having identical test intervals.
• Failing to maintain a written CCC plan.
• Ignoring auxiliary or reclaimed water connections.
• Failing to act after discovering a prohibited cross-connection.
• Maintaining poor device inventory and testing records.
• Assuming the program applies only to commercial customers.
• Confusing device testing with the entire CCC program.

A Practical Florida CCC Review

1. Identify the customer and the potential cross-connection hazard.
2. Determine whether service-connection protection is required.
3. Select the protection required by the Florida rule and utility CCC plan.
4. Install the device or air gap correctly.
5. Inspect and test at the required interval.
6. Maintain accurate records.
7. Correct failed devices promptly.
8. Act immediately on prohibited or improperly protected cross-connections.
9. Document and report program activity as required.

What to Remember for the Exam

• Rule 62-555.360 governs Florida public water system cross-connection control.
• Each Florida community water system must establish and implement a cross-connection control program.
• The program must include a written CCC plan.
• Florida focuses on appropriate backflow protection at or for service connections.
• Backpressure and backsiphonage are the two basic types of backflow.
• Device selection depends on the hazard and hydraulic condition.
• An RP can protect against backpressure and backsiphonage in appropriate high-hazard applications.
• A PVB protects primarily against backsiphonage and is not interchangeable with an RP in every situation.
• Mechanical backflow preventers require periodic testing because internal components can fail.
• A prohibited or improperly protected cross-connection must be eliminated, properly protected, or have water service discontinued.
• Internal protection does not always eliminate Florida's service-connection protection requirement.
• Community water systems serving more than 10,000 persons submit Form 62-555.900(13) annually within three months after the end of the calendar year.
• Cross-connection control requires hazard assessment, device management, records, enforcement, and incident response, not just device testing.