• Water Quality
• Water Supply
• Sewer / Wastewater
• Recycled Water
• Backflow Prevention
• Urban Runoff
• Facilities
• Urban Water Management Plan
• Research Business Plan

Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention

IRWD is committed to delivering safe, high quality water to customers. Our extensive water quality program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure that the water delivered to our customers is kept free from harmful contaminants.

An important part of our water quality program is the backflow prevention program. When a water line is connected to equipment containing a nonpotable substance, this is known as a cross-connection. Contamination may occur when water flows through a cross-connection from a nonpotable source, such as a sprinkler system or heating and cooling system, into the potable water system. This can happen through a process known as backflow.

There are more than 17,000 backflow prevention assemblies on water services in our service area. The California Department of Health Services requires each of these assemblies to be tested annually. This testing is done by backflow assembly testers approved by the Orange County Health Care Agency. A list of the certified testers is available online.

To speak with an IRWD cross-connection and backflow prevention expert, please call (949) 453-5761.