Why do water suppliers need to control cross-connections and protect their public water systems against backflow?

Backflow into a public water system can pollute or contaminate the water in that system (i.e. backflow into a public water system can make it unusable or unsafe to drink), and each water supplier has a responsibility to provide water that is usable and safe to drink under all foreseeable circumstances and must take reasonable precautions to protect its public water system against backflow. Furthermore, consumers generally have absolute faith that water delivered to them through a public water system is always safe to drink.

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1. What is a cross-connection?
2. What is backflow?
3. What is backpressure backflow?
4. What is backsiphonage?
5. Why do water suppliers need to control cross-connections and protect their public water systems against backflow?
6. What should water suppliers do to control cross-connections and protect their public water systems against backflow?
7. What is a backflow preventer?
8. What is an air gap?
9. What is a reduced principle assembly (RP)?
10. What is a double check valve assembly (DC)?
11. What is a residential dual check valve (RDC)?
12. Why do backflow preventers have to be tested periodically?
13. Where can I get more information about cross-connection control?