How To Prevent Backflow
- Never submerge hoses in buckets, pools, spas, tubs or sinks. They may contain harmful cleansers or dangerous bacteria.
- Always keep the end of the hose away from possible contaminants.
- Do not use any spray or cleaning attachments on your hose without a backflow prevention device on the hose. This includes pesticide applicators, portable pressure washers, drain openers and radiator flush kits. All of these devices utilize chemicals, detergents and waste water which are toxic and can be fatal if ingested.
Devices To Prevent Backflow
There are many different devices that can be used to prevent backflow, below are explanations of a few.
Air Gap - In a water supply system it is the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening of a water service pipe or fixed outlet supplying water to a fixture or receptacle and the highest possible water level of such fixture or receptacle.
Double-Check Valve - A device to prevent backflow caused by backpressure, and which has two independently operating force loaded non-return valves and incorporates specific test points for in-service testing.
All Australian councils require most back flow valves to be tested annually to find out if your valves need to be tested contact a licensed technician.
Here you can find out how backflow occurs and how a containment device will protect water supplies.
Backflow is a reversal of the normal direction of water flow in your water supply plumbing system. It presents a hazard where your water supply is inadvertently interconnected with a source of pollution. Those pollutants could then enter your water supply.
Backflow can only occur when the water delivery main is at a lower pressure than your plumbing system. For example, when there is a burst or ruptured main; or excessive demand during fire fighting operations and the like. Backflow can also occur if a pump is connected to your water plumbing system.