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Backflow Principles and Municipal Cross-Connection Control

September 1 - 2, 2026 Online :: Central Time

"It is a whole different learning experience when passion for the curriculum is the motivation - for both student and teacher. "

Cross-Connection Specialist at WV American Water

"I am less than a newbie when it comes to backflow, etc. For me, I could follow easily, understood the content and got something out of the class. I consider that a total win!"

Planning and Public Works Assistant at City of Stevenson

“EUCI training is very professional, informative and well organized.”

Cross Connection Coordinator, Fontana Water Company

 Municipal water systems are challenged to ensure the integrity of safe drinking water systems against the potential of contamination and the increasing regulatory oversite and complexity of cross-connection control programs. The Backflow Principles and Municipal Cross-Connection Control Program Administration course dives deep into comprehensive strategies to manage contamination threats and the burden of impact to the community.

The course is particularly beneficial to stakeholders and compliance teams working in municipal water utilities, private water service providers, regulatory agencies, as well as plumbing professionals specializing in cross-connection control activities. The approaches covered are applicable both for launching new cross-connection control programs and for enhancing existing ones.

The instructor will cover the following key topics in this course:

  • Conditions that cause backflow to occur and measures to control the direction of flow
  • Defining and communicating the responsibilities of water safety professionals
  • Balancing public safety with public impact 
  • The importance of identifying and educating stakeholder groups
  • Proactively engaging community outreach reduces enforcement activity
  • Examining field exhibits of frequently overlooked residential contamination hazards
  • Using Advanced Metering Infrastructure to augment cross-connection control programs
  • How QA and measuring performance leads to higher overall compliance
  • Case study and real-world applications 

Register now to learn essential practices in backflow prevention, and administering a safe and defensible cross-connection control program

Learning Outcomes

  • Discuss backflow and the practices to prevent it from occurring
  • Identify strategies for creating educational materials aimed at stakeholders, water safety professionals, and the public
  • Evaluate all elements that influence both the community and the water provider when establishing a municipal cross-connection control program
  • Apply statutory authority to fulfill the responsibilities of the water supplier.
  • Identify key resource needed to develop and implement a cross-connection control program
  • Construct a backflow incident response plan
  • Recognize best practices in the industry for ensuring water safety, including regular inspections, testing procedures, thorough record-keeping, and robust quality assurance measures

Register

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Individual attendee(s)$ 1195.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after August 21, 2026 is $ 1,395.00)
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility

Pack of 5 attendees$ 5,075.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 21, 2026 is $ 5,930.00)
Pack of 10 attendees$ 9,560.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 21, 2026 is $ 11,960.00)
Pack of 20 attendees$ 17,925.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after August 21, 2026 is $ 20,925.00)

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before July 31, 2026 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Day one

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Day two

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Agenda

Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Central Time

Online

Log In and Welcome

8:45

Lunch Break

12:00 - 12:30 PM

Adjourn for the day

4:00 PM

8:45 - 9:00 AM

Log In and Welcome

12:00 - 12:30 PM

Lunch Break

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Course Timing

SECTION 1 BACKFLOW PRINCIPLES

  • Backflow Prevention
    • Importance of backflow prevention
    • Backflow prevention theories
  • Controlling Backflow
    • Methods of backflow prevention
    • Efficient application of backflow prevention

Morning Break

  • Inspections, testing, & maintenance of backflow preventers
    • Installation criteria and inspections
    • Basic knowledge of backflow preventer test procedures
  • The role of water safety professionals
    • Competencies of water safety professionals
    • Ethics and accountability of water safety professionals

Lunch Break

SECTION 2 ESSENTIALS OF CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL

  • Education and Training
    • Identifying and educating stakeholders
    • Media platforms
    • Industry resources
    • Specialist qualifications
  • Authority & Objectives
    • The municipality’s authority is to fulfill public responsibility
    • Key objectives of the municipality’s cross-connection control program

