No, the City adopted its Cross-Connection Prevention Ordinance in October 2003 (as Ordinance #784). The full Ordinance can be viewed online here.

A cross connection is a link between a potable water system and a non-potable water system, in our case, the City of Bardstown’s public water main and our customers’ private plumbing systems. When there is a difference in pressure between the two systems, the public water supply may become contaminated through a backflow event.

A backflow preventer is a device that’s installed on a customers water service pipe that allows water to flow in one direction (from the main to the customer) and not the opposite direction. Its sole job is to prevent drinking water from being contaminated due to backflow.

The Cross Connection Control Program is an integral part of the City of Bardstown's effort to ensure water quality. Cross Connection Control is required by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Kentucky Division of Plumbing and the Nelson County Department of Public Health and Wellness.

All commercial/industrial domestic services, fire and irrigation services are required to have a City of Bardstown approved backflow prevention device installed after the Water Meter and before any branches of the interior plumbing - called main containment. (Multi-family dwellings with three or more units are considered commercial property). Any existing building that does not currently have a backflow prevention device installed on the domestic service should be inspected to determine the need for a retrofit device.

An unprotected cross-connection (commercial, residential, irrigation) can allow contaminates from customer's internal plumbing/piping system into the public water supply, effecting the health and safety of the drinking water. Potential contaminates include anti-freeze, herbicides, pesticides, caustic or acidic compounds and can result in disease, illness, injury, or even death.

Examples of common sources of cross connection hazards are listed below (this is not intended to be a complete list):

Boilers
Chemical / Cleaning Mixing Stations
Chillers
Cooling Towers
Dishwashers (industrial)
Firefighting Systems - including sprinklers and standpipes
Heat Exchangers
Hose bibs connected to non-potable sources
Industrial Fluid Systems - those that contain cutting and hydraulic fluids, coolants and other similar types of contaminants.
Irrigation Systems
Laboratories
Laundries
Multi-story buildings (three stories or greater)
Priming Lines – including air conditioning pumps, booster pumps, sewer pumps
Refrigeration Units
Steam Generating Facilities
Swimming Pools

Allow access to City of Bardstown Water Department employees upon request.
Initial installation, testing, and submission of test results by a certified technician to City of Bardstown for all containment backflow prevention devices.
Annual testing and submission of test results by a certified technician to City of Bardstown for all containment backflow prevention devices.

We recommend you keep your test records in case they are requested by the City or another agency.

The administration of a cross-connection control program. This includes identifying backflow hazard posed by industrial, commercial, fire, irrigation, and domestic customer service lines and containment of potential hazards. Specifically:

If a potential cross-connection hazard exists
If a backflow preventer is needed based on a risk assessment score
If an installed backflow preventer has had an annual test performed
Internal customer plumbing meets KY Division of Plumbing code and isolates identified cross-connection hazards.

Customers with main containment backflow preventers are required to have a certified technician test the device on an annual basis. The City will send a letter to remind customers of the requirement.

It is the customer's responsibility to contact a certified technician to complete the test and show that the device is working properly. The customer is also responsible for all costs associated with the test and any maintenance/repairs that are required. Contractors performing the work should use this form or their own certification (please ensure that the location address is included in the certification).

Completed forms should be sent to engineering@bardstowncable.net or mailed to:

City of Bardstown

Attn: Engineering Department

220 North Fifth Street

Bardstown, Kentucky 40004

The City has reached out to local plumbers and contractors and the following is a list of companies and individuals who are certified to perform the annual inspection.

The City does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant any work performed by contractors listed here. All interactions between customers and contractors are private business transactions between these two entities.

If you are a certified Backflow Tester and wish to be added to this list please contact the office of the City Engineer.