Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention, Opportunities for Improvement in the Australian Plumbing Industry

Public health is inextricably linked to safe drinking water. This precious resource is managed by water
authorities and delivered under pressure to properties for a wide range of purposes including irrigation,
food production and manufacturing. Drinking water is supplied through various methods of connection to industrial processes and other systems where there may be toxic chemicals or potentially harmful bacteria present. Those processes and systems are so diverse, evolving and complex that it is virtually impossible for plumbers to make assumptions on risks of backflow. Therefore, plumbers must be properly trained on examining the operation of equipment, identifying risks, chemical and biological hazards, and implementing control measures to prevent contamination of the drinking water supply.