Most of us want to believe that our public water distribution system is safe, sanitized and sealed. The truth is that it may not be the secure, self-contained system that your water provider wants you to believe.
The “Back-Flow” Hazard
“Pressurized” tap water is transported to your home through the underground network of mains and pipes. But, when the water pressure drops, the water naturally starts to flow backward, creating a “back-siphon” that can suck dangerous contaminants back into your water supply.
This problem is a regular occurrence in public water systems. It happens in a section of the system whenever large amounts of water are drawn out of some part of the system, such as when water is used to fight a fire, when a water main breaks, when large companies put heavy demands on the system, or during periods of heavy residential usage.
Hitting Close to Home
Imagine a neighbor is spraying some weed killer with a garden hose sprayer attachment. If the water pressure drops and creates a back-flow, the contents of that sprayer can be siphoned back into your water supply.
Residential homes are a common source of backflow contamination but are rarely required to install anti-siphon devices. Typically, only new homes are required to have back-flow valves installed on outside water faucets.
Local laws also require that back-flow prevention valves be installed on the pipes of businesses that work with hazardous materials. But many businesses simply don’t comply, and valves can fail.
Be Aware
Other residential sources of potential backflow contamination into the water distribution system are:
Improperly installed toilets
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Garden hoses used to flush out sewer lines
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Garden hoses submersed in soapy buckets of water
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Underground sprinkler systems
Other commercial sources of potential backflow contamination into the water distribution system are:
Farming irrigation systems
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Sinks in manufacturing, automotive, hair styling, mortician, or photo development facilities
We Can Help
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Have one of our licensed backflow prevention plumbers do the following:
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Never leave a kitchen faucet sprayer submersed in a sink full of water.
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Make sure all hoses are attached to spigots equipped with anti-siphon devices and NEVER leave a hose lying anywhere near a pool, puddle, bucket or any other non-potable water source.
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Have your water tested at least once a year because no matter how careful you are, careless neighbors, landscapers or other companies can impact your water supply.
Don’t Be Fooled
In many instances, you cannot tell if water is contaminated by taste, smell or by how it looks. Many common pesticides, herbicides, chemicals and cleaners are so toxic that laboratory equipment measures them in parts per billion (micrograms). Your senses are simply unable to detect contaminants in micrograms.
Also, the water filter on your faucet or under your sink may not be providing the protection you believe. That’s because it may not have been manufactured to remove the specific contaminants that are in your water. And remember that you are still using unfiltered water for showering, bathing and washing your hands. Toxins can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled in shower steam.
A Note To Well Owners: Have your water tested a least once a year. You are solely responsible for your water quality. If you don’t test regularly, you are relying solely on soil and rock to filter the surface water that refills your well’s water source. Testing is the only way to monitor your water quality and keep your family safe.
LIST OF POSSIBLE CROSS-CONNECTIONS THAT ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN WATER CONTAMINATION PREVENTION MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH:
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Air conditioning equipment with dual safe and unsafe water supplies, or with direct sewer connections for waste water.
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Aquarium with below-the-rim water inlet.
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Aspirator on surgical, or dental, or industrial equipment operated by water ejector.
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Water-operated aspirator on suction flask in laboratories, etc
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Water-operated aspirator in understaking establishments, hospitals,etc.
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Automatic device for filling tanks, boilers, and vats which have overflow connections to a sewer.
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Dual water supplies cross-connected in factories, etc
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Cistern supply in private home, cross-connected with the city supply.
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Any direct connection between water pipes and sewers, even though gate valves are used.
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Any industrial vat, tank etc. which has an inverted water-supply connection or a water-supply connection below the top of the spill rim.
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Industrial water-supplies process appliance with direct water connections not having adequate air gaps.
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A rubber hose with hand-control or self-closing faucets attached, as used in connection with baths, industrial vats, containers, etc.
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Floor drain having automatic device for sealing.
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Baptistery with below-the-rim water connection.
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Bath with below-the-rim water connection.
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Bedpan washer and sterilizer with below-the-rim water connection, or with inverted water supply subject to direct contamination.
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Bidet with submerged inlet.
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Steam table with water-supply connection entering the bottom of the table.
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Egg boiler having direct water-supply and sewer connection.
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Coffee urn with direct water-supply and connection.
MORE WATER CONTAMINATION PREVENTION
- Grease trap with water-supply connection for flushing.
- Hose for sink, laundry tray, soap kettles, etc.
- Bird bath with submerged inlet.
- Cellar drain of the water-ejector type.
- Frost-proof water closet, whether or not the valve drains to the sewer or to the ground surrounding the sewer.
- Closet of the hopper type with manual or automatic flushing apparatus.
- Seat-action water closet with pressure tank having a flush valve in or attached to the bowl.
- Toilet equipped with flushometer valve attached to the bowl.
- Combination faucet with one safe and one unsafe supply.
- Condenser on medical and industrial equipment.
- Cross-connection between safe and unsafe water supplies . lawn-sprinkling systems, etc.
- Cuspidor with water-supply connection
- Dental cuspidor and saliva ejector with unprotected water-supply connection.
- Dishwasher with water inlet below the rim.
- Dual water supplies such as hot water supply from an unsafe source.
- Ejector actuated by direct water connection.
- Sill with direct water connection.
- X-ray developing tank with submerged water-supply inlet.
- Gas-type chlorinator with dual feed to mixing basin and clear well
- Swimming pool with direct water connection.
- Siphon flush tank with water connection below the overflow rim.
- Tank with inverted supply or below-the-rim supply.
- Urinal having direct flushing device.
- Therapeutic bath with submerged inlet.
- Vat with inverted supply or below-the-rim supply.
- Water cooler improperly designed and using toxic refrigerant which may pollute the water supply.
- Yard hydrant so constructed that polluted ground-water may drain into the water-supply pipes.
- Filter with waste connected directly to sewer.
- Fish pond with submerged inlet.
- Floor drain with flushing connection . . . often used in operating-room.
- Flushometer valve not protected with siphon breaker.
- Foot tub with submerged water inlet.
- Drinking fountain with submerged water inlet or with the water-supply line passing through the drain.
- Glass washer in beverage sink having submerged inlet.
- Hospital equipment such as autoclave, instrument sterilizer, water sterilizer, etc. with submerged inlets and with direct connections to the sewer.
- Industrial processes requiring direct water connections.
- Kitchen fixtures with common waste and supply lines.
- Laundry machinery with common waste and supply lines
- Laundry tub with submerged inlet.
- Lavatory with submerged inlet or with hose connection into the fixture, such as used barbers or beauticians with hair-washing apparatus.
- Leaky water main or service near sewer.
- Fire hydrant with drain connections to sewer.
- Pump used for dual purposes, with one safe and one unsafe supply.
- Pump used for unsafe material having a direct water connection for priming.
- Pump pit with drain connection to sump or sewer line.
- Refrigeration equipment with water cooling.
- Rubber hose connection extending water line to below the overflow rim of sinks, lavatories, tanks, tubs, laboratory apparatus, etc.
- Sealing ring on sewer pump with direct water connection.
- Sewage lift with direct water connection.
- Hydraulic elevator with waste connection direct to sewer.
- Sinks with below-the-rim water inlets.
- Sludge line with direct water connection for flushing.
- Sterilizers of all kinds, both medical and dental, submerged inlets.
