What Is Backflow?
Most consumers are content to know very little about the plumbing system that makes their lives so easy. As long as water comes out when they turn on the tap, they don’t need to know much more. Behind the scenes, there is an intricate network of piping and devices that work together to ensure that the water within the water grid stays safe from contamination. If these devices fail, the results can be catastrophic.
Water flowing through a plumbing system should only ever flow in one direction, from the source to the plumbing fixture. Any time flow is reversed, a siphon will occur at open fixtures. The siphon created during this condition is called backflow, and it can pull contaminants into the plumbing system, potentially polluting the water within the piping. Luckily, some devices called backflow preventers work to prevent this situation from happening.
Risks Associated With Backflow
Potable water is readily available, so most people take the process and infrastructure needed to treat and distribute it for granted. When communities are exposed to contaminated water, poisonings and illnesses are very common. Indeed, clean drinking water is the earliest development that societies need to flourish. Without it, the populace is constantly sick and in poor health. Backflow preventers are one of society's main lines of defense, and they keep water from becoming contaminated as it flows through piping.
Backflow preventers are necessary because backflow can be tricky to predict. As water flows through the grid, problems that lead to backflow can arise. Backflow is often attributable to a major failure of a water line. A sudden shift in pressure causes an entire leg of the grid to backflow, potentially contaminating water for thousands of people. The same thing can occur in homes when a pipe bursts or water usage is unusually high.
How Does Backflow Testing Work?
Because backflow prevention devices are vital to public health, so they must be tested routinely to ensure reliable protection. Essentially, backflow preventers are check valves that only allow water to flow in one direction. To test these devices, specially trained plumbers must mimic backflow in a section of piping by manipulating nearby valves. The plumbers use special gauges to watch for changes in pressure within the device. If the device operates effectively, it will be properly tagged and left in service. If it is found deficient, it will need to be immediately repaired. Most municipalities require this procedure every year for adequate protection from backflow.
Importance of Backflow Testing
When backflow devices are allowed to fail, people are exposed to potentially harmful contaminants in the city’s plumbing. Backflow often occurs in industrial facilities where harmful chemicals can be pulled into the drinking water supply.
It can also occur in the home when groundwater is pulled into freshwater plumbing from improperly protected irrigation systems. The resulting bacterial contamination can spread waterborne diseases in the community. For better community health, remember backflow testing and certification.
About City Plumbing
City Plumbing handles HVAC and plumbing needs for homeowners and businesses. Their teams are licensed to perform backflow testing and repair to protect water supplies. Call today for backflow testing and repairs in Odessa, TX.
