Home Owner Responsibility

Backflow and Cross Connection Prevention

The Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District is asking patrons to help protect our drinking water.  Our water system has a check valve to prevent water backing up into our pipes after it has crossed through the meter.  However, a cross connection or a backflow can happen.

A cross connection is a physical connection between a drinkable water supply and a source of contamination or pollution with a non-drinkable water supply.  Because LOID supplies domestic (potable) and irrigation (non-potable) water a cross connection could occur if a homeowner works on his or her plumbing and connects to the water delivery system incorrectly.  Backflow occurs when water can flow in the reverse direction. 

Cross connections can be found anywhere the public water supply connects with residential or commercial plumbing systems.  Homeowners needs to be aware of situations where the tap water could come in contact with non-potable water.

Please be careful to not create a backflow or a cross connection.  Millions of dollars are spent to ensure our patrons have safe drinking water.  The results of a cross connection or backflow contamination could result in illness and possibly death.