City of Sioux Falls Cross-Connection Control Program

Federal and State law requires the City of Sioux Falls to protect the water supply from potential contamination or pollution. Contamination can occur when a water supply line to a customer is connected to equipment containing a substance not fit for drinking. These connections are called cross-connections. In order to prevent contamination of supply lines from these cross-connections, the City has developed and implemented an ordinance which requires all industrial, commercial, and irrigation customers to obtain a backflow permit and install backflow prevention assemblies. These assemblies must be installed on the customer's property before any branching of the private system.

Both new and existing customers of the City's water supply are evaluated by Cross-Connection Control staff to determine which hazards, if any, exist and the type of backflow preventers that will be required.

After an approved backflow prevention assembly has been installed and tested, it must be re-tested annually by individuals who have been certified by an City of Sioux Falls approved certification program. The City maintains a list of qualified testers that is available to all customers.

The City of Sioux Fall’s Cross Connection Control Program is a vital component of the City's potable water distribution system. To meet the City of Sioux Fall's training needs, the Cross Connection Control program offers two different types of courses to certify individuals in backflow assembly training. First, a 40 hour, 5 day backflow tester certification course is offered twice a year to individuals who are interested in testing backflows. Second, an 8 hour, 1 day recertification course is offered on a biennial basis to certified testers in order to keep testers skills and regulatory knowledge current.

Individuals who are interested in becoming certified testers should review our Cross Connection Control manual and Application.

For more information, please call Jeff Dunn at (605) 367-8665.