A cross-connection is the point at which any unwanted domestic, industrial or institutional water from a customer’s system can flow back into the City’s water distribution system. This unwanted flow is called backflow. Backflow may be caused by numerous conditions; but typically is due to the pressure of the customer’s water system exceeding that of the City’s water distribution lines. Backflow prevention assemblies “prevent” the backflow of a customer’s contaminated or polluted water into the City’s distribution system using check- or antisiphon- valves.
Backflow Prevention Assembly
In order to protect the City’s water distribution system, Anaheim Public Utilities oversees the installation, testing and maintenance of the approximately 7,000 backflow prevention assemblies currently installed in Anaheim. Although it is the customer’s responsibility to maintain backflow prevention assemblies, Anaheim Public Utilities staff works closely with the Orange County Health Care Agency, the City’s Building Department, consultants and contractors to assure that proper backflow prevention assemblies are installed and are tested annually.
Backflow Device and Fireline Check Meter Thefts are on the Rise
With the increasing value of scrap metals, theft of all sorts of metallic items are on the rise. In the past few months, backflow devices and fireline check meters increasingly have become targets of thieves across Southern California. You know how important these devices are to maintaining water system quality and that they can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace. Even small devices can cost a few hundred dollars each. Although thieves make only a few cents on the dollar, businesses bear the full cost of repairing or replacing their device, not to mention the disruption to operations.