Drinking water normally flows in one direction, from the public side to the customer side, however, under certain circumstances, it can flow in the opposite direction. This is known as “backflow”. A significant drop in public side water pressure possibly caused by a water main break or extreme high usage on the water system, or due to a pump or thermal expansion on the property side are backflow conditions. Under these conditions, a connection not protected could allow pollutants to be siphoned back into the public water system.
Backflow Prevention
Fortunately, you can help prevent contamination of the public water system due to backflow. If your irrigation system does not have a backflow prevention assembly, you need to install an approved assembly or device as required by your specific situation.
If your system does have a backflow device, ensure that it is in good working order by having it tested annually and the test results forwarded to the Canby Utility Water Department.
If a water hose is used to fill a pool, hot tub, pond, water feature, or even a wash bucket make sure it is protected with a hose bibb vacuum breaker installed on the faucet.
Examples include a residential fire system, lawn irrigation system, swimming pool, hot tub, pond, water feature, or even a wash bucket and outside faucet.
Clean drinking water is not something you should take for granted. We all need to do our part to ensure that our homes and businesses have clean water every day.
A cross connection is a point in the plumbing system where the public potable water supply is connected or has the potential of being connected directly to a source of non-potable substances. Under certain hydraulic conditions, pollutants or contaminants can enter the public potable water system (backflow) through these unprotected connections. Cross connections are installed each day because people are unaware of the problems they can create.