Domestic water lines that service commercial and residential buildings allow water to enter into the buildings by relying on water pressure to move the water. In times of low water pressure it would be possible for water to run away from the building and into the locality’s water pipes. Backflow preventers, which act as a one-way valve, stop this from happening and are required by the applicable building and plumbing codes to be used in a variety of residential can commercial applications.
The reason that they are required is to prevent the public water supply from being contaminated by the reversal of water into the public water system. Contaminated water is taken very seriously by all jurisdictions and in addition to heavy fines, many jurisdictions will also shut off the water supply to the building ,if it is discovered that the water supply is being contaminated as a result of a backflow issue.
Backflow preventers are pretty complex mechanical devices and require periodic inspections and testing, which are required by law in most jurisdictions, as well as periodic maintenance. Inspections and backflow testing are done by experienced and trained technicians using sophisticated measuring devices to verify that the backflow preventer is working properly.
In the event that an issue is discovered the technician will make the necessary repairs. There are a number of backflow preventers on the market today, all of which have many moving parts and components. As a result periodic maintenance is required to keep them functioning properly, while protecting the public water system that we all rely on!
Posted on Behalf of Citywide Plumbing
