The biggest threat to homeowners is their own garden hose.

You can create a cross-connection with a garden hose to the potable water distribution system in the following ways:

  • Putting a garden hose in a swimming pool or hot tub to fill it.
  • Putting a garden hose in a pet’s water bucket, livestock trough, or fist tank to fill it.
  • Putting a garden hose down the drain or toilet when they are backed up.
  • Using your garden hosed to spray plant fertilizer, pesticides, or weedkillers.
In any of these situations, if a backflow condition occurs and some type of properly operating backflow prevention device is not present, contaminated water/liquids can be siphoned back into your home’s water supply and possibly into the water distribution system for the community.

Pumps or boiler heating systems are another problem.

If these are connected to the public water supply and enough pressure is created within one of these systems, it can force contaminated water back into the water supply.

Toilet tanks are another area of concern

There have been several cases of “blue water” reported as coming from faucets of homeowners. This may indicate that contents of the toilet bowl tank have siphoned into your home’s water piping system.

Auxiliary water sources, such as springs or wells, are another potential hazard to homeowners.

In West Virginia, it is illegal to have an auxiliary water source, such as a well or spring connected to the same piping as the public water distribution system, without the approval of your water company. If approved by your water company, a backflow prevention device will be required to be installed. Once installed this device must be tested annually to ensure that it is working properly.

Protect Your Family and the Community
  • Have backflow prevention devices installed when drinking water is used for irrigation, spraying, livestock, or pets to avoid contamination.
  • Have anti-siphon valves installed on toilet tanks.
  • Have vacuum breakers installed on lawn sprinkler systems.
  • Have bib vacuum breakers or some other type of backsiphonage protection installed at the garden hose outlets.