Cross Connection - Outdoor Faucets
How do cross connections happen?
Ever seen a child drink from a straw? Sometimes the liquid in the straw backwashes back into their glass, contaminating the beverage. The same thing can occur with your drinking water. Any time your drinking water supply could come in contact with a harmful substance, there is a cross connection. An unexpected change in pressure in the water line could allow dirty water to flow back into the pipes in your home, and into the drinking water supply. You are drinking backwash (backflow) and you could be making your family and others in the community sick.
Outside faucets:
Many everyday things that you do when using an outside faucet put you and your family at risk. Remember these few tips or purchase a device to protect your family.
- Fertilizer sprayers: Ensure you have a device or don't use them.
- Filling hot tubs and pools: Hold the hose above the water level.
- Garden hoses: Never submerge a hose in a bucket of water.
Protecting yourself is easy and is less than $5.00. Just install a vacuum breaker on your outdoor faucets. They are available at the following Olympia home improvement stores:
- Home Depot, 1325 Fones Road, SE
- Lowes, 4230 Martin Way, E
- Olympia Supply, 625 Columbia Street, SW
Need related water quality information? Contact the Public Works office.
- Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
- Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
- Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
- Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Phone: 360.753.8588
- Email: publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us