Skip to content

Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

1502.3 Cross-Connection Inspection and Testing. An

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

initial visual inspection and initial cross-connection test shall be performed on both the potable and alternate water source systems before the initial operation of the alternate water source system. During an initial or subsequent cross-con- nection test, the potable and alternate water source system

304 2022 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE

shall be isolated from each other and independently inspected and tested to ensure there is no cross-connection in accordance with Section 1502.3.1 through Section 1502.3.3 .

1502.3.1 Visual System Inspection. Before commencing the cross-connection testing, a dual system inspection shall be conducted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and other authorities having jurisdiction as follows: (1) Meter locations of the alternate water source and

potable water lines shall be checked to verify that no modifications were made and that no cross-connections are visible. (2) Pumps and equipment, equipment room signs and

exposed piping in equipment room shall be checked. (3) Valves shall be checked to ensure that the valve lock

seals are still in place and intact. Valve control door signs shall be checked to verify that no signs have been removed. 1502.3.2 Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test shall be performed in the presence of the Authority Having Jurisdiction or other authorities having jurisdiction to determine whether a cross-connection has occurred as follows: (1) The potable water system shall be activated and

pressurized. The alternate water source system shall be shut down, depressurized, and drained. (2) The potable water system shall remain pressurized

for a minimum period specified by the Authority Having Jurisdiction while the alternate water source system is empty. The minimum period the alternate water source system is to remain depressurized shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the size and complexity of the potable and the alternate water source distribution systems, but in no case shall that period be less than 1 hour. (3) The drain on the alternate water source system shall

on while the alternate water source system is empty. The minimum period the alternate water source system is to remain depressurized shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the size and complexity of the potable and the alternate water source distribution systems, but in no case shall that period be less than 1 hour. (3) The drain on the alternate water source system shall

be checked for flow during the test and fixtures, potable and alternate water source, shall be tested and inspected for flow. Flow from an alternate water source system outlet indicates a cross-connection. No flow from a potable water outlet shall indicate that it is connected to the alternate water source system. (4) The potable water system shall then be depressur ized and drained. (5) The alternate water source system shall then be acti vated and pressurized. When an alternate water source is not available for the initial cross-connec- tion test, a temporary connection to a potable water supply shall be required. At the conclusion of the ini- tial cross-connection test, the temporary connection to the potable water supply shall be disconnected. (6) The alternate water source system shall remain pres surized for a minimum period specified by the Authority Having Jurisdiction while the potable water system is empty. The minimum period the

ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

potable water system is to remain depressurized shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, but in no case shall that period be less than 1 hour. (7) Fixtures, potable, and alternate water source shall be

tested and inspected for flow. Flow from a potable water system outlet indicates a cross-connection. No flow from an alternate water source outlet will indicate that it is connected to the potable water system. (8) The drain on the potable water system shall be

checked for flow during the test and at the end of the test. (9) Where there is no flow detected in the fixtures which

would indicate a cross-connection, the potable water system shall be repressurized. 1502.3.3 Discovery of Cross-Connection. If a cross-connection is discovered, the following procedure, in the presence of the Authority Having Jurisdiction, shall be activated immediately: (1) Notify the Authority Having Jurisdiction of the cross

connection. ( 2 ) The alternate water source piping to the building and

its premises shall be shutdown at the meter, and the alternate water source riser shall be drained. ( 3 ) Potable water piping to the building and its prem-

ises shall be shutdown at the meter. ( 4 ) The cross-connection shall be uncovered and dis connected. ( 5 ) The building and its premises shall be retested in

accordance with Section 1502.3.1 and Section 1502.3.2. ( 6 ) The potable water system shall be chlorinated with

