One of the best ways to ensure a clean water supply is to make sure you have a good backflow testing program. Dirty water flowing into the supply can lead to illness. Sometimes pressure can push polluted water into the filtered source and other times it can be pushed in negative pressures. Fire fighting, broken water mains, and even homeowners that use their own water hoses and pipes can be the cause of many of these problems.
Backflow is quite simply when the water flows back to the source. This is a major problem if it runs back into drinking water because it can be contaminated. This is usually caused by either back pressure or back siphonage. Public utility companies have a legal duty to make sure that water is safe and untainted so they generally have some sort of prevention program in place.
Back pressure is a common cause of contamination. Pressure in the line pushes the pollution back into the clean water supply. This can happen when the pressure is off balance and is too low at the filtered end. Sometimes this happens when pipes break, when boiler temperatures are raised, or even when too much water is pumped.
Stoppages are usually the cause of back siphonage. A broken main or a firefighter interrupts the normal flow and causes a negative pressure effect. If people drink this polluted water they could become ill so a good prevention program is vital if you want to avoid this problem.
A cross connection program is generally used to prevent contamination problems, especially by municipal water suppliers like public utilities. Air gaps, double check valves, pressure vacuum and atmospheric vacuum, as well as reduced pressure assemblies are all some of the techniques used to create a cross connection. Rural home owners also have to take into consideration whether or not they may need a program in place.
Air gaps are often used to prevent pollution and are one of the easier options. If it is installed and maintained then it is very effective. In this method the receiving pipe and supply pipe are physically separated so that water cannot flow back. The problem with this method is that it can be defeated quite easily.
Most utility companies use either double check valves or reduced pressure because they can prevent both back pressure and siphonage. Still, parts in any mechanical device can break down or erode so they also must keep up a backflow testing program. Only certified testers are allowed to conduct tests of these systems. There are many companies that will go to a homeowner to test their system as well.
Backflow testing of cross connection programs is an essential part of your water supply program. While you can look at an air gap to tell if it is still working properly you cannot do this with mechanical systems. Certified testers should be used to test all of the moving parts to make sure your backflow prevention system is functioning properly.
Backflow is quite simply when the water flows back to the source. This is a major problem if it runs back into drinking water because it can be contaminated. This is usually caused by either back pressure or back siphonage. Public utility companies have a legal duty to make sure that water is safe and untainted so they generally have some sort of prevention program in place.
Back pressure is a common cause of contamination. Pressure in the line pushes the pollution back into the clean water supply. This can happen when the pressure is off balance and is too low at the filtered end. Sometimes this happens when pipes break, when boiler temperatures are raised, or even when too much water is pumped.
Stoppages are usually the cause of back siphonage. A broken main or a firefighter interrupts the normal flow and causes a negative pressure effect. If people drink this polluted water they could become ill so a good prevention program is vital if you want to avoid this problem.
A cross connection program is generally used to prevent contamination problems, especially by municipal water suppliers like public utilities. Air gaps, double check valves, pressure vacuum and atmospheric vacuum, as well as reduced pressure assemblies are all some of the techniques used to create a cross connection. Rural home owners also have to take into consideration whether or not they may need a program in place.
Air gaps are often used to prevent pollution and are one of the easier options. If it is installed and maintained then it is very effective. In this method the receiving pipe and supply pipe are physically separated so that water cannot flow back. The problem with this method is that it can be defeated quite easily.
Most utility companies use either double check valves or reduced pressure because they can prevent both back pressure and siphonage. Still, parts in any mechanical device can break down or erode so they also must keep up a backflow testing program. Only certified testers are allowed to conduct tests of these systems. There are many companies that will go to a homeowner to test their system as well.
Backflow testing of cross connection programs is an essential part of your water supply program. While you can look at an air gap to tell if it is still working properly you cannot do this with mechanical systems. Certified testers should be used to test all of the moving parts to make sure your backflow prevention system is functioning properly.
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