What term describes a potable water system's physical connection to a source or substance that could contaminate it?

• A. Cross-connection
• B. Backflow Path
• C. Distribution Leak
• D. Contamination Pathway

Answer: (A)

A cross-connection is any physical linkage between the potable water system and a source of contamination. This term names the actual connection that creates the risk, because if pressure changes cause flow reversal, contaminants can be drawn into the drinking water through that connection. For example, a hose left connected from a nonpotable source into a faucet, or a chemical line tied into a drinking-water line, represents a cross-connection. The other terms describe the path contaminants might take or symptoms of the problem (backflow path, distribution leak, contamination pathway) but they don’t identify the specific physical linkage that creates the contamination risk.