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.
One of the main causes of contaminated water is back pressure. This is when the pressure down the line is higher than the pressure at the source. The contaminated water is pushed back into the filtered water. Some of the main causes are pipes breaking, people raising the temperature on their boilers, and pumping.
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.
The most common method of preventing this problem is to implement a cross connection program. This method is often used by public water suppliers, such as cities and counties. There are many different ways of creating a good cross connection such as air gaps, reduced pressure assemblies, double check valves, and pressure and atmospheric vacuum breakers. Some home owners will also need to make sure they have a good program in place, especially if they live outside city limits.
One method of preventing pollution is to install air gaps. The supply pipe is separated from the receiving pipe so that no dirty water can flow back into the supply. However, this is not practical for large projects as it can be defeated easily. If you are a homeowner and decide to use this method you must make sure that it is properly maintained and installed.
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.
A water supply system cannot be relied upon unless it takes part in a good backflow testing program. Many homeowners feel that they can see if their air gap is functioning but they certainly cannot see problems in the other systems. Only testers that have been trained and certified should check to make sure your prevention program is working as it was designed.
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.
One of the main causes of contaminated water is back pressure. This is when the pressure down the line is higher than the pressure at the source. The contaminated water is pushed back into the filtered water. Some of the main causes are pipes breaking, people raising the temperature on their boilers, and pumping.
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.
The most common method of preventing this problem is to implement a cross connection program. This method is often used by public water suppliers, such as cities and counties. There are many different ways of creating a good cross connection such as air gaps, reduced pressure assemblies, double check valves, and pressure and atmospheric vacuum breakers. Some home owners will also need to make sure they have a good program in place, especially if they live outside city limits.
One method of preventing pollution is to install air gaps. The supply pipe is separated from the receiving pipe so that no dirty water can flow back into the supply. However, this is not practical for large projects as it can be defeated easily. If you are a homeowner and decide to use this method you must make sure that it is properly maintained and installed.
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.
A water supply system cannot be relied upon unless it takes part in a good backflow testing program. Many homeowners feel that they can see if their air gap is functioning but they certainly cannot see problems in the other systems. Only testers that have been trained and certified should check to make sure your prevention program is working as it was designed.
About the Author:
When you need to arrange for reliable backflow testing, visit the website at www.bayareabackflowinc.com today. More information about services can be seen at http://www.bayareabackflowinc.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment