Cross-Connection Control Program

For years, Flint has complied with an important Regulatory Water Safety Compliance Program known as Cross-Connection Control. This State Mandated Program focuses on non-residential (commercial) water service connections and onsite visual inspections (formerly coordinated and performed by HydroCorp) to identify potentially harmful interconnections to the Flint Public Water Supply. This work is now done by City of Flint Water Treatment Plant personnel. Hydrocorp will be conducting commercial inspections through 2026. The City of Flint will take over those inspections in 2027.

The City of Flint’s Cross Connection Control Program, as outlined in local Ordinance §51.070, is designed to protect the public water supply by preventing potential contamination within the distribution system. This program includes three key components:

1. Exterior inspection
2. Interior inspection/survey
3. Testing of backflow prevention assemblies

 When you turn on your faucet, you expect clean, safe water—and under normal conditions, that’s exactly what you get. However, in certain situations, water can flow in the wrong direction, a process known as backflow. This can happen either when pressure inside a home or business becomes stronger than the public water system (backpressure), or when there is a sudden drop in system pressure—such as during a water main break or heavy hydrant use—creating a vacuum that pulls water backward (backsiphonage).

A cross connection is any point where drinking water could come into contact with a potential contaminant. These are more common than many people realize. Everyday examples include a garden hose submerged in a pool or bucket, irrigation systems, or connections to secondary water sources. While these situations may seem harmless, if backflow occurs, they can allow chemicals, bacteria, or other contaminants to enter not only your home’s water, but the public water system as well.

The Cross-Connection Control Program exists to prevent these risks by identifying potential hazards, installing protective devices, and ensuring those devices continue to function properly. Simple steps—like not leaving hoses submerged, using vacuum breakers on outdoor faucets, and ensuring sprinkler systems have proper backflow protection—can make a significant difference. The key takeaway is simple: anything your water system comes into contact with has the potential to enter your drinking water if proper safeguards are not in place.

As part of the City of Flint’s cross-connection control program, established under local ordinance
§51.070, every city residential property will be scheduled for an on-site water system inspection.

Every residence in Flint will receive an inspection notice by mail. Following notification, a City of Flint inspector will visit a resident’s neighborhood within two weeks to perform an exterior inspection of their property where the inspector will provide up to four (4) vacuum breakers for outdoor faucets for free, if applicable. The inspector will leave additional information on the home’s doorstep as well as an internal survey form that will need to be filled out and returned to the Water Plant, a prepaid envelope will be included.

· There is no fee for the inspection.
· The inspection will take place outside the home and last approximately 10 minutes; the inspector will not enter the home or make direct contact unless access is needed to specific areas.
· In the rare event that a backflow prevention assembly needs to be replaced, modified, installed,
or tested, all associated responsibilities and costs are the responsibility of the property owner or
manager.

The inspection identifies potential cross-connections such as garden hose connections, lawn sprinkler systems, pools/spas, and secondary water sources (e.g., wells, rainwater systems) that could lead to contamination of a home’s drinking water.

For more information, please contact the Cross Connection Inspector at (810)787-6537 ext. 3507
(available Monday-Friday, 7AM-3PM ET).