Backflow prevention keeps drinking water safe

TORRINGTON – Did you know that drinking water can be contaminated by “cross connections,” an illegal or incorrect connection to a water supply pipe.  
A backflow event will occur when a cross connection exists at the time of a pressure loss in the city distribution system – such as during maintenance, a main break, hydrant flushing or fire event. That’s when undesirable foreign substances can be drawn into the distribution system. Some common cross connections in homes are:
• Sprayed Chemicals: Lawn and garden chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and cleaning chemicals have the potential of causing serious health problems—or possibly death—if ingested. Always use a vacuum breaker (ASSE 1011) connected to your hose bibb or threaded hose connection.
• Hoses Left Submerged: Any foreign substance left in a container with a submerged hose has the potential of becoming back siphoned into your home’s water system. Never leave the end of a hose submerged in anything you would not want in your drinking water.
• Lawn Irrigation Systems: Have you ever looked at a sprinkler head on an in-ground irrigation system? It is not uncommon to find it surrounded by a puddle, dirt, or mulch. Since these heads are not designed to be drip tight, it is possible for any contaminants to become introduced into your drinking water— including chemicals, fertilizer, animal excrement, and microbiological contaminants. Since most irrigation systems are directly connected to the water supply of your home, any contaminants that are introduced into your water system will travel through your home first, and then into the City’s water distribution system or your well.  
The City of Torrington Municipal Code Sec. 13.12.150. - Cross connection control – General policy requires the use of backflow prevention assemblies or devices to protect against cross connections. The purpose of this code is to protect human health and comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s safe drinking water act and WDEQ’s water quality rules and regulations chapter 12. Current backflow requirements are:

• All commercial buildings are required to have backflow devices installed and tested annually.
• All lawn / irrigation services with their own meter are required to have backflow devices installed and tested annually. In the near future, all lawn/irrigation systems (connected to house plumbing systems) will be required to have backflow devices installed and tested annually
• Residential backflow is not required until a new water service line is installed, testing is not yet required.
All backflow prevention assemblies are required to be tested upon installation as well as annually (at a minimum). Installation and testing within Torrington may only be performed by a ASSE or ABPA certified backflow prevention assembly tester. All certified testers shall provide proof of current certification(s) to the city. Since backflow prevention is designed to ensure the safety of the public, there are no grandfathering provisions.
Some safety tips to remember include:
• Never leave a hose submerged in a bucket or similar container.
• Never use spray attachments without a backflow prevention assembly or device in place.
• Never use a hose to unclog blockages such as toilets, sewer lines, sinks, etc.
• Always keep the end of a hose clear of all potential contaminants.
• Always use vacuum breakers on hose bibbs or any threaded hose connection. These are inexpensive, and are available at your local home improvement stores, and could save you the cost of expensive repairs.
• Install a reduced pressure backflow prevention assembly on in-ground irrigation systems.
• Always have your backflow prevention assembly tested at least once a year.