Why did I receive a water survey from the Village of Schaumburg and Backflow Solutions Inc. (BSI)?

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requires every water supply provider to develop and implement a backflow prevention control program. The program mandates surveying all water customers every two years to identify and eliminate connections that could allow contaminants to accidentally flow back into the drinking water from sources such as fire protection sprinkler systems, boilers, lawn sprinklers and swimming pools.

The Village of Schaumburg's Water Division is responsible for maintaining the village's water distribution system by providing residential, commercial and industrial public water supply users with water that is safe, clean and adequate in quantity and quality.

Take the 2025 Cross-Connection Survey

What is Cross-Connection?

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between the a drinking water supply and a non-drinking water source, where a contaminant could potentially enter the drinking water supply. Therefore, cross-connection control is the management or “control” of these cross-connections to protect public safety by preventing backflow incidents within the public or water consumer’s potable water system. Cross-connections should be protected by a valve called a backflow preventer. 

Some examples of cross-connections include:

• Outdoor irrigation/sprinkler systems
• Commercial kitchen equipment
• Commercial laundry equipment
• Fire suppression system
• Outdoor pools
• Boilers

Cross-Connection Control Program?

What is backflow and how does it occur?

Backflow occurs when the water in a home or business flows in the wrong direction back into the village maintained water distribution system. It is possible for backflow to occur when there is a significant loss of pressure in the village's water distribution system, such as during a large fire when multiple fire hydrants are in use, when there is a leak on a water main, or when a house or business has a higher pressure than that in the village's water distribution system.

What is a backflow prevention/device assembly?

A backflow preventer is a device that allows the water to only flow in one direction and prevent a pipe or device connected to the water supply line to allow water to flow back into the municipal supply system. A backflow prevention device is used to stop contaminated fluids or gasses from entering your home or business, and to stop those fluids or gasses from eventually making their way into the village's public water supply. These devices are necessary to ensure the water we are all consuming is safe.

Common backflow prevention devices are the Testable Double-Check Valve and a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) Valve.

These devices protect the public water supply by allowing water to pass through the device to provide the water necessary to it’s delivery point (i.e. your fire suppression system, lawn irrigation system, boiler, etc.), however, preventing it from returning back into your piping, and eventually the village's public water supply, should an emergency or failure occur.

Why do we need a cross-connection control/backflow prevention program?

As required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Public Health/ Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890. Every drinking water system must have a cross-connection control program or backflow prevention program. Cross-connection control or backflow prevention is designed to protect the public water supply from contamination from non-drinkable sources.

Who has responsibility for installing backflow preventers?

Property owners are responsible for installing, annual testing and maintaining backflow preventers. Water customers must contract with a licensed professional to perform the required annual tests and make any necessary repairs. Most plumbing contractors can install and repair backflow preventers and are certified to test them.

Regarding Solicitations

Recently, residents and businesses in the village with cross-connection control devices on their property may have received mailings from one or more plumbing companies concerning testing or servicing of a backflow prevention device or management of their backflow related data. Unless otherwise stated by the village as part of a community-wide program, the Village of Schaumburg does not recommend specific vendors to its residents. The efforts of any business with respect to backflow prevention devices working at any particular residence or business are not sponsored by the village.

Applicable law requires each water customer with a backflow prevention device to have the devices inspected annually. As it has done in the past, the village will continue to send written notification to those customers informing them 30 days prior to the testing date of their backflow prevention device. The only testing due dates that must be complied with are those set forth in the official notification from the village.