Afternoon Break

  • Backflow Preventers
    • Inventory of backflow preventers
    • Tracking test & maintenance activities
    • Approved backflow preventers
  • Defensible Record Keeping
    • Format- Physical or Digital
    • Lifecycle of a record
    • Deciding what records are essential
    • Control of records
  • Case Study- “Burned in the Shower”
    • Breakout exercise
    • Wrap-up discussion

Agenda

Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Central Time

Online

Log In and Welcome

8:45

Adjourn for the day

12:00 PM

8:45 - 9:00 AM

Log In and Welcome

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Course Timing

CROSS-CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

  • Impact Considerations
    • Exploring types of cross-connection control programs
    • Ownership of backflow preventer (Customer or Utility)
    • Premises evaluation
    • Recognizing cross-connection hazards (exhibits)
  • Resource Requirements
    • Funding alternatives
    • Utility personnel- functional roles and core competencies
    • Accessing external resources
  • Enforcement Considerations
    • Statuary due process
    • Methods of enforcement
    • Compliance extensions
  • Incident Plan
    • Incident detection / AMI technology (smart meter)
    • Incident response
  • QA & Performance Measurements
    • Assessing quality ensures consistency and controls outcomes of production
    • Performance indicators identify potential threatening anomalies
    • Measuring performance produces operational efficiency

Instructors

Matt Benton

Cross-Connection Control Program Coordinator

Matt Benton brings over 20 years of regulatory compliance experience primarily in the water utility industry. He spent his early career constructing water mains and today he is committed to protecting them from contamination caused by cross-connections. Matt became initially certified in backflow preventer testing in 2009 but his passion is focused on the broader science of cross-connection control. He has earned certification in Ordinance & Organization from the University of Florida TREEO Center, and he presently continues his studies there. Matt has also earned professional certification from the Florida Association of Code Enforcement. He serves on an advisory panel for a SWFL contractors association where he provides insight and guidance to water safety professionals on backflow prevention. Matt stays up to date by developing and presenting in person training to an audience of certified testers and contractors.

In 2016, Matt was a forerunner working diligently with senior managers to achieve success in proposed recommendations and gaining public acceptance of local cross-connection control ordinance. He continues to oversee daily operations and remains involved in long-term strategic planning for a large size utility in the state of Florida. Matt Benton’s experience as a program coordinator provides innovative insight into implementing an effective cross-connection control program.

Gary McLaren

Director

HydroCorp

Gary McLaren started his career path at HydroCorp in 1999 as an industrial facility piping system surveyor and returned in 2005 as an ASSE certified cross-connection surveyor assessing over 3,000 facilities for compliance. From 2008-2019, he established cross-connection control program contract services with over 130 public water systems across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Gary periodically instructs in-person and online cross-connection control classes that includes backflow prevention compliance requirements. He also presents those subjects at annual conferences in the healthcare and public water system sectors across the country.

Continuing Education Credits

Credits

IACET

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EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this event

Verify our IACET accreditation

 

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Instructional Methods

This program will use PowerPoint presentations and group discussions, as well as polling questions. For each learning outcome, an assessment question will be asked and evaluated, plus there will be formal question/answer sessions.

 

CPEs

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 10.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

CpeEUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org

CLE

Only registered attendees can request CLE credits for an EUCI course/event.  Please email [email protected] prior to the course start date and list the state where you are licensed and your bar# as well as the name and date of your course/event in your request, and someone will be in contact.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for professionals and organizations dedicated to ensuring the safety and functionality of water distribution systems. It is highly relevant for municipal water utilities, private service providers, and regulatory agencies, as well as engineering and consulting firms working in the water industry. Plumbing companies involved in cross-connection control activities will also benefit from gaining a deeper understanding of regulatory requirements and best practices.

 

  • Water Utility Managers
  • Environmental Engineers
  • Plumbing Inspectors
  • Public Health Officials
  • Compliance Officers
  • Cross-Connection Control Specialists
  • Backflow Prevention Device Testers