Ever wondered what’s going on in the pipes that bring water into your home or office? Water’s motion might appear to be a straight line – but it is not always so.
Backflow is a dangerous situation when water flows in the opposite direction to its natural flow, draining contaminants back into the pristine water supply. This is due to backpressure that can occur from a sudden surge in water pressure.
Backflow rarely happens, but when it occurs, it can have severe health and safety consequences.
When contaminants come into the drinking water system, they cause widespread disease or death. It’s the reason why proper backflow protection is extremely important for all buildings with access to public water.
How Does Backflow Occur?
Either scenario allows contaminants to enter clean drinking water lines unless backflow preventers are installed and working properly. Some hazardous materials that could backflow include:
- Toxic chemicals
- Pesticides
- Sewage
- Bacteria
- Boiler additives
Clearly, these substances pose a major health hazard if they enter the drinking water system.
Obviously, these contaminants are an enormous health risk when added to the water supply.
Preventing Backflow with Mechanical Devices
Backflow inhibitors should be added to plumbing systems to prevent backflow. They are mechanical devices that crisscross public water supply and building pipework to halt reverse-flow.
Common types of backflow preventers include:
- Air gap – Provides a mechanical break in supply lines and equipment.
- Lower pressure zone unit – Spring-loaded check valves with relief outlet.
- Double check valve set-up – Uses 2 check valves paired together.
- Pressure vacuum breaker – Prevents backsiphonage of connections under pressure.
And if operating properly, these devices provide essential chokepoints against contaminants flowing backwards if water becomes low pressure.
But they will protect only when they’re well maintained and tamed.
Why Annual Testing Is Vital?
Backflow preventers are inside, surrounded by internal seals, springs, and moving components, which wear out in time. It doesn’t matter what your device is, you can’t stop using it if you don’t keep it in top shape.
This is why experts generally state that all backflow preventers should be tested once a year by professional technicians.
Yearly testing does three key things:
Finds the defective devices, if any
As with any machine, the backflow stopper is bound to go out of business. Tiny gaps between seals or Mineral accumulation on insides will slow down the unit. Only rigorous year-long testing will tell us which ones aren’t working correctly.
Follow laws and regulations
The majority of municipalities require annual backflow testers. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, for instance, mandates annual tests. Failure to pass testing could land you in a hefty fine from city inspectors.
Prevents disasters from contaminated water
This ultimately is the most important cause of annual backflow device testing. But only working preventers can stand between structures and the accidental ingress of sewage, chemicals or bacteria into drinking water. To fail testing is to play dice with the health of building tenants, visitors, patients, students or others in the community.
When looking at the potentially deadly consequences, the time and expense of annual backflow prevention device testing seems like an excellent investment.
Partnering with a Qualified Testing Company
Homeowners must hire an accredited testing service company to have backflow devices tested professionally annually. The technicians would require specific credentials to do the job legally.
More specifically, check for these credentials in any backflow testing company:
- Licensed by the state health department – Legally recognized to test backflow preventers
- Certified by the ABPA – Demonstrated competency through training with American Backflow Prevention Association
- Experienced technicians – Well-practiced with various types of devices to quickly find any issues
- Detailed reporting – Provides test results and condition of each device tested
If possible, opt for a firm that has been in the field of backflow testing for years. They’ll be much more technically oriented than your average plumbing company.
Final Thoughts
Clean water is the lifeblood of communities, businesses, and households. But this precious resource must be kept carefully hidden to avoid backflow contamination.
Even if approved backflow prevention devices are installed, annual testing of them is the only way to ensure they’re still preventing pollutants from back-flowing into the water system.
Routine professional testing will assure your peace of mind, and prevent disaster. A backflow prevention device test annually, whether at work, in a hospital, school or other facility that provides services to the public is the stuff of safety and duty.
Never take it for granted – have your building’s appliances professionally tested each and every year.