Contaminated water flowing into drinkable is a real challenge for both public utility companies and homeowners. Unsafe water can sometimes be pushed back into the potable water source by pressure or even sucked back into it by negative pressure. These problems can arise during fighting fires, routine pipe maintenance, or even by a homeowner who has improperly installed pipes. One way to make sure the water is safe is to conduct backflow testing.
When dirty water backs up into the clean water supply this is called backflow. Contamination of the potable supply could become a major problem and utility companies have a duty to ensure that the public has a clean and drinkable supply. Sometimes the problem is caused by back pressure or siphonage but a good prevention program can identify this before it becomes an issue.
Polluted water can often be traced back to back pressure. Here the line pressure is higher down the line than it is at the source. Tainted water is then pushed through the line and into the filtered supply. Sometimes pipes break, or an excess of water is pumped through the system leading to back pressure problems. These can cause tainted or polluted water to flow into the clean and can infect the entire system.
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.
It is more common and for utility companies to use either reduced pressure or double check valves because they are effective in nearly every situation. However, they are mechanical devices and are subject to breakdowns and parts can erode over time so testing must be conducted on a regular basis. Testing for backflow can only be conducted by a certified tester. Backflow testing can also be useful for homeowners who want to make sure their supply is safe.
Backflow testing is an essential part of your backflow prevention program. Air gaps are easy, you can look at them and see if they are still in place. Mechanical systems, on the other hand, must be checked by a certified technician. They can check all of the moving parts and pipes to make sure that it will be working properly when it is needed.
When dirty water backs up into the clean water supply this is called backflow. Contamination of the potable supply could become a major problem and utility companies have a duty to ensure that the public has a clean and drinkable supply. Sometimes the problem is caused by back pressure or siphonage but a good prevention program can identify this before it becomes an issue.
Polluted water can often be traced back to back pressure. Here the line pressure is higher down the line than it is at the source. Tainted water is then pushed through the line and into the filtered supply. Sometimes pipes break, or an excess of water is pumped through the system leading to back pressure problems. These can cause tainted or polluted water to flow into the clean and can infect the entire system.
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.
It is more common and for utility companies to use either reduced pressure or double check valves because they are effective in nearly every situation. However, they are mechanical devices and are subject to breakdowns and parts can erode over time so testing must be conducted on a regular basis. Testing for backflow can only be conducted by a certified tester. Backflow testing can also be useful for homeowners who want to make sure their supply is safe.
Backflow testing is an essential part of your backflow prevention program. Air gaps are easy, you can look at them and see if they are still in place. Mechanical systems, on the other hand, must be checked by a certified technician. They can check all of the moving parts and pipes to make sure that it will be working properly when it is needed.
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