Your Backflow Program Is More Vulnerable Than You Think

By Brock Sheehan, Cross Connection Control Specialist, SwiftComply

Municipal backflow prevention programs shoulder the essential responsibility of safeguarding public drinking water, yet most operate under severe administrative strain. Small utility teams routinely manage inventories of thousands of backflow assemblies, track annual testing deadlines, verify tester credentials, and process paper test reports. When workflows rely on manual data entry and physical mailing, critical follow-ups are easily delayed. The primary point of failure in cross-connection control is rarely a lack of intent; it is administrative capacity. Transitioning from paper-based tracking to centralized digital management automates testing notifications, allows certified testers to submit field data directly, and eliminates data entry backlogs. This operational shift returns valuable hours to utility staff, enabling teams to focus on field surveys, risk mitigation, and continuous regulatory readiness rather than chasing documentation. Access the full article to evaluate your utility's cross-connection management strategy.