50 parts-per-million (ppm) chlorine for 24 hours. ( 7 ) The potable water system shall be flushed after 24

hours, and a standard bacteriological test shall be performed. Where test results are acceptable, the potable water system shall be permitted to be recharged.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — PLUMBING FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
  5. Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS
  6. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
  7. Chapter 7 — SANITARY DRAINAGE
  8. Chapter 8 — INDIRECT WASTES
  9. Chapter 9 — VENTS
  10. Chapter 10 — TRAPS AND INTERCEPTORS
  11. Chapter 11 — STORM DRAINAGE
  12. Chapter 12 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  13. Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICA…
  14. Chapter 14 — FIRESTOP PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS
    Overview
    1. 1501.1 Applicability [BSC-CG, DWR & HCD 1] . The
    2. 1501.2 System Design. Alternate water source systems
    3. 1501.3 Permit [BSC-CG, HCD 1, DWR] . It shall be unlawful for …
    4. 1501.4 Component Identification. System components
    5. 1501.5 Maintenance and Inspection [BSC-CG, HCD
    6. 1501.6 Operation and Maintenance Manual [BSC-CG,
    7. 1501.7 Minimum Water Quality Requirements [BSC-
    8. 1501.8 Material Compatibility. Alternate water source systems …
    9. 1501.9 Signage [BSC-CG, HCD 1, HCD 2, HCD 1-AC].
    10. 1501.10 System Controls. Controls for pumps, valves, and
    11. 1502.1 General. Alternate water source systems shall be
    12. 1502.2 Supply System Inspection and Test. Alternate
    13. 1502.3 Cross-Connection Inspection and Testing. An
    14. 1502.4 Separation Requirements. Underground alternate water so…
    15. 1502.5 Abandonment. Alternate water source systems that
    16. 1502.6 Sizing. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, …
    17. 1503.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    18. 1503.2 System Requirements. Gray water shall be permitted to b…
    19. 1503.3 Connections to Potable and Reclaimed (Recy-
    20. 1503.4 Location. No gray water system or part thereof shall
    21. 1503.5 Plot Plan Submission. No permit for a gray water
    22. 1503.6 Prohibited Location. Where there is insufficient
    23. 1503.7 Drawings and Specifications. The Authority
    24. 1503.8 Procedure for Estimating Gray Water Dis-
    25. 1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water
    26. 1504.1 General. Irrigation or disposal fields shall be permitt…
    27. 1504.3 Determination of Maximum Absorption
    28. 1504.4 Groundwater Level. No excavation for an irrigation fiel…
    29. 1504.2 Required Area of Subsurface Irrigation
    30. 1504.5 Irrigation, Disposal Field and Mulch Basin Con-
    31. 1504.6 Reserved.
    32. 1504.7 Reserved .
    33. 1504.8 Gray Water System Color and Marking Infor-
    34. 1504.9 Other Collection and Distribution Systems.
    35. 1504.10 Testing. Building drains and vents for gray water
    36. 1504.11 Maintenance. Gray water systems and components shall b…
    37. 1505.1 General. The provisions of Section 1505.0 through
    38. 1505.2 Permit. It shall be unlawful for a person to construct,
    39. 1505.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    40. 1505.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    41. 1505.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    42. 1505.6 Recycled Water Supply System Materials.
    43. 1505.7 Recycled Water Supply System Color and
    44. 1505.8 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control valves,
    45. 1505.9 Hose Bibbs. Hose bibbs shall not be allowed on
    46. 1505.10 Required Appurtenances. The recycled water
    47. 1505.11 Pipe Separation in Trenches . Reclaimed (recycled) wat…
    48. 1505.12 Signage . Signs in rooms and water closet tanks in
    49. 1505.13 Inspection and Testing. Recycled water supply
    50. 1505.14 Minimum Water Quality Requirements for
    51. 1505.15 Maintenance and Inspection. Recycled water
    52. 1506.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    53. 1506.2 Plumbing Plan Submission. No permit for an
    54. 1506.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    55. 1506.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    56. 1506.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    57. 1506.6 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    58. 1506.7 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water
    59. 1506.8 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    60. 1506.9 Design and Installation. The design and installation of…
    61. 1506.10 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control
    62. 1506.11 Signs. Signs in buildings using on-site treated nonpot…
    63. 1506.12 Inspection and Testing. On-site treated nonpotable gra…
  16. Chapter 16 — NONPOTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYS…
  19. Appendix B — EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT S…
  20. Appendix C — ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  21. Appendix D — SIZING STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
  22. Appendix E — MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND RECREATIONAL V…
  23. Appendix F — FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS
  25. Appendix H — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
  26. Appendix I — INSTALLATION STANDARDS
  27. Appendix J — COMBINATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION AND …
  28. Appendix K — POTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  29. Appendix L — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  30. Appendix M — PEAK WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR
  31. Appendix N — IMPACT OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR …

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.