AWWA Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention 3

Question 1

What condition causes backpressure backflow?

Accepted Answer

Downstream system pressure exceeding the supply pressure from the water utility

Answer

Negative or sub-atmospheric pressure developing in the utility supply main

Answer

Pipe vibration causing pressure fluctuations in the distribution system

Answer

Water hammer events from rapid valve closures in the main

Question 2

Which of the following represents a high-hazard cross-connection?

Accepted Answer

A swimming pool with an automatic fill valve inlet submerged below the waterline

Answer

A lawn irrigation system with no chemical injection ports

Answer

A rooftop solar water heater with a heat-exchange loop

Answer

A standard garden hose bib with a vacuum breaker installed

Question 3

A double check valve assembly (DCVA) is appropriate protection for which category of hazard?

Accepted Answer

Low-hazard (non-health or pollutant-hazard) connections only

Answer

High-hazard (health-hazard) connections only, due to its dual-valve design

Answer

Both high-hazard and low-hazard connections with equal effectiveness

Answer

Only for fire suppression systems that use chemical foam additives

Question 4

Under AWWA cross-connection control guidelines, who bears responsibility for backflow prevention on private premises?

Accepted Answer

The water utility has authority to require protection, while the property owner is responsible for installing and maintaining approved devices

Answer

The state health department exclusively, through on-site inspections

Answer

The federal EPA bears sole responsibility for all cross-connection control enforcement

Answer

The property owner has no obligation; the utility installs all required devices at its own expense

Question 5

What does 'testable' mean when describing a backflow prevention assembly?

Accepted Answer

The assembly has test cocks that allow a certified tester to use a differential pressure gauge to verify each component in the field

Answer

The assembly can be fully inspected visually without any special tools or test equipment

Answer

The assembly holds a current certification from an accredited third-party testing laboratory

Answer

The property owner can self-test the assembly without requiring a licensed tester

Question 6

Which factor would NOT influence the selection of an appropriate backflow prevention method?

Accepted Answer

The color or material marking of the piping in the system

Answer

The degree of hazard presented by the cross-connection

Answer

Whether the connection will be subject to continuous or intermittent water pressure

Answer

The location of the cross-connection relative to shutoff or control valves

Question 7

What is the fundamental public health goal of a water utility's cross-connection control program?

Accepted Answer

To prevent contamination of the potable water supply that could result from backflow through cross-connections

Answer

To reduce non-revenue water loss caused by leakage in the distribution system

Answer

To improve distribution system pressure consistency across the entire service area

Answer

To monitor customer water usage and detect unauthorized connections to the system