Houston Plumbing - Backflow Preventers

 What is backflow? 

Backflow is defined as water flowing in the opposite of its intended direction, either from a loss of pressure in the supply lines or an increase in pressure on the customer’s side.[1]

Why is backflow important to me? 

Consumers turn their faucets on and expect to have safe drinking water that is pure and plentiful.  There are instances when things we use everyday can cause harm to our drinking water but we have no knowledge of any contamination.  These instances are known as cross-connections.  

Common Cross-Connections 

• Garden Hose:  Backflow through cross-connections can occur at your home if you leave a garden hose turned on and submerged in a swimming pool, insert it into your cars radiator to flush out the antifreeze, attach it to an insecticide sprayer, or if your yard has been recently treated with insecticides or yard chemicals and then left in a puddle on the lawn.

• Private Well:  Backflow can also occur if a pump supplied from an untreated water supply, such as a private well, were connected to the drinkable water supply.  The untreated water could be pumped into the drinkable water supply which serves your home and the public water system.

• Lawn sprinkler system:  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations require that all lawn sprinkler systems be connected through a mechanical backflow prevention assembly – without which, the stagnant water from the sprinkler system could be drawn into the drinkable water supply for your home.[2]

Home Solutions – Two Easy Ways to Prevent Cross-Connection Issues 

• Make sure that the end of your garden hose never becomes submerged in or near a non potable (undrinkable) substance.  This solution is free, but not very reliable and not everyone can always be this careful.

• Install a hose bibb vacuum breaker on each of your outside faucets.  These inexpensive devices are designed to allow water to flow in only one direction.  You can find them at most home supply stores and through plumbing suppliers.  Before you use a hose-end sprayer, you should first install a hose bibb vacuum breaker at the faucet.  This method is only good for helping with garden hose backflow issues, not sprinkler system issues.    

 Safe drinking water is federally mandated and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Our water utility companies are responsible for ensuring overall protection of safe drinking water under all circumstances that they have control over.  However, even with strict regulations, extremely dangerous situations can continue to occur when backflow contaminants enter our safe drinking water supplies. 

Call Church Services today to schedule an appointment or get more information on backflow preventers call 713-722-5000.