Government & Departments > Engineering > Cross Connection Control

Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

Cross Connection Control

A cross connection is a link between a potable (drinking) water system and a non-potable water system. Contamination can occur when a water supply line to a customer is connected to equipment containing a substance not fit for drinking, creating backflow (reversal of normal flow of a liquid solid or gas). Installation and maintenance of appropriate backflow prevention assemblies or devices prevents contamination of supply lines from cross connections.

Failing to adequately prevent or control backflow events could have significant negative health and economic impacts.

You can also help the Department of Water Management protect our potable water system by reporting a violation if you see someone has violated our requirements by:

  1. Stealing water through a fire hydrant
  2. Potentially contaminating the water by making a connection to a fire hydrant without proper backflow protection, or
  3. Having a non-compliant hose bib irrigation system

Cross Connection Control Ordinance

Effective July 1, 2026: The City of Kannapolis has contracted with Backflow BMP as a third-party vendor for backflow test report submittals

On July 1, 2026 Backflow BMP started accepting all City of Kannapolis containment assembly backflow test reports.

If you are a City of Kannapolis water customer with a testable backflow assembly, here is what you need to know:

  • All backflow assemblies are required to be tested annually.
  • Water Customers with a testable backflow assembly(s) will receive an initial testing notice two months prior to the test due date. This 60-day advance notification (approximately) allows time for applicable backflow assembly cleaning, repairs, or replacements. Scheduling early is encouraged!
  • Your testing notice will have an Account # listed on each letter in the upper right-hand corner. The City of Kannapolis Certified Tester you have hired will need this information to properly submit your test report online to Backflow BMP.

A list of certified testers/testing companies can be found here. (Link/New Page)

If you are a Certified Tester, here is what you need to know:

  • To begin testing backflows and submitting reports in Kannapolis, NC, each tester must attend a Kannapolis' Tester Orientation Course.
  • The City has contracted with BMP Compliance Group | Backflow BMP to manage/monitor the City’s Backflow Program.
  • Notices will be sent to the customers approximately 60 days prior to their due date.
  • Each notice contains an Account #. City of Kannapolis Certified Testers must have this number to properly submit containment backflow test reports online to Backflow BMP. If your customer does not have an Account #, please contact the City's Cross Connection Control Administrator, ORC, Daniel Monahan by email or phone at 980-447-1192.
  • The filing fee will be $15.00 per test report submitted. Testers are not charged for failed reports. The passing repair/replace report will incur the $15.00 fee. All test reports must be submitted to Backflow BMP within 7 days of the testing date.

Certified Backflow Tester Courses

The City of Kannapolis accepts the following approved backflow certification courses: Charlotte Water, Greenville, Raleigh, and NC Rural Water.

Effective on 12/31/2017 and beyond, a policy change has been adopted by the group of North Carolina Training Schools recognized by the City of Kannapolis. It is in agreement with all the schools that we maintain for original certification that the expiration date established be no more than two years from the date of passing the certification class.

For re-certification, the expiration date shall be no more than three years from the date of passing the re-certification class. If the re-certification class is missed and the tester certification expires, the tester has up to an additional year to get re-certified before they will be required to take the full certification class. If a tester’s certification expires, they are not valid to test backflow assemblies until they get re-certified or retake and successfully complete the full certification class.

Testers Responsibilities:

Certified BFPA Testers are responsible for testing installed BFPAs:

  1. At the time of installation
  2. Annually (at a minimum)
  3. Following repair, relocation, or replacement of BFPAs
  4. When responding to a reported backflow incident

In addition to responsibilities for testing BFPAs, testers must follow the submittal process of test results and maintain the appropriate certifications and licenses to test BFPAs as approved by the CCC Administrator and abide by the Testers Ethics and Code of Conduct.

Ethics and Code of Conduct:

  1. Testers shall not falsify any data or results obtained from field tests performed by the Tester.
  2. Testers shall not sign any Test and Maintenance Report for tests they did not perform.
  3. Testers shall not make any unneeded repairs, replacements, nor use any repair parts not specifically manufactured for a specific assembly.
  4. Testers shall not perform annual testing prior to 60 days from the established deadline.
  5. A Tester shall not remove, straight-pipe, or by-pass any assembly that would create an unprotected cross connection.
  6. A Tester shall not perform a test using water through a by-pass or jumper around a meter.
  7. A Tester shall perform Field Tests using City of Kannapolis-Specified Test Procedures only. Furthermore, Testers will verify all components required for field-testing are present (i.e., inlet and outlet shut-off valves [SOV], all test cocks [TC]). Any discrepancies shall be listed on the Test and Maintenance Report.
  8. Testers are required to submit the appropriate Test and Maintenance Report to the approved electronic database designated by the City of Kannapolis by the established deadline or no later than seven (7) calendar days after the date of the test, whichever is more stringent. If test reports are received more than seven (7) days after the date of test, they will not be accepted, and the Tester will be required to re-test the assembly in question and submit the form within the required time period. The Tester shall also provide a copy of their test results to the customer or tenant upon completion of the procedure.
  9. Testers are required to maintain their BFPA testing equipment. This includes ensuring that the differential pressure gauge is checked against manufacturer specifications at least annually.
  10. Testers are required to observe, verify, and record the make, model, size, serial number, and location of all BFPAs when performing the field test.
  11. A Tester shall recognize the degree of hazard present when testing an assembly, and if the assembly is not appropriate to the degree of hazard, they shall test the assembly and notify the CCC Administrator of the contradiction in protection. If the assembly is installed in a manner inconsistent with existing City of Kannapolis Code of Ordinance (in a ceiling, polyvinyl chloride [PVC], etc.), a Tester is required to note that discrepancy on the Test and Maintenance Report.

Any tester failing to conform to the provisions of Tester Ethics and Code of Conduct shall be in violation of City of Kannapolis CCC Program and subjected to loss of testing privileges within the City of Kannapolis’ jurisdiction.

City of Kannapolis Orientation Courses

The City of Kannapolis currently only offers in-person tester orientation courses. All individual testers are required to attend a tester orientation course. A company representative will not permit all testers within a company to test backflow prevention assemblies in Kannapolis.

  • Each tester/application must have a:
    • Current backflow license from an approved reciprocity school
    • An annual test gauge calibration
    • Proof of employment, ANNUALLY, per 21 NCAC 50 .0512 shall include a letter from employer/license holder on official business letterhead.

Date

Time

Location

Registeration Links
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 9-10:30 a.m. Laureate 2 (401 Laureate Way) Register Here
Thursday, May 21, 2026 9-10:30 a.m. Laureate 2 (401 Laureate Way) Register Here 
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 9-10:30 a.m. Laureate 2 (401 Laureate Way) Register Here
Wednesday, June 24 9-10:30 a.m. Laureate 2 (401 Laureate Way) Register Here

 

City Programs

CCC programs are required by the state and federal government to protect water systems from potential contamination or pollution. Staff in the CCC program implement the city’s ordinance which requires all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to install backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies must be installed on the customer's property before any branching of the private system.