What is a Backflow Plumbing System?
Water flowing out of a hose or pipe does what it is supposed to, but certain conditions can cause it to flow backward and go wrong. A lack of pressure in a supply line can cause it to draw standing water into it unless preventive measures are in place. Backsiphonage, also known as backflow, occurs when water is drawn back into a distribution system due to vacuum suction, potentially allowing contaminated water to contaminate a safe water supply. A backflow prevention device can prevent it, and Alvarez Plumbing in Salinas specializes in installing them.
Keeping the Water Supply Safe
Water from a public water supply is generally safe for consumption, but contamination can render it unsafe for everyone. With the suction that draws water back into a line when the pressure is released, dirty or polluted standing water travels upstream to its source. Consumers who have no way of knowing that germs and bacteria have entered a water supply until they get sick are victimized by the actions of others. Threats to public safety are a concern that lawmakers have addressed, and businesses are now required to use an effective backflow prevention system.
Understanding Causes of Backflow
Reducing pressure in the pipeline to a level lower than atmospheric pressure creates a vacuum, and accidental contamination can occur. Such conditions can occur when fire protection draws a massive amount of water, when a water main breaks, or when a water system is under repair. Irrigation and sprinkling systems provide many entry points for contaminated water.
The risk of contamination is high whether the water source is a well, a recycling system, a pond, or a lake. It is easy to see how a combination of simultaneous events can create a hazard in the public water supply. A location lower than the surrounding terrain acts as a collection basin for water that runs off adjacent properties. Street runoff contains lead and other hazardous elements, and ordinary landscape maintenance often involves the use of chemicals. Fertilizers and animal feces contribute to the contamination of standing water.
Examining Cross Connections
A water distribution system contains many interconnected lines that deliver it to consumers, and a cross connection occurs when one or more of these lines connect potable water to contaminated water. Backflow prevention devices prevent polluted water from contaminating municipal systems, specialized systems for medical and dental use, food processing plants, and many other industrial applications. Since 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act has required local governments to protect drinking water. Alvarez Plumbing is a leading provider of backflow systems for businesses that need them.
Avoiding Waterborne Disease
The Centers for Disease Control lists numerous adverse outcomes associated with drinking contaminated water, including diarrhea, which is the most common. While rare in the United States, with an estimated 5,700 cases annually, Typhoid is transmitted through contaminated water. Avoiding conditions that lead to health problems is the duty of every responsible property owner.
Preventing Backflow
Backflow prevention devices utilize mechanical valves to prevent the flow of contaminated water into the potable water supply. Internal parts open and close to allow clean water to flow while preventing contaminated water from backing up. Alvarez Plumbing installs backflow prevention devices that automatically sense the presence of water or sewage that attempts to flow in the wrong direction. The devices prevent water supply contamination by completely closing the line when necessary.
Alvarez Plumbing has a reputation for providing superior plumbing services to residential and commercial properties in the Salinas area. Technicians receive rigorous training in installing backflow prevention systems, enabling property owners to comply with the law and prevent health hazards to consumers of the public water supply.
Do you live in Salinas, Watsonville, or Monterey County?
Need assistance with a Backflow Plumbing System?
Call Alvarez Plumbing: (831) 757-5465