How often should a cross-connection survey be performed?

• A. Every 3 years
• B. Every 5 years
• C. Every 7 years
• D. Every 1 year

Answer: (B)

Regularly checking for cross-connections keeps backflow risks under control and ensures the backflow prevention program has current information. A five-year cycle is a common and practical interval used in many regulatory programs for systems considered low to moderate risk. It provides a manageable cadence to re-identify known cross-connections, verify that backflow preventers are in place and functional, and update records if plumbing or use changes occur. Doing surveys more often, like every year, can be unnecessarily burdensome for many systems, while waiting longer than five years (such as seven) increases the window where new or altered cross-connections could go undetected. A shorter interval, like every three years, might be required for higher-risk situations, but for the typical case presented, five years is the best balance.