Cochrane, AB — The Western Canada Section AWWA Cross Connection Control Committee (WCSAWWA) has selected the winner of its “Bad and Ugly” cross connection photo contest. The winning photo was submitted by Stan McCrimmon, a backflow tester plumber who was working for Gateway Mechanical in Alberta at the time of the photo.
“I was originally called off for a no heat call. The boiler was down. Turned out to be not enough water in the system to flow, so I bled some air and went to fill the system. I found the domestic fill line and found the picture I sent in. I installed a reduced pressure assembly, and it has been working well ever since,” said McCrimmon.
McCrimmon, a red seal plumber journeyman, has been backflow testing since 2018 and is currently working on receiving his hydronic designer certification. McCrimmon has his Class A gas fitter and medical gas certification, and has served as a member of the Alberta Provincial Apprenticeship Committee for six years.
Taking submissions across Canada, the Bad and Ugly photo contest brings awareness to cross connections and helps educate water industry representatives in the field.
“Our water industry including representatives, inspectors, plumbers, and testers all share a responsibility to protect our water supplies. Cross connections do exist and are a potential to contaminate or pollute our potable water. Let’s do our best to find and correct these cross connections before the damage is done,” said Danny Wilson, WCSAWWA CCC education committee member.
The annual submission deadline is April 30, and winners are selected end of May, with prizes awarded in June. Backflow manufacturers Zurn, Watts and Conbraco provided the contest prizes.