The city of Palmer in Ellis County recently approved an ordinance that would require all commercial establishments to have reliable backflow prevention devices in their plumbing systems. This was done to prevent wastewater from polluting the city’s fresh water supply, especially wastewater from certain establishments like processing plants. According to the Waxahachie Daily Light, 19 of the city’s 45 businesses didn’t have such devices installed prior to the ordinance.
Residents of Austin can certainly appreciate this news because the city’s water utility agency already has a backflow prevention program in place. A backflow happens when the movement of waste or fresh water is reversed due to an anomaly in the water pressure. Backflows can create health hazards because they can spread contaminants from or to adjacent water pipes.
While the installation of backflow prevention assemblies in industries that work with chemicals, industrial fluids, irrigated water, and the like are required in Austin, the same is not a requirement for households. Homeowners who wish to protect their water supply from backflow hazards can call on trusted Austin plumbing services who are experienced in backflow prevention, like Pure Plumbing Service.
Backflow preventers are highly-recommended to go with the typical “water habits” of most households. For example, people who have a lawn sprinkler or use their hosepipes regularly should consider having backflow preventers at home. Those who recycle their laundry’s wastewater by pumping them into irrigation lines to water their plants also should have backflow preventers.
Installing a hose-bib vacuum breaker bought from the local hardware store is one way to prevent a backflow, but a full-scale atmospheric vacuum breaker installed into the house’s plumbing system provides the greatest protection. The latter can only be installed, maintained, and repaired by qualified Austin plumbing contractors, as amateurs can cause serious damages on their plumbing systems if they attempt to do the job themselves.
Without backflow preventers, households risk having their supply of freshwater contaminated with dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Those who live near fracking sites and utility pumps need backflow preventers even more to minimize the risks of gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products getting into their water supply.
(Source: Council OKs Public Water Protection ordinance, Waxahachie Daily Light, February 19, 2014)
