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Protecting your drinking water supply.
It's everyone's job to protect drinking water. State rules require homes and businesses served by public water systems to protect these systems from contamination. Sometimes, water from private plumbing can flow back into public water systems, which is known as backflow. To prevent this, some customers must install and maintain backflow prevention devices.
Why should you be concerned?
Backflow can contaminate drinking water, creating a potential health hazard. Although most backflow events don't cause health hazards, it’s important to prevent unprotected cross connections and comply with plumbing codes to keep our water safe.
Who is responsible?
Preventing backflow is a shared responsibility. State and local inspectors oversee plumbing within buildings, while regulatory agencies and public water suppliers handle distribution system protection. Water customers must maintain their plumbing systems and help ensure cross connections are avoided and backflow devices are tested and working.
Preventing backflow in your home and business.
- Identify and eliminate or isolate cross connections
- Maintain air gaps on sinks and hoses
- Do not submerge hoses or place them where they could be submerged
- Use vacuum breakers on hose bibs (fixtures)
- Install approved backflow prevention devices on lawn irrigation and fire sprinkler systems
Protecting drinking water from contamination requires vigilance and adherence to regulations. Learning more about backflow and cross connection rules and regulations and taking preventative measures will help keep our water clean and safe.
Glossary
A cross connection is a link between drinkable water and any non-drinkable source that could contaminate it.
Backflow is when water or other substances flow backward into the drinking water system. There are two types: backpressure and backsiphonage.
Backpressure occurs when the pressure in a non-drinkable system exceeds that in the potable system, causing non-drinkable water to flow back. For example, if a hot water boiler system is connected to the drinking water system without protection, increased pressure in the boiler can push water back into the drinking water system.
Backsiphonage happens when there's a negative pressure in the potable system, drawing non-drinkable water in. This can occur during a water main break or firefighting.
For even more information on understanding cross connection and backflow prevention, visit our American Water state subsidiary webpages below: