To protect public health, our Cross Connection Control (CCC) and Backflow Prevention Program is committed to help and protect the City's drinking water system from potential contamination.

Cross Connection
A physical connection between drinkable water and liquid or gas that could make the water unsafe to drink. If there is a cross connection, there is a potential threat to public health from the liquid or gas contaminants.

Backflow
Water is flowing in the opposite of its intended direction, either from a loss of pressure in the supply lines or an increase in pressure on the customer’s side. In either of these situations, if any affected customer’s pipes include a cross connection, contaminants could be drawn through the cross connection into that customer’s pipes and if the backflow continues, even into the water mains. 

Garden Hoses and Backflow
The garden hose is the most common cross connection. Each of following common uses of a garden hose sets up a cross connection:

• Forcing it into a clogged gutter, downspout, or sewer pipe to flush out the clog
• Connecting it directly to a hose-end sprayer to apply pesticide or fertilizer to your yard
• Connecting it to a soap-and-brush attachment to wash your car, boat, or siding
• Letting the end of the hose lie in a puddle or pool of water on the ground

If backflow happens, your household’s water lines could be contaminated. Depending on how long the event lasts, the contamination could spread to the public drinking water system. Fortunately, there are two inexpensive ways to solve this problem:

• Make sure that the end of your garden hose is never become submerged in or connected to a non-potable substance.
• Install a hose bibb vacuum breaker on each of your outside faucets. These inexpensive devices are designed to allow water to flow in only one direction. You can find them at most home supply stores and through plumbing suppliers. Before you use a hose-end sprayer, you should first install a hose bibb vacuum breaker at the faucet.

City of Panama City Beach Water System’s Role

Our water system’s role begins with good system maintenance and sound operations. By replacing pipes before they break, taking steps to ensure that system pressures do not fall during periods of high demand, and asking for the cooperation of customers when there is a risk that system pressures could fall below safe levels, reduces the risk of backflow.

The City identifies locations where the risk of cross connection is high and ensure that the proper measures are taken to minimize that risk. Below are example of businesses that would be required to install high-grade backflow prevention assemblies and have them tested by a certified tester annually:

• Mortuaries
• Minor Surgery Centers
• Hospitals
• Chemical plants

Another aspect of an effective Cross Connection Control Program is the customer service inspection (CSI). Your public water system must require a CSI to be performed under the following circumstances:

• All new construction;
• Existing customers that have had substantial plumbing modifications;
• Existing customers whenever there is a reason to suspect that a hazard or a source of contamination may be present.

The City staff will notify customers if a CSI is required. You will need to contact an authorized plumbing company to perform the inspection and provide it to the City.