The purpose of Greenfield Water Utility's Cross-Connection Control Program is to protect the public water supply. The State of Indiana requires that public water systems implement, monitor and enforce a cross-connection control program (Title 327 IAC 8 Rule 10).
All backflow and cross-connection control devices must comply with the above-mentioned regulations in regard to installation and testing requirements. Approved devices shall be those listed as approved by the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research of the University of Southern California.
Without proper protection devices, something as useful as your garden hose has the potential to poison your home's water supply or the public water supply. Over half of the nation's cross-connections involve unprotected garden hoses.

A cross-connection is a permanent or temporary piping arrangement, which can allow your drinking water to be contaminated if a backflow or backsiphonage condition occurs.

 

A Backflow event occurs when the direction of water flow reversed, due to a change in pressures, and can allow contaminants to enter our drinking water system through cross-connections. Some examples of a potentially hazardous cross-connection occurs every time someone uses a garden hose sprayer to apply insecticides or herbicides to their lawn or when someone uses his or her garden hose to clear a stoppage in their sewer line.
Without a backflow prevention device between your hose and hose bib (spigot or outside faucet), the contents of the hose and anything it is connected to can backflow into the piping system and contaminate your drinking water.

Depending on each situation, a cross connection can cause illness, infections, or worse, if the proper cross connection precautions aren’t taken. Many appliances in residential homes have built in components that protect us while they are in use. Items like washing machines and dish washers have these items to not allow for contaminated water to be forced back into your homes water lines to come out your faucets throughout your house. Commercial business must protect their water just as much, if not more because it effects not only themselves, but the customers they serve.

 

Air Gap (AG): shall be inspected at interval not exceeding one (1) year to ensure that they continue to meet the requirements.
Definition: A physical separation between the free flowing discharge end of a potable water supply pipeline and an open or non-pressure receiving vessel. An approved air gap shall be at least double the diameter of the supply pipe measured vertically above the overflow rim of the vessel – in no case less than one inch.

Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (RP): shall be tested at intervals not exceeding one (1) year to ensure that both check valves are drip tight under all pressure differentials and that the pressure differential relief valve will maintain pressure in the center chamber of at least two pounds per square inch below that of the inlet chamber.
Definition: A device composed of two tightly closing shut-off valves surrounding two independently acting pressure reducing check valves that, in turn, surround an automatic pressure differential relief valve, and four test cocks, one upstream of the five valves and one between each of the four check and shut-off valves. The check valves effectively divide the structure into three chambers, pressure is reduced in each downstream chamber allowing the pressure differential relief valve to vent the chamber to atmosphere should either or both check valves malfunction.

 

Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly (DC): shall be tested at intervals not exceeding one (1) year to ensure that both check valves are drip tight under all pressure differentials.
Definitions: A device or assembly composed of two tightly closing shut-off valves surrounding two independently acting check valves, with four test cocks, one upstream of the four valves and one between each of the four check and shut-off valves.

 

Double Check-Detector Backflow Prevention Assembly (DCDA): shall be tested an intervals not exceeding one (1) year to ensure that both check valves are drip tight under all pressure differentials.
Definitions: A specifically designed assembly composed of a line-size approved double check valve assembly with a bypass containing a specific water meter and an approved double check valve assembly.

 

Pressure Vacuum Breakers (PVB): shall be tested at intervals not to exceed six (6) months (annually, if installed on an irrigation system) to ensure that the air inlet opens fully when water pressure is at or below atmospheric pressure.
Definition: A device or assembly containing an independently operating internally loaded check valve for relieving a vacuum or partial vacuum in a pipeline.

 

Testers are required to be certified by the State of Indiana after attending a 35-hour training class, passing a written examination, and successfully completing actual tests on prevention devices. When you need to contact a tester, we suggest contacting your irrigation contractor or fire system inspection company first. Many of the contractors and/or their employees are certified. Secondly, you can do a web search for Backflow Prevention Testing. The Greenfield Water Utility will not recommend individuals to do testing, but we can provide a list of active licensed testers in the area.

Domestic Water Services
The Greenfield Water Utility requires a Backflow Prevention Device be installed on all commercial domestic water service lines. This device must be installed downstream of the water meter and upstream of any branch lines or plumbing. It is highly recommended that a "Y" strainer be installed before the device.

 

Automatic Fire Sprinkler System
The Greenfield Water Utility requires that all fire sprinkler systems have a Double Check Valve Assembly installed upstream of the fire riser and Siamese (fire department) connection. If a chemical is used for winterizing or for fire suppression, a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer (RP) must be used.
Irrigation Systems

 

Title 327 IAC 8-10 requires that in-ground lawn irrigation systems have a Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) or Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Preventer (RP) installed.

 

Existing Commercial Structure
Briefly, all existing buildings, which house a business activity and are operated as such, will be required to comply with this chapter upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(a) new ownership of building;
(b) remodeling;
(c) change of occupancy;
(d) installation of a new service line or upgrade of service;
(e) addition of machinery or chemicals;
(f) designated a cross-connection hazard or
(g) if a backflow event occurs.

 

 

Prohibited Connections
No secondary source of water supply shall be physically connected on the customer service line to or into the facility.

 

Where do I send my test results?
Completed test results for properties located in the City of Greenfield need to be submitted to the Greenfield Water Utility online backflow service provider, Swift Comply, at greenfieldin.c3swift.com.

 

What if I have questions?
Questions: Please contact Brian Petrey @ 317-325-1420 or [email protected]
To contact Swift Comply with questions, email them @ [email protected]
 or call (619) 304-6022