Cross Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

What is cross-connection?

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between the public or consumer’s potable water system and any non-potable source or substance that presents a hazard to the quality of the public or consumer’s potable water system. Therefore, cross-connection control is the management or “control” of these cross-connections to protect public safety by preventing backflow incidents within the public or water consumer’s potable water system.

What is backflow?

Typically, water will flow from the public water supply to the consumer’s plumbing distribution system. Backflow is the undesirable reversal of this flow of water and undesirable substances from the non-potable source to the potable source.

Why do we need a cross-connection control/backflow prevention program?

As required by the North Carolina Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Public Health, every drinking water system is required to have a cross connection control program, more commonly known as a backflow prevention program. Staff in the CCC program implement the Town's ordinances which require all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to obtain a backflow permit and install backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies must be installed on the customer's property before any branching of the private system. Backflow prevention is designed to protect the public water supply from contamination from non-drinkable sources. For this reason, the Town of Nashville created a cross-connection control program with the goal of ensuring the quality of supplied water and protecting water customers.

The Town of Nashville is contracted with BSI (Backflow Solutions Inc.) as a third-party vendor for backflow test report submittals.

Backflow Solutions, Inc. or BSI Online is North America’s leading cross-connection control/backflow data management and program administration firm. BSI Online has partnered with over 550 water purveyors to develop and manage effective cross-connection control programs to help protect all our water resources. BSI helps water purveyors by sending notifications, assists with customer service inquiries, and manages required data on behalf of the Town of Nashville.  

BSI Online will serve as the primary point of contact for the program and can be contacted below:

• Testing Company Support:
  • Phone: 800-414-4990
  • Fax: 888-414-4990
  • Email: bsionline@backflow.com
  • Website: https://bsionline.com
• Water Customer Support:
  • Phone: 888-966-6050
  • Email: support@backflow.com

Start Dates and Fees: 

• February 1, 2023 - All annual test reports must be submitted to BSI Online through www.bsionline.com.
• March 1, 2023 - The filing fee of $16.95 per test report submitted is applied.
• Fees can be paid by credit card or by prepaying.

For a new assembly or previously unknown assembly to the system, email the report to BSI Online and we will process it for no fee the first year!

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

• Notices will be sent to the customers thirty-two (32) days before those backflow tests are due.
• Each notice contains a CCN (Customer Confirmation Number). All Certified Testers must have this number to properly submit containment and isolation backflow test reports online to BSI. If your customer does not have a CCN, please contact BSI at 800-414-4990.

For Any Additional Information Please Contact:

Walter Manning, Environmental Programs Superintendent

252-529-4053 / walter.manning@townofnashvillenc.gov