Backflow Testing

In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) holds local water purveyors responsible for maintaining a certain amount of purity in domestic potable water systems. The State of Florida requires all county, city, and local town municipalities install, and maintain a cross-connection (backflow) program. The law also requires annual testing of all backflow prevention assemblies. Only approved backflow preventers should be installed. Typical types of backflow prevention – double check (DC), reduced pressure principle device (RP) device, or an air gap.

In many states, approved backflow prevention assemblies are required by law, and must be installed in accordance with local plumbing, and building codes. An assembly has many parts. These parts consist of check 1, check 2, relief valve, o rings, rubber disks, springs, seats, inlet shut off valves, outlet shut off valves, and test cocks. All these parts are prone to deteriorate and must be checked annually.

All testing should be performed by a certified tester. All certified testers are required to renew their certifications every two years. University of Florida’s Treeo Center set the standard for all testing procedures.

Backflow Repair

After a system has failed its test, the valve must be repaired. When a repair is installed on a backflow preventer, the goal is to return the assembly back to its original factory specifications. Only after conducting a field test on the assembly can one determine whether the backflow valve requires a repair.

When the data collected indicates the assembly has deteriorated in its performance below the established minimum standard, the preventer must be repaired, or if necessary, replaced.

Prevention assemblies can provide many years of protection. There are many conditions that shorten the life of a preventer. Excessive pressure, turbidity, quality of water, or temperature can cause the deterioration of the assembly or its performance.

The first sign of a failing valve is water discharging out the relief valve. This discharge from the relief valve can happen from a working RP (reduced pressure backflow preventer) as well as a non-working one, and therefore the field test must be performed to determine the condition of the assembly. We service Wilkins, Watts, Febco, Ames, and Apollo.

What is the cause?

Backflow is the reversal of the flow of water. How does this happen? When the water purveyor provides water to their customers they do this by pressure. In the event they lose pressure every property up stream with higher pressure can push back toward the water source. This can happen with a water main break, power outage, even a fire truck can draw enough water to lower the purveyor’s water pressure and cause a backflow condition. When this condition is introduced to the water source all properties upstream have the potential to contaminate the water source. How? A simple garden hose is the biggest cross-connection today. You can easily connect undrinkable water with drinkable water. Examples of this are filling a pool or a bucket with chemicals in it. The hose makes a leak between the water source and the contaminated water. If this condition happens when you are filling your pool or bucket then the contaminated water the hose is in contact with can be sucked back into the water source and cause a serious health risk to the public. This also can happen when a property owner has a well or other water sources. If this water source was connected to the communities water source this is a cross connection. The private well or water source is untreated and untested. This also can cause a health hazard.

The solution.

Backflow valves solve this issue. These valves must be installed on at every property connected to a community water source. A valve is the first line of defense against bad drinking water or a health hazard. These Backflow assemblies need to be tested once a year to make sure the water source is protected from any contaminants.

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