It's a common assumption that water going down your drain won't end up coming out your kitchen faucet.
In some cases, that belief might not be true.
East Lansing officials announced an initiative Tuesday to help prevent contamination of the city's water supply. The Cross-Connection Control Program is designed to make sure nonpotable water, such as dirty dishwater, does not mix with the city's drinking supply.
"We are trying to make sure we protect the water system," said Todd Sneathen, director of the city's Department of Public Works.
"The system is too important. If it was contaminated, it would affect too many people."
After an evaluation from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, in 2005, the city's drinking water system received a "marginal" rating, and Sneathen was advised by the department to create the program. One year later, the city received a "satisfactory" rating.
"They maybe weren't going after it as diligently as they are now," said Jim Watling, DEQ's district engineer. "It's an important public health measure. The East Lansing folks have just revamped the program."
A cross-connection control problem can occur when backflow or back-pressure forces used water back into the drinking water system.
Possible situations that can lead to backflow problems include faulty hose connections, irrigation systems, boilers, toilet-fill valves and swimming pools.
Several years ago, a building in East Lansing was affected by this problem when antifreeze from the building's cooling system accidentally leaked into its drinking water supply.
No one was injured as a result of the contamination, and sources at the DEQ and Department of Public Works could not provide when or where in East Lansing this incident occurred.
Journalism senior Andrea Dias said moving into a new residence with no knowledge of the integrity of the drinking water can be scary.
"It definitely worries me," Dias said.
"You are taking someone else's word for it. You don't know what you are getting into."
In order to comply with the DEQ and to prevent any further contamination problems, East Lansing already has begun inspecting high-priority properties, such as city buildings, bars and restaurants, for backflow issues throughout the city.
Bob Scheuerman, the city's senior engineer, said no cross-connections were discovered in the restaurant inspections that already have been completed.
The city plans on inspecting medical buildings next, with residential housing to follow soon after.
"It's a continuous program," Scheuerman said. "We are hoping to make the full rounds within the next five years."
The cost of the inspections will be split between the city and the owner of the property, Sneathen said, adding that it will not be more than "a few hundred dollars" per inspection.
If a violation is found during an inspection, the city can assess fines or, if necessary, shut off the property's water supply.
Cyndi Roper, Great Lakes policy director for Clean Water Action, a national nonprofit group that focuses on clean water issues, is familiar with backflow problems in communities.
"We have worked on this issue in other places," Roper said. "It's important to make sure you don't have unsafe pressure and unsafe connections. It's good to know it's a priority in East Lansing."
Brendan Bouffard can be reached at bouffar2@msu.edu.
