Cross-connection inspections look for places where the drinking water system touches equipment or lines that could contaminate it. We note each connection, whether it's protected, and what kind of device it needs if it isn't.
- PriceFree quote
- ReportWritten list
- Best forCommercial sites
- Follow-upInstall if needed
Pricing
| Backflow size | Flat fee per backflow |
|---|---|
| Under 4" | $105 |
| 4" and larger | $175 |
Includes the test and filing with your water district. No hidden fees.
Need it done soon? Most tests are scheduled within a few days.
What we look for
- Wash bays and hose bibbs
- Restaurant equipment
- Lab, medical and dental lines
- Sprinkler systems with chemical feed
- Mechanical rooms and HVAC equipment
What a cross-connection is
A cross-connection is any point where drinking water could come into contact with something that shouldn't be in it. It might be a hose sitting in a bucket of cleaning solution, an irrigation system with a fertilizer injector, a boiler with treatment chemicals, or a dental chair's water line.
Normally water flows one way, from the main into your building. But if pressure drops on the street side, say from a main break or a fire hydrant being opened, water can be pulled backward. That's called backsiphonage. If pressure on your side rises above the supply pressure, from a pump or a boiler, water can be pushed backward. That's backpressure.
Either way, contaminated water can end up in the supply. Backflow protection exists to stop that at every cross-connection.
How the inspection works
A cross-connection inspection starts with a walk through the property, following the water lines from the meter to the points of use. We look at irrigation systems, mechanical rooms, kitchens, labs, wash areas, hose bibbs and any equipment connected to the water supply.
At each connection, we note what's attached, what hazard it poses and whether it's protected. If there's already a backflow device, we check that it's the right type for the hazard. If there's nothing, we note what protection the connection would need.
At the end, you get a written list. Requirements for who can perform formal surveys vary by water district, and some ask for a cross-connection control specialist. Tell us what your district asked for and we'll confirm how to meet it.
Properties that commonly get surveyed
Districts usually focus on businesses and larger properties: restaurants, clinics, dental offices, car washes, factories, schools, hotels and apartment buildings.
A change in how a space is used is a common trigger. When a shop becomes a restaurant or an office becomes a medical suite, the risk changes and the district may ask for a fresh look.
Owners also request inspections on their own before buying, remodeling or going through an audit. If you received a letter from your district, it should spell out what's required and the deadline. Forward it to us and we'll handle the rest.
Matching protection to what we find
Not every cross-connection needs the same protection. The most protective option is an air gap, a physical space between the water outlet and whatever it fills. Where an air gap isn't practical, a reduced pressure (RP) assembly is used for high hazards.
Lower-hazard connections can often use a double check assembly. Irrigation and other connections exposed only to backsiphonage may use a pressure vacuum breaker or spill-resistant vacuum breaker, as long as the setup allows it.
Your water district has the final say on what's acceptable for each hazard. Once the inspection identifies what's needed, we can quote and install the devices, test them and file the first reports.
What we typically find
Each kind of business has its own usual suspects. Restaurants often have soda systems, dish machines and hose connections with chemical dispensers. Medical and dental offices have equipment lines and sterilizers. Car washes have chemical injection. Manufacturing sites can have process water, cooling systems and tanks.
Knowing the usual hazards helps the inspection go quickly, but we still check every connection, since unusual setups are common.
Testing new devices after the survey
If the inspection leads to new backflow devices, each one needs a startup test once it's installed. Those reports tell your district the connections are now protected.
From then on, every new device joins your yearly testing schedule. If you'd like, we'll track the due dates for all of them so nothing slips.
Pricing a cross-connection inspection
Pricing depends on the size of the property and how many water connections it has. A small storefront is a quick walk-through, while a multi-building campus takes much longer.
Call with the address, the type of business and any letter from your district. We'll give you a free quote before scheduling.
After the inspection
You get a written list of what we found. Where a device is needed, we can handle the installation.
Questions
How long does a cross-connection inspection take?
A small commercial space may take an hour. Larger sites with several buildings take longer, and we'll estimate when you call.
Do homes ever need one?
Rarely, but it can come up with wells, pools or home businesses. Call if your district asked.
What happens with what you find?
You get a list of each connection and what it needs. You decide what to fix and when.
Who needs a cross-connection inspection?
Usually commercial, industrial, medical and multi-unit properties, or any site your water district asks to be surveyed.
Does my district require this?
Some do for commercial and multi-unit sites, especially after a change of use. Check your letter or ask us.
Is this the same as a backflow test?
No. A test checks a device that's already installed. A cross-connection inspection checks whether you have the devices you need.
What to expect when you book cross-connection inspection
Booking takes a couple of minutes by phone or online. We confirm the address, the device and how to reach it, and we'll give you a time window that works for you. For most homes, you don't need to be there.
On the visit, a certified tester does the work with a calibrated gauge and explains anything that comes up in plain terms. If a repair is needed, you'll get the price before anything happens. When the device passes, we send the report to your water district and email you a copy. Our office is open seven days a week, 6am to 12pm, and emergency calls are answered around the clock.
Cross-Connection Inspection near Riverside
We offer cross-Connection Inspection throughout Riverside and nearby cities, including Jurupa Valley, Grand Terrace, Colton, Loma Linda and Moreno Valley. Most appointments are available within the week, and you can call or book online.