As a homeowner, if you get drinking water from a well, it is your responsibility to protect the quality of your water source. This includes maintenance of your water system, pump, plumbing, and any other related items in your system. Backflow is a problem that, if left unaddressed, can lead to unintentional contamination of your water source.
Let's look at what exactly is backflow, cross-connection, and how you can protect your well from unintentional fouling with a backflow prevention device.
What is reverse flow?
Reverse flow occurs when water flows through pipes, plumbing or hoses in the wrong direction from normal flow. This can happen when the water pressure changes or drops. This reverse flow can allow chemicals or other contaminants to enter the drinking water system or private well.
Cross-joins present a similar risk. A cross connection exists when plumbing is connected in such a way that any source of non-potable water (such as a dishwasher or laundry drain) can enter the potable water piping system. In many places, current municipal regulations prohibit the cross-connection of water and utility networks.
Water pressure changes can occur due to any number of problems, such as power outages, broken pipes, or overuse of water from a fixture connected to the same system, especially when used with a downward slope.
Prevent Backflow
Prevention devices are designed and installed to prevent this. The two most common devices are the reduced pressure zone (RP) assembly and the double check valve (DC) assembly. Most require some sort of backflow prevention device. As a private well owner, it is in your best interest to install a device to protect your water supply.
The RP system is designed to prevent potential health hazards such as sewage, medical waste and chemicals. The DC unit is most commonly used to protect utility systems from non-health hazards such as smell, color or taste. These sources include well water, pool water, or non-toxic products such as food coloring or dyes.
Are you in danger?
More than half of the problems with backflow and cross connections are related to garden hoses. Fortunately, they are easy to prevent by installing simple fittings between the nozzle and the garden hose. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine if you are potentially at risk. Without a device, your garden hose and everything in or connected to it can create a backflow problem.
Have you ever used a hose for:
- Fill the pool?
- flush the car radiator?
- Fill the pond with fish?
- give water to horses or other animals?
- flush a clogged septic tank or sewer?
- Mix garden chemicals in a bucket?
- Do you use recycled gray water (for washing or showering) in your irrigation system?
- Do you have a well and a local utility connection?
- Do you have a lawn watering system?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should install a protective device between the hose bib (faucet) and your home. These are simple devices that are inexpensive and available at any hardware store. They are designed to create an air gap that prevents any problems.
If you are not sure if your home is protected by the device, contact a water specialist. They can inspect and, if necessary, install protective devices inside your home or on a highway to protect your family from unintentional contamination of an aquifer or municipal line. This is an easy and economical way to keep your well safe.
Contact Aquastroy https://akvastroy.com.ua/ today to inspect the water well and make sure no contaminated water enters into your well due to the lack of backflow prevention devices.
