Federal and state regulations require water systems to
feature identifiable cross connections that separate private plumbing systems
and the public water supply. These essentially serve to prevent backflow
contamination between supplies, and home and business owners have to do their
part by ensuring their backflow prevention system is in operating order once a
year.
Annual Testing and
Backflow Prevention
Just about every state, county, and city require yearly
inspection of backflow
prevention devices. Because DHEC Certified field testers must perform these
inspections, you may want to consider using a local irrigation specialist that
boasts a staff qualified to perform an encompassing annual inspection of all
your systems simultaneously.
The most basic way to prevent backflow if you don’t have a
sprinkler or in-ground irrigation system is to install a relatively
inexpensive hose
bib vacuum breaker on each outdoor water spigot. Your technician will
inspect these annually along with your other water systems, and it will need to
be replaced periodically.
What is Backflow?
Terms You Need to Know
Backflow most often occurs when extreme pressure drops
occur, literally drawing in contaminants from external sources. Backflow comes
in two forms: backpressure, which results from dramatic conflicts in pressure
between cross connections and back-siphonage. Pressure
vacuum breakers serve to prevent this aspect of backflow and are an
intrinsic aspect of any outdoor irrigation system. This most often occurs
during water main breaks and pump station outages.
Back-siphonage could occur if a fire suddenly breaks out in
the neighborhood while you’re fertilizing your garden with a hand held sprayer
attachment and hose. As the firefighters tap into a nearby hydrant, this vacuum
effect would suck that fertilizer into the potable water supply. Something as
innocent as leaving the hose in your soapy wash bucket while washing your car
can ultimately cause the backflow; hence, why annual backflow prevention
inspections are mandated by law.
Follow the Law and Do
Your Part
Preventing water contamination is a concern of every
citizen, and these small measures go a long way to keeping potable water clean.
Learning more about backflow prevention is as easy as contacting the experts at
Irrigation Outlet or taking advantage of the free resources at American
Backflow Prevention Association.
