As anyone who reads the local news can tell you, there is a storm of controversy brewing concerning Backflow Prevention Assembly devices.  As a licensed and community-invested plumbing company we have been very connected to this issue, both out of concern for the fair treatment of our customers and for the proper representation of value these devices offer all of us as community citizens. 

Four of our technicians have gone through training to become certified by the state to test and repair backflow assemblies.  They must each re-certify every two years and the specialized equipment they use to test the units must be re-certified every year.  We only offer this information to say that we are invested in understanding what a backflow prevention assembly is, how it works and why it is important. It is not our desire to use this article to battle the other opinions being published in the community.  Rather it is to offer our own opinion, based on our experience and education, so that each of you that this policy effects are better equipped to weigh out the intricacies of the issue.

In short, a backflow prevention assembly is used to prevent contamination of the shared county water supply by cross-connections.  The water that services our homes flows from the county through the home water meter and to the many faucets, appliances and hoses that service the home.  If for any reason there is a drop of pressure in the county system, backsiphonage can occur.  This is like the principle of sucking liquid through a straw.  If at that time any part of a home’s water system is in contact with a contaminant, it will be drawn back into the county system and pollute the water source we all draw from.  This can and most often does happen innocently by leaving a hose in a pool or lying in the grass after spraying pesticide or perhaps in a bucket of soapy water while washing a car.  “Cross-connection incidents have been traced back to the 1890s in the United States. And the American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimates that over 100,000 new cross-connections are formed daily across the United States.”  Here are a few examples of these types of incidents to put things in perspective.

1933: Chicago = 98 deaths - Backsiphonage; 1942: Newton, KS = 2 deaths and 2500 ill - Cross-connection; 1976: Philadelphia = 29 deaths, 182 ill - Cross-connection; 1982: New England = 500 evacuated - Backsiphonage; 1993: Milwaukee = 73 deaths, 400,000 ill - Cross-connection

We have a responsibility to one another to learn from and overcome the disasters of our shared past.  That is the great current that sets the pace of all advances in medicine, technology and industry, is it not?  It has been offered that these units are an ideal target for terrorists.  While we do not want to descend into debate, we must offer some insight into this point.  When a county main break causes a drop in pressure and backsiphonage or cross-connection contamination occurs, the entire area is contaminated.  If a terrorist were to force pollutant into the system at a backflow device, it could not over-pressure the county feed of fresh water without busting the pipes, so it must flow down stream.  Then it would only affect someone who was both after the contamination point and drawing on the county line at the time the contaminant was flowing past their meter.  That is a very small target for such a highly visible attack.  Also, we are aware that some residents are sensitive to the threat of vandalism, damage or theft.  There are options available to answer those concerns, such as the faux-rock enclosure pictured left.

This issue is broad and also a source of tension for many.  We do not intend to cover every aspect of it here nor to sway every heart and mind to our way of seeing things.  Still, perhaps we’ve been able to cultivate some level of appreciation for the tremendous value these valves offer each of us in the way of safety and peace of mind.  As we continue to evolve towards a more cooperative and environmentally focused society, we will no doubt perfect these processes.  Until then we can rely on understanding, education and common courtesy to see us through.