CCC Connect: Let’s Talk Action & Support – Event Recap

This year marked the first ever CCC Connect at the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show, inviting BCWWA staff, cross connection control committee members, community of practice co-chairs and interested members alike to discuss all things CCC.

The goal of the event was twofold: to determine how the organization can better support all CCC members and to gather feedback on the recommendations put forward in the Protecting our Communities from Backflow Contamination: A Review of Cross Connection Control Programs in British Columbia report.

Education was at the forefront of the conversation as CCC Members expressed their interest in regular webinars and presentations to bring focus on backflow prevention and cross connection. With an online platform to connect this would facilitate:

• working with partner organizations to further facilitate knowledge sharing
• extend the CCC community reach to neighbouring municipalities facing similar challenges
• and support the implementation of programs and standards across the province

Additionally, CCC members expressed their excitement with the operator challenge at the annual conference and brainstormed how CCC could be included in future events.

The discussion pivoted to bring focus and improve the Protecting our Communities from Backflow Contamination report centering around recommendations: 1, 3, and 5:

• codification of ccc
• support for new and existing ccc programs with mechanisms to share best practices and templates
• establish public education campaigns

The CCC community recognized that the codification of CCC is multijurisdictional. Which informed a requirement for: the education of stakeholders at various levels, consistency and direct language within regulations and the determination of minimum requirements.

When discussing support for new and existing programs to share knowledge, the room shared their own experiences in program start up. In diverse perspectives, the emphasis to establish a consistent language system became clear to the CCC community. Pulling from existing templates in communities with well established programs proved to be the first steps of a strong foundation for aspects like bylaws.

This proved to be a valuable experience and a great opportunity for the CCC community to share ideas, knowledge and feedback. At the BCWWA, we are excited to continue the CCC Connect conversation at the 2027 BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show in Victoria, BC and explore how we can further support and develop the CCC program.

If you have any thoughts of feedback please do not hesitate to contact crossconnection@bcwwa.org