Backflow Device
Idaho State Drinking Water regulations (IDAPA 58.01. 08.552. 6) require that all backflow assemblies are inspected annually. Properties with assemblies that have not been tested, have not been isolated or repaired or replaced, shall have water service to the failed assembly discontinued.
1. What is backflow?
Backflow is the flow of water in the opposite direction than intended, due to either backsiphonage or backpressure. The things that can cause a backflow incident are: breaks in the main supply pipe, the water company or repair technician temporarily turning off the water pressure and decompressing the line, fire trucks drawing excessive pressure and things of that nature.
2. What is a backpressure?
Backpressure backflow is caused when the downstream pressure is greater than the upstream pressure in either the public water system or a consumer’s potable water system. This can occur during fire fighting, water line flushing or water main breaks. It can also occur when there are pumps installed on piping systems such as car washes with soap and wax injection or residential, commercial and agricultural wells. Elevated piping such as high hillsides or tall buildings can also have booster pumps to get water to higher heights.
3. Do I really need a backflow preventer?
Why You Need to Install a Backflow Preventer on Your Lawn Sprinkler System. Your irrigation system is a vital component of your lawn's health. However, they can backflow and result in contaminated water entering into your home’s supply of drinking water if a backflow preventer is not installed. So you can see the need for protecting the drinking water systems of our cities and equally as important, the immediate systems of our own homes. In conclusion, backflow prevention primarily protects the health of everyone drinking water and secondly, our liabilities.
4. Who is required to have a backflow preventer?
Customers who have an irrigation system that uses potable (drinking) water or an auxiliary water source that is not connected to a JEA irrigation meter are also required to have a backflow preventer installed on their system.
5. Why do backflow preventers need to be tested yearly?
Backflow preventers have seals, springs and other moving parts that wear out or break. Because of this, they need to be tested to assure they are working properly. The professionals say that there is an approximate 4-5% failure rate annually if these devices are properly maintained. Even though the failure rate is low and backflow incidences are rare, there are just too many cross connections and too many past incidences to ignore the protection of our water delivery systems.
6. How does irrigation backflow preventer work?
The backflow preventer is a device that prevents your water system from becoming contaminated from water flowing backwards into your supply lines. A backflow preventer is installed where the water main is routed into your home. It is also a good idea to install a backflow preventer if you have a sprinkler system.
7. Do I need a backflow preventer on my sprinkler system?
The key to preventing backflow is to have a properly installed, maintained, and inspected backflow prevention device as part of your culinary water system. The answer is: you need backflow prevention if you have a culinary water connection that may be used to supply a sprinkler system
8. What is a cross-connection?
A cross-connection is any temporary or permanent connection between a public water system or consumer’s potable (i.e. drinking) water system and any source or system containing non-potable water or other substances. In other words, connecting dirty piping systems to the clean drinking water pipes including things like, medical buildings, landscape irrigation, fire suppression systems, boilers, and commercial facilities using chemical injection. That sort of thing, if you stop to think for a moment, the imagination can go on and on with the sheer quantity of cross connections throughout every water district.
9. Can anyone test backflow preventers?
No, there is a stringent process of training and certification required by the government before a professional is qualified to test. It involves a 40 hour class with written and hands on exams before certification is issued.
Thank you for taking the time to read about backflow prevention. If you or anyone you know has any more questions in need of clarification please feel free to contact us directly, we will be happy to help.