Is Your Drinking Water at Risk Because of You?

Water mains aren’t the only way contaminants can get into your water supply. There are common cross-connection hazards you should know.

Your water supply enters your home at a certain pressure. On rare occasions, this pressure can be interrupted by a water main break, fire fighters using large quantities of water to extinguish a nearby blaze, or some other disruption in water service. When there is a significant loss of pressure, water can flow by suction back into the public water supply system. This is called “back-siphonage.”

Likewise, when your home’s water system creates a sudden pressure greater than Santa Ana’s public water system, the same effect can occur where water is pushed back into the public water supply. This is called “backpressure” backflow. Without a working backflow preventer, water from a sink or bathtub or dirty irrigation line can easily be pulled back into the main lines.

One is pushing, one is pulling, but the effect is still the same: backflow.

Contamination occurs when a water supply line is connected to equipment containing a non-potable (unsafe to drink) substance. These “cross connections” are dangerous if no protective measures are taken.

Here are common cross connections, which, if improperly protected, can allow contaminates like chemicals, fertilizer, soapy water or even bacteria, back into your pipes and your drinking water supply:

A hose is submerged in polluted or contaminated water.
A secondary source of irrigation water (from a well or pond) is pumped into an irrigation system that is directly connected to the potable water supply system.
A heating boiler with treatment chemical added to prevent internal corrosion is connected directly to the water supply for make-up-water.
An underground lawn sprinkler system is directly connected to the water supply system.
A fountain or swimming pool has a direct connection with the water system for filling.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for preventing contaminants from entering into your water system as well as the public water distribution system by properly installing and maintaining backflow prevention devices.
These devices are like seat belts: they protect you from a contamination event that may never occur. But, if it does, you’ll be glad you were protected!

Commonly Used Residential Backflow Prevention Devices

Air Gap:

Used mainly on tanks and faucets, it is a gap between the pipe and the container.

Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker:

It has an air inlet valve that will drop to draw in air thus preventing customer system water from entering Santa Ana’s water mains.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker: