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Up close picture of a backflow prevention system on the property of an O’Fallon, IL resident.

Recognizing the Significance of Backflow Prevention

At Polar, we know that backflow prevention is crucial for maintaining a safe and clean water system in your O’Fallon, IL home. This process ensures that your water supply remains uncontaminated and safe for consumption. Backflow happens when water flow reverses, allowing contaminants to enter the clean water supply. This can pose significant health risks, highlighting the importance of effective backflow prevention measures. Whether for residential or commercial properties, having the right backflow prevention system in place is essential to protect your water from potential hazards and ensure the health and safety of everyone using it. We are committed to providing reliable solutions to keep your water system secure.

What is Backflow?

Backflow happens when the direction of water flow in a plumbing system reverses. Normally, water flows in one direction from the public water supply to the consumer. However, certain conditions can cause the water to flow backward. These conditions include a sudden drop in water pressure, which can occur during the use of a fire hydrant or a break in the main water line, and an increase in downstream pressure, often due to a malfunctioning pump. This reversal can cause your clean water supply to mix with contaminated water, which may contain sewage, gas, solids, or other harmful substances. This contamination poses significant health risks, such as bacterial infections, chemical poisoning, and exposure to viruses and parasites. Proper maintenance and the installation of backflow prevention devices are essential to protect against these hazards.

Types of Backflow

There are typically two main types of backflows: backpressure and back-siphonage. Backpressure occurs when the pressure in a system becomes greater than the pressure in the water supply. This can happen if there is an increase in downstream pressure due to factors like pumps or thermal expansion within the system. On the other hand, back-siphonage happens when there is negative pressure in the supply line. This negative pressure can occur during significant drops in water pressure on the supply side, such as when a water main bursts. Both scenarios can cause contaminated water to flow back into the clean water supply, creating potential health hazards by introducing pollutants and harmful microorganisms into the drinking water.

Health Risks Associated with Backflow

When backflow gets into your water, it can leave your home with a contaminated water supply, leading to a variety of health problems. Pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides, human waste, and industrial chemicals can enter the water supply. These contaminants can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, and other serious health conditions. Vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. These groups are more susceptible to infections and may experience more severe health effects from exposure to contaminated water. Ensuring the safety of your water supply through regular maintenance and backflow prevention measures is crucial to protecting the health of everyone in your household.

Backflow Prevention System

When you’re seeking to protect water supplies from contamination, various backflow prevention devices are used in plumbing systems. These devices are designed to stop the reverse flow of water, ensuring that only clean water flows through the system. Common types of backflow prevention devices include air gaps, check valves, and reduced pressure zone (RPZ) assemblies. An air gap is a simple and effective method that creates a physical separation between the water supply and any potential source of contamination. Check valves allow water to flow in one direction, preventing backflow. RPZ assemblies provide advanced protection by using a series of valves to maintain a barrier against backflow. Proper installation and regular maintenance of these devices are essential to ensure they function correctly and provide reliable protection against contaminants entering the clean water supply.

Contact Polar for Our Backflow Prevention

Keeping your water supply safe and clean is crucial, and preventing backflow is essential to achieving this goal. By understanding the associated risks and taking proactive steps, you not only protect your health but also stay compliant with regulations and enjoy peace of mind. In O’Fallon, IL, property owners hold a significant responsibility in installing, maintaining, and testing backflow prevention devices to shield their water supply. This collective effort contributes greatly to their overall safety and well-being. At Polar, we’re dedicated to assisting you with all aspects of backflow prevention, including testing, inspection, maintenance, repairs, and installations. Give us a call at 618.772.7007 to schedule an appointment, and let’s collaborate to uphold the ongoing safety of our water systems.

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