AWWA REUSE52141

For almost thirty years, San Antonio has enforced cross connection control and backflow prevention measures as established by the University of Southern California's Foundation of Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research, American Water Works Association's M-14 Cross Connection Control Manual and local plumbing codes. There have been a number of documented backflow incidents that have involved many different waters using equipment and processes. The number and severity of documented incidents in San Antonio have steadily decreased due in part to stringent enforcement of the cross connection program. In the last few years, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has designed, started construction and met our first customer commitment for Recycle Water which will assist in relieving future water concerns. A large water main will encircle the city and provide water for irrigation, industrial processes and special water using equipment. The services will generally be 4" and larger due to the typical size of our recycle customer needs. As with any cross connection control measures, backflow prevention is a continuous effort with recycle water and is initiated prior to water service being provided to the customer. The SAWS Backflow Prevention Section and the San Antonio Plumbing Inspection Department are charged with assuring separation of the potable water supply from processes being provided with recycle water. This paper discusses some of the policies and procedures that have been established to prevent recycle water cross connections in San Antonio.