If you own a business, chances are high that you have a backflow prevention device already in place. This is usually a municipal requirement. The backflow preventer must have annual inspection from a certified technician, which is a service that we are glad to provide. In addition, we offer repair, maintenance, and new installation services for commercial backflow preventers.
If you’ve wondered why having backflow prevention is so important, we’d like to address that in this post.
Backflow
According to the American Backflow Prevention Association, backflow is the unwanted reversal of the flow of non-potable water (i.e. grey water or sewage water) through a cross-connection and into the piping of a public water system or the potable water system of a business. A cross-connection is any place where there is a temporary or permanent connection between the potable water system and any system that can contain non-potable water.
Why Backflow May Occur
Backflow occurs either because of backsiphonage, which is pressure that pulls non-potable water into the potable water pipes, or backpressure backflow, which is when there is downstream pressure that pushes the non-potable water forward into the fresh water pipes. These two can result from events such as a sudden drain on the freshwater system from a sprinkler system or firefighting, a stoppage in the water supply, a break in a water main, etc.
The Necessity of a Backflow Preventer
If backflow occurs, it can mean the contamination of the municipal water supply with harmful chemicals and bacteria. A backflow preventer stops the water from flowing the wrong direction through the cross-connections. The standard backflow prevention device consists of a reduced-pressure principle assembly and a double check-valve assembly, so they both stop the water flow and lower the pressure.
If you need to schedule your annual commercial backflow prevent test, contact Modern Plumbing Industries, Inc. in Orlando, FL.