We are often asked by customers why they need their backflow prevention assembly tested on a yearly basis. If it’s working and there’s no issue of contamination, why have it tested? The purpose of a backflow prevention device is to protect your drinking water supply from pollution and contamination. You may not realize it, but the threat of contaminants is all around.
Your drinking water supply is cross-connected to public water supplies, which in turn may be connected to other water supply systems. At any point in this chain of connections, something can go wrong and affect your home. Common breakdowns can come from in-ground irrigation systems, garden hoses, wells, swimming pools, and even lakes or ponds. With the constant threat of contamination to the drinking supply system, it’s important that the one piece of equipment that protects your home — your backflow prevention system — is in proper working order.
A backflow system works based on pressure. In your home, for example, your water supply is maintained at a certain pressure to flow out of your kitchen faucet and bath fixtures. In the case that a water main bursts, that water pressure could fail and the reduced pressure in the pipe allows contaminants to enter the system. A backflow preventer is installed at the points where your drinking water, or potable water system, connects with non-potable water systems to stop contaminants from entering your home.
This problem of backflows is so important that the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act adopted Rule 61-555.360(2), which requires community water systems to have cross-connection control programs. An ordinance by Manatee County also calls for the yearly testing of backflow prevention systems.
At Challenger Irrigation, we are Backflow Prevention Tester certified and are qualified to check your home or businesses backflow systems to ensure they are in good condition and working properly. Please call our office to schedule an appointment to get your system checked today.
