Which term describes a hazard that could lead to contaminated drinking water if not addressed?

• A. Low hazard cross-connection
• B. High hazard cross-connection
• C. Medium risk cross-connection
• D. Non-potable cross-connection

Answer: (A)

Cross-connections are potential paths where contaminants could enter the potable water supply, so they’re classified by how hazardous they are. A low hazard cross-connection describes a situation where a connection to a non-potable source exists and could lead to contamination if backflow occurs, but the overall potential impact is considered smaller than in higher-hazard cases. This makes it the best fit for a hazard that could lead to contaminated drinking water if not addressed, because it acknowledges the existence of a risk while signaling it’s on the less severe end of the spectrum. The other options either describe different hazard levels (high) or shift the focus to risk rather than hazard (medium risk), or describe the source type (non-potable) without tying it specifically to the hazard level.