For over one hundred years, incidents where contaminants and pollutants have flowed backwards into potable drinking water supplies have been documented. The University of Southern California became involved in cross-connection control efforts before most had ever heard of backflow.

Established in 1944 by the University of Southern California Board of Trustees, the USC Foundation continues to be a leader in backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Over the years, the USC Foundation has developed a set of standards for backflow prevention assemblies and a number of products and services designed to help water utilities, health agencies, plumbing inspectors, private contractors, engineers and the general public in their cross-connection control efforts.