What measures protect potable water systems from contamination or backflow on a military installation?

• A. Install backflow prevention devices, enforce cross-connection control, maintain water quality monitoring, and implement flushing and sampling programs.
• B. Use only chlorine for disinfection.
• C. Rely on municipal testing.
• D. Ignore backflow.

Answer: (A)

A robust defense against potable-water contamination on a military installation comes from combining backflow prevention, cross-connection control, continuous water quality monitoring, and flushing and sampling programs. Installing backflow prevention devices creates a physical barrier that stops reverse flow from potentially contaminated sources into the drinking water system. Strengthening cross-connection control helps ensure there aren’t hidden or unintended connections that could introduce contaminants when pressure conditions shift. Regular water quality monitoring provides ongoing data on disinfectant levels, pH, temperature, and other indicators, so problems can be detected early and addressed promptly. Flushing and sampling remove stagnant water, verify that residual disinfectants are maintained, and confirm that water quality remains within safe limits throughout the system. Together, these practices offer prevention, detection, and verification, reducing the risk of backflow and contamination.

Relying on chlorine alone addresses disinfection but does not prevent backflow or cross-connections, and municipal testing or ignoring backflow fail to provide the site-specific controls and continuous verification needed for an installation.