Cross‐Connection Control and Backflow Prevention in San Diego, Calif.

THE pliances growing in homes use of and water-using water-using appliances in homes and water sing equipment in industry, has increased the need for effective cross-connection control and backflow prevention. Private homes contain automatic dishwashers, automatic laundry machines, and sprinkling systems that introduce fertilizers or pest control chemicals. Apartment building water systems are subject to fluctuations of pressure within the building, resulting in backflow of unsatisfactory materials into drinking-water supply. Potentially hazardous conditions are found in many hospitals recent surveys on new hospitals have disclosed equipment installations that introduce backflow into the hospital water supply. Some restaurants have dishwashers or coffee urns that are not properly protected. Soda fountains can be a health hazard because of soft-metal lines, which are subject to corrosion by carbonic acid. Office buildings especially those containing doctors' and dentists' offices are likely to have cross connections. Some of the most hazardous condi-