Richland Center, WI

Cross-Connection Control Program

Commercial Cross-Connection Control Program

Ensuring Clean, Safe Drinking Water and Regulatory Compliance is City Utilities of Richland Center's top priority.

For years, City Utilities has complied with an important regulatory water safety compliance program known as cross-connection control.

This state-mandated program focuses on both residential and non-residential (commercial) water service connections and onsite visual inspections to identify potentially harmful interconnections to the public water supply. 

Starting in 2026, City Utilities is contracting the annual cross-connection inspections, documentation, and follow-up inspections of commercial and industrial buildings with HydroCorp of Troy, MI. HydroCorp is a trusted partner of more than 600 water systems for these services.

For questions regarding commercial inspections, call HydroCorp at (844) 493-7646.

Keeping Wisconsin's
Drinking Water Safe Brochure

An Important Community-Wide Safety Project

The implementation of cross-connection control programs by public water systems for water connections at both commercial and residential facilities is required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

This web page serves to assist City Utilities customers with their participation in this important safety program. The utility has selected HydroCorp to assist with coordination, site visits, and data/compliance management of their commercial cross-connection control program. 

HydroCorp sends postal notice of upcoming Cross-Connection Inspection. Toll-Free hotline number provided for FAQ.

HydroCorp hired by local water purveyor to assist with CCC Program.

Facility owners have the option to coordinate the date of onsite inspection by HydroCorp.

Cross-Connection Surveyor arrives with I.D. and conducts survey/inspection with permission by owner/occupant.

Surveyor documents existing and any potential corrective actions, explains next step responsibilities to owner. Corrective actions instructions are also mailed via postal to building owner with compliance due date.

Water Customer/Owner contacts HydroCorp when corrections are made and onsite compliance inspection is scheduled.

HydroCorp hired by local water purveyor to assist with CCC Program.

HydroCorp sends postal notice of upcoming Cross-Connection Inspection. Toll-Free hotline number provided for FAQ.

Facility owners have the option to coordinate the date of onsite inspection by HydroCorp.

Cross-Connection Surveyor arrives with I.D. and conducts survey/inspection with permission by owner/occupant.

Surveyor documents existing and any potential corrective actions, explains next step responsibilities to owner. Corrective actions instructions are also mailed via postal to building owner with compliance due date.

Water Customer/Owner contacts HydroCorp when corrections are made and onsite compliance inspection is scheduled.

Commercial Facility Water Customers

Cross-Connection and Backflow FAQ

PART I: INSPECTIONS / SURVEYS

A cross-connection is an actual or potential connection between the safe drinking water (potable) supply and a source of contamination or pollution. State plumbing codes require approved backflow prevention methods to be installed at every point of potable water connection and use. Cross-Connections must be properly protected or eliminated.

HydroCorp has been contracted by City Utilities of Richland Center to assist with their cross-connection control (CCC) program. The CCC program includes two parts: On-site inspections and testing of backflow prevention assemblies. The HydroCorp inspector will be conducting a visual inspection of the water uses outside of your facility (outside spigots, lawn irrigation system, secondary sources of water, pools, etc.) to identify cross-connections that could possibly contaminate your drinking water or the public water supply In addition, an inspector will need to enter your facility to evaluate other cross-connection and plumbing hazards inside your business, you will be  notified by a letter from HydroCorp with instructions on how to schedule an appointment for your inspection.

Hose Connection Vacuum Breaker Video

Residential Cross-Connection Control Survey | Exterior from HydroCorp on Vimeo.

City Utilities, as required by state code and local ordinance has had a CCC program for years.  This program includes inspections of all residential, commercial and industrial accounts. Inspections were typically done along with water meter changes. As a natural progression of our program. City Utilities has determined that now is a good time to have a third-party vendor, HydroCorp take over the commercial and industrial side of this program.

All water customers (residential and non-residential) connected to the public water supply are required to be inspected for cross-connections. HydroCorp inspections on commercial and industrial buildings will occur starting in June 2021 through 2026. 

An average inspection normally takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your facility/property.

If you received a letter from HydroCorp informing you that your facility is due for an upcoming cross-connection inspection, please arrange that the appropriate manager/person is aware of the planned inspection. Access will be necessary for the inspector to visually observe all exposed hot/cold potable water plumbing connections, starting at the water meter and progressing throughout the facility to use endpoints.

Yes. We just need a name and the best phone number so that the inspector can contact you to set up a time that is convenient for you.

If you are the owner of the facility being inspected, you are responsible for any needed repairs. Renters may have to refer to their lease agreements in order to determine whether they are responsible for repairs.

All HydroCorp inspectors wear photo ID badges during inspections and are prepared to provide appropriate documentation verifying their identities.

Yes. These inspections are conducted in order to ensure compliance with state regulations to maintain the safety of Richland Center’s drinking water.

Penalties for refusing to cooperate with inspections and/or refusing to make needed repairs are determined by. Richland Center Ordinance Chapter 432. This can include termination of water service, a fine, or both.

PART II: BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTING

Just like any other mechanical device, backflow prevention assemblies are prone to wear and tear, and do break down from time to time. Regular testing is required in order to ensure that your device remains in proper working order.

As required by Wisconsin Uniform Plumbing Code, backflow Prevention assemblies connected to Non-Residential plumbing shall be tested annually by an ASSE Certified Tester. If you are injecting chemicals into your lawn irrigation system, state regulations and plumbing codes require the backflow preventer to be tested on an annual basis.

There are two parts to the cross-connection control program. The first is an on-site inspection by a cross-connection control inspector (service provided by HydroCorp) to ensure that the proper backflow prevention devices and assemblies are in place to protect your drinking water. Some of the assemblies the inspector finds or asks you to install are testable assemblies, which are mechanical and can malfunction. The testing notice refers to testing the operation of these backflow prevention assemblies. These tests must be performed for the facility owner by a certified tester.

“Grandfathering” is not typically permitted due to the high importance of maintaining drinking water safety. Just like any other mechanical device, backflow prevention assemblies are prone to wear and tear, and do break down from time to time. Regular testing is required in order to ensure that your device remains in proper working order.

PART III: GENERAL RESOURCES

The anti-siphon fill valve device is located in the tank of your toilet. This device has a dual purpose: To fill the toilet and prevent backflow. This device must be placed at the proper height in order to insure that water from your toilet does not backflow into your drinking water. Proper placement is typically done during the installation process but can be easily overlooked. This device must be raised or the overflow pipe must be cut down in order to achieve a 1” air gap separation between the “critical level” of the assembly.

Click here to see an installation diagram.

Click here for 3 minute video overview.

Example: Hose connection vacuum breakers

 

Example: Integrated vacuum breaker on outside hose spigot.

Example: Hose end in bucket

 

Example: Hose end in pool

 

 

 

Vacuum breaker should not be subject to continuous pressure like the example here illustrates. (This type of irrigation set up/system would need to be corrected.)

These require periodic performance testing by a  Certified Tester. 

Pressure Vacuum Breaker Assembly

 

Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly

Additional Resources

Wisconsin Regulations and Related Code

Cross-Connection Program Resources

Cross-Connection Incidents