AWWA CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL
SPECIALIST COMPREHENSIVE TEST 2026 FULL
ANSWERS REVIEW GRADED A+
◉ Air gap. Answer: The unobstructed vertical distance through the
free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or outlet
supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device, and the
flood-level rim of the non-pressurized receiving vessel or receptacle.
◉ Approved. Answer: Accepted by the Responsible Authority. Meets
applicable specifications and standards.
◉ Atmospheric pressure. Answer: The pressure exerted by the
weight of the atmosphere. As the elevation above sea level increases,
the atmosphere pressure decreases.
◉ Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB). Answer: A mechanical
backflow prevention device consisting of a float check valve and an
air inlet port designed to prevent backsiphonage by allowing air to
enter the downstream water line. The unit does not provide
protection against backpressure or continuous pressure. A shut-off
valve is not allowed downstream from the device.
,◉ Backflow. Answer: The reversed flow of a non-potable source into
a potable system because a pressure differential exists where the
pressure on the non-potable side is greater than the pressure on the
potable side.
◉ Backflow prevention assembly. Answer: The entire backflow unit,
icluding not only the mechanism that actually prevents backflow, but
also the shut-off valves and test cocks. An assembly has a resilient
seated, full-flow shut-off valve before and after the backflow
preventer.
◉ Backflow prevention device. Answer: Refers to the backflow
prevention mechanism only. It does not include the shut-off valves
located on the inlet and outlet.
◉ Backflow prevention method. Answer: A mechanism for
preventing backflow that includes mechanical backflow prevention
assemblies, devices, and air gaps.
◉ Backpressure. Answer: Occurs when the non-potable system's
pressure exceeds the supply pressure
◉ Backsiphonage. Answer: Occurs when the supply line pressure
falls below atmospheric pressure causing a partial vacuum in the
potable water distribution system
,◉ Barometric loop. Answer: a 34 foot vertical loop of piping that
prevents backsiphonage only based on pressure principles
◉ Biological contaminants (high or health hazards). Answer: Agents
that cause disease
◉ Biological pollutants (low or non-health hazards). Answer: Agents
that do no cause disease but that do decrease aesthetic quality of the
water
◉ Breach of warranty. Answer: A breaking of the promise that a
certain fact is true
◉ Bypass. Answer: Any arrangement of pipes, plumbing, or hoses
designed to divert the flow around an installed device or assembly
through which the flow normally passes.
◉ Chemical contaminants. Answer: Substances that pose a threat to
public health
◉ Chemical pollutants. Answer: Substances that do not pose a public
health threat but reduce the aesthetic quality of the water
, ◉ Condition of service. Answer: An agreement between water
supplier and the consumer that specifies the obligation and
responsibilities of each in order for service to be provided.
◉ Containment (service protection). Answer: When backflow
prevention assemblies are used to keep contaminants from entering
the distribution system from a water consumer's facility
◉ Contamination. Answer: The introduction of any substance into
water at levels that degrade the quality of water, making it unfit for
human consumption because it would adversely affect public health.
◉ Continuous pressure. Answer: A condition in which upstream
pressure is applied continuously (more than 12 hours) to a device or
assembly.
◉ Critical level. Answer: A reference line representing the level of
the check valve seat within a spill-resistant vacuum breaker or
atmospheric vacuum breaker. This line is used in measuring the
elevation of the vacuum breaker above the highest point of water
use, either at the highest outlet or flood level rim.
◉ Cross-connection. Answer: Any arrangement of pipes, fittings,
fixtures, or devices that directly or indirectly connects a non-potable
system to a potable water system.
SPECIALIST COMPREHENSIVE TEST 2026 FULL
ANSWERS REVIEW GRADED A+
◉ Air gap. Answer: The unobstructed vertical distance through the
free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or outlet
supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture, or other device, and the
flood-level rim of the non-pressurized receiving vessel or receptacle.
◉ Approved. Answer: Accepted by the Responsible Authority. Meets
applicable specifications and standards.
◉ Atmospheric pressure. Answer: The pressure exerted by the
weight of the atmosphere. As the elevation above sea level increases,
the atmosphere pressure decreases.
◉ Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB). Answer: A mechanical
backflow prevention device consisting of a float check valve and an
air inlet port designed to prevent backsiphonage by allowing air to
enter the downstream water line. The unit does not provide
protection against backpressure or continuous pressure. A shut-off
valve is not allowed downstream from the device.
,◉ Backflow. Answer: The reversed flow of a non-potable source into
a potable system because a pressure differential exists where the
pressure on the non-potable side is greater than the pressure on the
potable side.
◉ Backflow prevention assembly. Answer: The entire backflow unit,
icluding not only the mechanism that actually prevents backflow, but
also the shut-off valves and test cocks. An assembly has a resilient
seated, full-flow shut-off valve before and after the backflow
preventer.
◉ Backflow prevention device. Answer: Refers to the backflow
prevention mechanism only. It does not include the shut-off valves
located on the inlet and outlet.
◉ Backflow prevention method. Answer: A mechanism for
preventing backflow that includes mechanical backflow prevention
assemblies, devices, and air gaps.
◉ Backpressure. Answer: Occurs when the non-potable system's
pressure exceeds the supply pressure
◉ Backsiphonage. Answer: Occurs when the supply line pressure
falls below atmospheric pressure causing a partial vacuum in the
potable water distribution system
,◉ Barometric loop. Answer: a 34 foot vertical loop of piping that
prevents backsiphonage only based on pressure principles
◉ Biological contaminants (high or health hazards). Answer: Agents
that cause disease
◉ Biological pollutants (low or non-health hazards). Answer: Agents
that do no cause disease but that do decrease aesthetic quality of the
water
◉ Breach of warranty. Answer: A breaking of the promise that a
certain fact is true
◉ Bypass. Answer: Any arrangement of pipes, plumbing, or hoses
designed to divert the flow around an installed device or assembly
through which the flow normally passes.
◉ Chemical contaminants. Answer: Substances that pose a threat to
public health
◉ Chemical pollutants. Answer: Substances that do not pose a public
health threat but reduce the aesthetic quality of the water
, ◉ Condition of service. Answer: An agreement between water
supplier and the consumer that specifies the obligation and
responsibilities of each in order for service to be provided.
◉ Containment (service protection). Answer: When backflow
prevention assemblies are used to keep contaminants from entering
the distribution system from a water consumer's facility
◉ Contamination. Answer: The introduction of any substance into
water at levels that degrade the quality of water, making it unfit for
human consumption because it would adversely affect public health.
◉ Continuous pressure. Answer: A condition in which upstream
pressure is applied continuously (more than 12 hours) to a device or
assembly.
◉ Critical level. Answer: A reference line representing the level of
the check valve seat within a spill-resistant vacuum breaker or
atmospheric vacuum breaker. This line is used in measuring the
elevation of the vacuum breaker above the highest point of water
use, either at the highest outlet or flood level rim.
◉ Cross-connection. Answer: Any arrangement of pipes, fittings,
fixtures, or devices that directly or indirectly connects a non-potable
system to a potable water system.
