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I welcome you to the Utah Chapter (UTABPA) website. UTABPA is dedicated to providing education and technical assistance in all aspects of backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Our Chapter membership includes: state and local officials that promulgate applicable laws, codes and regulations; state and local code officials that enforce the applicable codes, laws and regulations; educators; plumbers; water works personnel; backflow technicians; irrigation and landscape contractors; engineers and architects; manufacturers and suppliers; along with anyone who else that has an interest in protecting our drinking water. I invite you to join ABPA and the Utah Chapter. Together we can make a difference in protecting our drinking water.
UTABPA offers an annual conference and a midyear conference each year. These conferences provide a great deal of technical information for the attendees. These events also provide an excellent opportunity to network with others in our profession. UTABPA partners with the Utah State Division of Drinking Water and others organizations to provide several workshops throughout the year. Some of the workshops are day long technical workshops covering topics such as backflow assembly repair, conducting a hazard assessment, etc. Others are evening workshops that provide topics of interest to varied groups. We have been actively participating in local water fairs and trade shows to bring an awareness of cross-connection and backflow prevention. UTABPA members have worked with various school classes and civic groups as well. Chapter members receive discounted registrations for UTABPA functions. We publish a quarterly newsletter. This newsletter is sent to all Chapter members.
UTABPA wants to provide workshops, activities and services that meet the needs of both our members and the backflow industry. I hope you will contact me if we can be of assistance to you, be it a workshop on a particular topic, assistance with a local function, a question we could address or other cross-connection and backflow prevention needs. I thank you for your support and look forward to serving you during my term as president.
John Oakeson
Chapter President
801-536-0057
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Water distribution systems are designed with the intention of the water flowing in a certain direction-- from the distribution system to the consumer. However, hydraulic conditions within the system may deviate from the "normal" conditions, causing water to flow in the opposite direction. Therefore, it is possible (and common) for the water to flow in the opposite direction in unprotected systems. This is called backflow. |
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What is a Cross-Connection? |
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A cross-connection is an unprotected actual or potential connection between a potable water system used to supply water for drinking purposes and any source or system containing unapproved water or a substance that is not or cannot be approved as safe, wholesome, and potable. By-pass arrangements, jumper connections, removable sections, swivel or changeover devices, or other devices through which backflow could occur, shall be considered to be cross-connections. |
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Who belongs to the American Backflow Prevention Association? |
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Membership is open to anyone with an interest in cross-connection control and maintaining water quality standards. ABPA is for the professional who seeks continuing knowledge and up-to-date information in this constantly changing field. The ABPA is composed of experts in cross-connection control and those just entering this dynamic field. All levels of professionals can belong to and benefit from the ABPA: From legislators who write the laws, to the federal, state and local authorities who enforce the laws; from educators who provide training, to the plumbing and water works personnel who carry this training into the field; from engineers and architects who design the systems, to the manufacturers who produce the equipment used in the systems. |
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Back-siphonage is caused by mainline piping failures or drafting due to high demands. For example, it is a condition that can occur when the drinking water system pressure drops below that of the fire protection system, drawing the fire protection system water back into the drinking water system. |
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